Did you know that this month is both Newborn Screening Awareness Month AND National Preparedness Month? Talk about a busy public health month! Make sure to subscribe to this blog to see all of our great posts on both topics.
In other news…
- Leading the public health response to global outbreaks — This is a profile of Dr. Ali Khan, Assistant Surgeon General and Director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response. Dr. Khan is a great partner, leader and friend to APHL. Terrific article by the Washington Post.
- Whooping Cough Reaches Epidemic In Bluegrass — Whooping cough (aka, pertussis) continues to spread around the nation. There is news about this outbreak from almost every state; this article is about Kentucky.
- Yosemite hantavirus warning expands to 39 countries — Six visitors to Yosemite National Park have been confirmed to have contracted the disease from infected mice there — two have died. CDC estimates that around 10,000 people may have been exposed after staying in cabins at the park this summer.
- Rare Colorado plague case had Girl Scout near death — A seven year old Girl Scout contracted bubonic plague after coming in contact with a dead squirrel. As she asked her parents for a proper burial for the squirrel, they suspect fleas from the animal made their way onto her sweat shirt which she then tied around her waist. Long story short, after facing death herself, the young animal lover is recovering well.
- Top American Science Questions: 2012 — Given the recent political conventions, this seemed appropriate to share. Governor Romney and President Obama were both presented with what this group deemed the most important science questions facing the nation. You can see their answers side-by-side on topics ranging from climate change to pandemics and biosecurity to space.
