National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Aug. 9, 2026

National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya appeared on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan on August 9, 2026, discussing various health concerns in the United States. One issue he addressed was the cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce from Mexico, which had resulted in two deaths in 15 states. The USDA had issued an alert for possible salmonella contamination in various products, including meat, poultry, jalapeños, cilantro, red onion, avocado, and eggs in Texas.

Bhattacharya assured viewers that the CDC and FDA were working diligently to trace the sources of contamination and issue recalls to prevent further spread.

He also discussed the concerning rise in measles cases, which had reached their highest level in 35 years. Bhattacharya emphasized the importance of achieving herd immunity through vaccination, stating that 10 U.S. states had measles vaccine coverage rates above the 95% threshold needed to prevent transmission. He expressed frustration with the lack of a full-throated federal push to encourage vaccination, citing the need to regain public trust in science and public health measures following the pandemic.