Public Health in the News: May 8, 2016

Global

• An international collaborative introduced a rapid zika paper test.
• International aid groups warn against US food aid shipment of peanuts: “it will deliver an economic blow to struggling Haitian peanut farmers.”
• Scientists pioneer a genome sequencing software to help epidemiologists track the spread of MRSA in Europe.

National

• The Food and Drug Administration regulates e-cigarettes and cigars for the first time, including a requirement for FDA approval on many products.
• Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for “more deaths than respiratory disease, accidents, stroke and Alzheimer’s.”
• Should there be more regulations on the prescription of antibiotics in America?
• Can we crowd-source a better test for tuberculosis?

Illinois/Chicago

• First birthing center outside of Chicago opens in Bloomington as a hospital alternative for low-risk births.
• Learning from Madison: How can Chicago address its 400,000 lead water service lines?

Northwestern

• The long-running CARDIA study at the Feinberg School of Medicine celebrates its 30th anniversary.
• Flu shots for pregnant women provides protection to newborns later on.
• The American Heart Association’s risk calculator used by physicians may be over-recommending statin use, according to a new study.

Brian Cheng, B.A. Student at Northwestern University 

Blog Manager

 

Picture: creative commons