Public Health in the News – April 3, 2016

Global

• Zika virus research is raising questions about controversial fetal-tissue research.
• Defining autism with a broader lens: how cultural differences influence clinical diagnoses.
• Resurrection of an abandoned drug may aid in the battle against RNA viruses responsible for causing human diseases such as Ebola and Zika, among others.

National

• The soon to be largest ever study of transgender teenagers- findings could help clinicians to judge how best to help adolescents who are seeking a transition.
• There’s something in the water… Concerns about water safety aren’t just on the minds of Flint, Michigan residents anymore. Elevated levels of a suspected carcinogen have been found in the water supply of several Northeastern states. “This is not just a local problem. This is a problem which I am sure occurs in every single state,” states Philippe Grandjean, a professor of environmental health at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Chicago/Illinois

• Mayor Rahm Emanuel announces new task force to fight Chicago’s homelessness problem.
• Chicago eliminates tampon tax, will Illinois follow suit?

Northwestern 

• Combating the antibiotic resistance crisis- Northwestern Medicine Investigator reports behavioral interventions that aid in reducing antibiotic overuse.
• April is Sexual Assault Awareness and prevention Month (SAAM): Northwestern University partners with student groups to raise awareness about sexual violence and to help educate the Northwestern community on how to prevent it.

Caitlin Pegg, PhD Student at Northwestern University 

Blog Manager

Photo by pixabay via Pexels: Creative Commons