Public Health in the News – May 11, 2014

Global

• The World Health Organization has declared that the increasing spread of polio is a public health emergency.
• Antibiotic resistance is on the rise, especially in developing nations. Meanwhile, a new study shows that resistance to drugs is actually even more common than we previously thought – bacteria from all different environments, including ancient caves and the depths of the ocean, have been found to be resistant.
• The U.N. has reported that a lot of people still practice public defecation, leading to many public health issues.
• Cities in India have some of the worst air pollution in the world, but one researcher says, “there is a complete lack of awareness about it both amongst policy makers and the common man.”

National

• Vermont will be the first state to require labeling of genetically modified foods.
• “The farther we get down this road, the harder it will be to control the problems.” NPR discusses how climate change is a public health issue.
• Some cardiologists think that too many women are taking statins in order to lower their cholesterol, when they don’t actually need to.
• Is there evidence to show that universal health care coverage actually saves lives? There is now – a recent study found that mortality in Massachusetts dropped after universal coverage was adopted.
• Are we doing enough to combat obesity? Actually, we’re doing more to fight this epidemic than we have for past public health issues, like smoking, argues a New York Times Op-Ed.
• Although it is still at the early stages, a new cancer treatment has been successful for one woman with advanced disease. Researchers altered her own immune cells so that they targeted genetic mutations specific to her tumors.
• This past week was Drinking Water Week. Scientific American takes a look at what we can do about our water contaminants. Make sure to also check out our previous post about access to water!
• Health officials have done a great job at containing the U.S.’s first case of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. A Fort Wayne Gazette article details the timeline of events in treating the patient.

Chicago

• Chicago has very restrictive laws for selling items from food carts on the street, and some residents are working to try to change this.

Northwestern

• A drug believed to slow down aging has been developed by NU scientists.
• People who are active, even if they’re only doing light physical activity like housework, are less likely to develop disabilities, according to a Northwestern study.
• Northwestern’s Craig Garfield, M.D., was interviewed by Katie Couric about the risks of postpartum depression in young fathers.
• Northwestern researchers have found that men are more likely to have aggressive prostate cancer if they have a vitamin D deficiency.

Cover Photo by tookapic via pexels: creative commons