Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a disease that often goes unnoticed, yet it significantly impacts marginalized communities in areas with limited resources. This condition can cause lasting physical changes, disabilities, and hinder economic output. A recent analysis delved into the disparities in Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and the spread of LF across differe...
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, jails faced a unique set of problems. These places have short stays and lots of people coming and going. This made it hard to control the spread of the virus. People in jail were at high risk of getting very sick. A recent effort looked into using two methods together to track COVID-19 in Fulton County Jail. These methods w...
The COVID-19 outbreak shook the world in 2020. It affected everything from the economy to education and even sports. The virus, SARS-CoV-2, showed how unprepared we were for such a widespread health crisis. It is crucial to learn from this experience and improve our public health strategies. It is not just humans who can be affected by this virus. Dogs in Ibadan, Oy...
In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a recent study shed light on the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause genital warts and various cancers like cervical, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal. With over 10 million women at risk of HPV-related cervical cancer, the research aimed to understand the local situation. Scientists ...
A recent study looked into whether taking dietary supplements had any effect on COVID-19 symptoms. Researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences surveyed over 27, 000 adults who were tested for COVID-19. They found that people who had symptoms were more likely to take supplements, especially those who were white and non-Hispanic. Interestingly, eve...
] Imagine living in North Carolina and dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Now, think about how extreme weather events can make healthcare tougher to access. This study looked into how climate affects cancer care in NC. The researchers used data from 2017 to 2021 to see how climate vulnerability and cancer rates are connected. The results showed a strong link between a...
Complex public health problems, like health disparities, need innovative solutions. This means bringing in different partners and communities to tackle issues from various angles. The trouble is, these complex interventions are flexible, making them tough to evaluate using fixed measures. To help public health professionals navigate this, an approach called FIND (Fra...
Imagine if we could predict outbreaks of flu and COVID-19 just by looking at what's in our sewage. That's exactly what scientists did in Pune, India. They spent two years, from January 2022 to December 2023, collecting sewage samples from 11 different areas. They used a special technique called reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to...
Ever wondered if you can outsmart your genes when it comes to lifespan? Well, a big study says yes! Researchers looked at over 350,000 adults and found something amazing. If you don't smoke, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and eat healthily, you could live almost six years longer, even if your genes aren't in your favor. The key is to start young—that's where p...