Literature update ViVa week 36-2026

1. Firearms remain America’s defining youth mortality crisis Summary: In this correspondence responding to a 2026 research letter, Bleyer, Liu, and Thomas analyzed 2024 CDC WONDER mortality data for U.S. residents aged 1 to 32 years. Firearms were the leading cause of death across this age range, causing 15,454 of 82,284 deaths (18.8%; approximately 1 in 5); firearm suicide ranked fourth. The authors note that the leading-cause designation, previously reported for ages 1 to 19 years during 2020–2023, extends through age 32 years. Companion correspondence reports drug poisoning as the third leading cause among persons aged 1 to 19 years, increasing 12.7% from 2020 to 2023. Responding authors call for sustained prevention, mental health and addiction care, harm reduction, safe firearm storage, research, and surveillance. Comment: Firearm injury and measles are preventable, yet the United States continues to accept both as recurring features of childhood mortality. In 2026, the national measles case count to...