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Edition 2026Active Merit Badge
Public Health
Official Requirements & Fillable Workbook · 2026 Edition
Public Health focuses on protecting entire populations from disease, contamination, and epidemics. You will investigate water treatment, immunization, sanitation, and disease vectors like mosquitoes and rodents. Requirement 7 requires taking action by planning and executing a public health awareness project in your unit, school, or community.
Key Requirements Covered:
- Infectious Diseases & Immunization Science
- Community Water Treatment & Food Sanitation
- Epidemiology, Outbreaks & Contact Tracing
- Public Health Agencies & Global Health
6Printable Pages
8Requirements
2026Reqs Revised
What is on the worksheet: Public Health Requirements
Every requirement for the Public Health merit badge, word for word as published, with room to write under each one on the printed worksheet.
1What Public Health Is, and How Disease Spreads
Do the following:
- a Explain what public health is.
- b Explain how Escherichia coli (E. coli), tetanus, AIDS, encephalitis, salmonellosis, Lyme disease, and coronavirus (COVID-19) are contracted.
- c Choose any four of the following diseases and explain how each one is contracted and possibly prevented: gonorrhea, West Nile virus, botulism, influenza, syphilis, hepatitis, emphysema, meningitis, herpes, or lead poisoning.
- d For all 10 diseases from 1(c), explain the type or form of the disease (viral, bacterial, environmental, toxin), any possible vectors for transmission, ways to help prevent exposure or the spread of infection, and available treatments.
2Immunization
Do the following:
- a Explain the meaning of immunization.
- b Name eight diseases against which a young child should be immunized, two diseases against which everyone should be reimmunized periodically, and one immunization everyone should receive annually.
- c Using the list of diseases and conditions in requirement 1(b), discuss with your counselor those which currently have no immunization available.
3Safe Drinking Water
Discuss the importance of safe drinking water in terms of the spread of disease. Then, demonstrate two ways for making water safe to drink that can be used while at camp. In your demonstration, explain how dishes and utensils should be washed, dried, and kept sanitary at home and in camp.
4Vectors and Their Control
Explain what a vector is and how insects and rodents can be controlled in your home, in your community, and at camp. Tell why this is important. In your discussion, explain which vectors can be easily controlled by individuals and which ones require long-term, collective action.
5Option Selection
With your parent or guardian's and counselor's approval, do ONE of the following:
- a Visit a municipal wastewater treatment facility or a solid-waste management operation in your community.
- b Visit a food service facility, such as a restaurant or school cafeteria.
6Pollution, Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs
Do the following:
- a Describe the health dangers from air, water, and noise pollution.
- b Describe health dangers from tobacco use and alcohol and drug abuse.
- c Describe the health dangers from abusing illegal and prescription drugs.
7A Public Health Project
With your parent or guardian's and counselor's approval, do the following:
- a Do ONE of the following:
- b After completing either 7(a)(1) or 7(a)(2), do ALL of the following:
8Careers in Public Health
Pick a profession in the public health sector that interests you. Find out the education, training, and experience required to work in this profession. Discuss what you learn with your counselor.
Two dates, two different things
Requirements Revision vs. Worksheet Date
Scouting America last revised the Public Health requirements in 2026. That is the badge, not this sheet — an older year does not mean the worksheet is out of date.
Verbatim Fidelity & Verification
This worksheet was checked against https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/public-health/ in Aug 2026 and reproduces the requirements word for word. Both dates are printed on the sheet, so a copy in a binder can always be placed in time.
Requirement text is © Scouting America, reproduced verbatim. The worksheet layout and design are original to this project.
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