WHO mental health initiative
World Health Organization recently published an article calling attention to a global deficiency of resources for mental health promotion. Despite the fact that 10 percentof the world’s population suffers from a mental health disorder, only 1 percent of the global health workforce is dedicated to mental health. According to numbers provided by WHO, approximately 80 percent […]
The dangers of sodium
Americans consume more sodium than the recommended amount which does not include table salt. Americans, two years and older, consume 3,500 mg of sodium per day compared to the recommended 2,300 mg. Too much sodium may cause high blood pressure. One in three U.S. adults, about 70 million people, have high blood pressure, and only […]
Minimum age for tobacco products
A majority of Americans agree on raising the minimum age for tobacco sales to 21, according to new data. These results are based off an online survey by Styles of U.S. adults 18 and over and were published by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. Three out of 4 Americans agree to changing the minimum age […]
Salmonella Enteritidis linked to chicken products
Two outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis infections have been linked to raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned stuffed chicken entrees. The Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, along with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are investigating. There have been seven […]
Heroin deaths quadruple
The Centers for Disease Control recently published a report titled Today’s Heroin Epidemic that calls attention to a sharp increase in heroin-related overdose deaths in the United States. According to the CDC, the number of deaths almost quadrupled between 2002 and 2013 and usage has increased across a number of demographics. Heroin use increased across […]
Aetna to Buy Humana
Health insurance giants Aetna and Humana will grow even larger with a new, $37 billion deal. Aetna will acquire Humana after paying approximately $230 per Humana share and the rest of that $37 billion in cash. Just before the deal, Humana shares were $187.57, making the deal a 23% gain on share prices. Humana shareholders […]
California vaccination bill
On June 25th, California’s assembly voted to approve a bill that would end religious and personal belief exemptions from vaccinations for school children. To officially pass, Gov. Jerry Brown will have to sign off on the bill as well. The bill would make California the 32nd state to ban exemptions based on personal beliefs, but […]
Meningitis outbreak in Chicago
Six meningitis cases including a fatality have been reported in June alone in Illinois. Five of them in Chicago, according to a news release from the City of Chicago. Meningitis is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. One out of every 10 people are carriers for the bacteria and show no signs of illness. Meningitis is spread […]
Shigella sonnei outbreak investigation
An investigation to an illness outbreak caused by Shigella sonnei at a daycare in The Republic of Korea in October 2014 was traced to a child who had visited Vietnam. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded that improved hygiene and infection control practices are needed to prevent future outbreaks. The six children […]
Universal health coverage
Universal health coverage, or the provision of necessary health services free of financial hardship, is a priority for many health organizations. World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan stated, “I regard universal health coverage as the single most powerful concept that public health has to offer.” To this end, WHO and World Bank Group have […]
Adventure run risks
Adventure run pictures flood social media accounts this time of year. Running USA estimates that the popularity of these running events drew a record 4 million participants in 2013. It surpassed the record 2.5 million finishers of both the half-marathon and marathon combined in 2012. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn runners […]
MERS in South Korea
An outbreak of Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in South Korea has claimed 19 lives over the last four weeks. One hundred and fifty additional cases have been reported, all of which can be traced back through a single chain of transmission that originated with a 68-year-old man who traveled to Saudi Arabia (where […]