#epidemiology

#epidemiology

Drug overdose deaths in pregnant and postpartum women rose by about 81% from 2017 to 2020, researchers report in a  JAMA research letter published online Dec. 6.Pregnancy-associated overdose deaths were highest in 2020 as the COVID pandemic began, according to the researchers, Emilie Bruzelius, MPH, and Silvia S. Martins, MD, PHD, with the department of epidemiology, Columbia University School of Public Health in New York.

Long Covid can affect the quality of patient's lives more than certain cancers and as much as Parkinson's disease, a new study has suggested.Research led by University College London (UCL) and the University of Exeter examined the impact of long Covid on the lives of 3,754 people who were referred to a clinic for the illness.

While the COVID-19 vaccines have made a dramatic difference in controlling the pandemic, researchers are still learning about the ways that the shots may affect people's health.One of those questions centers around how the vaccines might impact menstrual cycles.Reports of women experiencing changes in their cycleseither in the intensity and frequency of bleeding, or the length of their periodshave prompted more rigorous investigations of how COVID-19 vaccines may be affecting cycles.

Citing studies that link gas stoves to health problems, including asthma in children, a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission official said his agency will begin a formal review process that could lead to new regulations."We need to be talking about regulating gas stoves, whether that's drastically improving emissions or banning gas stoves entirely," said Commissioner Richard Trumka.

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1. Mental health risks for racial and ethnic minorities can be persistent and long-lasting effects of trauma. 2. The National Institute of Mental Health’s Office for Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity is hosting a webinar

Nearly 10 years ago, Ken Noel was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and after undergoing several tests and procedures, he began his journey for treatment in 2013, undergoing a surgery followed by radiation treatment."It was a really big shock to me," said Noel, who immigrated to Canada from Guyana 50 years ago.

Government experts have based the UK's badger cull on a confused and flawed interpretation of the science, a damning report sent to MPs has concluded.Calling for an immediate rethink of the policy, the study claims officials adopted an ineffective and misguided approach to tackling tuberculosis in dairy cows, leading to a policy that is a self-perpetuating failure.

Barbie isn't one to be pigeonholed into a profession just because she's a woman.She's had an impressive 200 careers on her resume doctor, astronaut, computer engineer, CEO and even presidential candidate.For International Women's Day on March 8, Mattel (which owns the Barbie brand) is hoping to inspire young girls to embrace the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by honoring a select group of STEM pioneers with their own Barbie doll.

COVID infections are rising in China and there are growing fears that new variants could emerge.For the first time in more than two years, many people around the world are celebrating the winter holiday season without COVID-19 restrictions.But COVID infections are rising in China and there are growing fears that new variants could emerge.

Colon cancer has claimed another life.Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Kirstie Alley, best known for her roles in the television sitcoms Cheers and Veronica's Closet, died Monday at age 71 after battling cancer that was recently discovered, according to a family statement.A representative for Alley confirmed to CNN via email on Tuesday that she had been diagnosed with colon cancer prior to her death.

New Zealand will launch an official inquiry into its Covid-19 response so that future governments are better prepared to deal with pandemics, prime minister Jacinda Ardern has announced.The government announced the royal commission of inquiry  to be chaired by Australian-based epidemiologist Prof Tony Blakely, former cabinet minister Hekia Parata and former treasury secretary John Whitehead  on Monday afternoon.

"If they're still infectious, it's still much smarter, it's wiser, to have them work from home if they can," she says."If you work in a local bakery[and] say you've tested positive and you're not sick, you have to tell the owner 'I'm going to wear a mask for seven days'," he says.However, people who work in high-risk settings will not be able to return to work for five days after testing positive, and the official health advice for all workers is still for people to work from home or avoid going to work if they test positive and have symptoms.

The emergency stage of Covid-19 is over-at least in official terms.The World Health Organization declared an end to the Covid global health emergency last week, and the US will end its federal public health emergency for Covid on Thursday.These announcements come a full year after the European Union moved to end its emergency declaration.

2020 was the year of Covid lockdowns, 2021 the year of vaccines, and 2022 the year of worldwide reopening.2023 will be the year of variant prediction.The first Covid variants of concern that were identified-from Alpha in the UK to Beta in South Africa-muddied the picture of where the pandemic would go next.

Eric Biondi, director of the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Division at Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Maryland, says the beds there are full.The center even opened surge beds, but those are now full too.The children's hospital is no stranger to fielding severe illness from RSV and the flu, but this year they've hit simultaneously.

While America's top doc fought Covid, deniers fought him.He still can't figure out why.Beginning in 2023, we won't have Dr. Anthony Fauci to kick around any more.After 38 years in government service, the director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as well as the White House's chief medical advisor, is leaving his jobs-don't say "retiring"-and, at 82, is headed to his next adventure.

Three of the eight confirmed cases are receiving treatment even as 161 contacts are being monitored, according to the WHO.Tanzania has confirmed eight cases of Marburg, a high-death viral hemorrhagic fever with symptoms broadly similar to those of Ebola, in its first-ever outbreak, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The country officially declared its first outbreak of Marburg virus disease on Monday.The World Health Organization (WHO) has intensified surveillance after Equatorial Guinea confirmed an outbreak of the Marburg virus, a highly infectious and deadly disease similar to Ebola, which killed nine people in the African country.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Population-wide screening for variations in thousands of genes is limited in its ability to accurately predict the risk of developing a disease, experts have warned.

At least 11 people have died since winter storms battered the San Bernardino Mountains.Meanwhile, in Nevada County in Northern California, the lights have been off for thousands of customers due to storms in the area.Training Program For Health Care Workers Facing Big Cuts
Public health officials in California are calling on the governor to reconsider a plan to slash funding to a training program for public health workers.

Infants younger than 6 months had the same rate of hospitalization as seniors age 65 to 74 during this summer's Omicron wave, according to a new report.The findings, published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, show that COVID-19 can still cause severe and fatal outcomes in children too young to be vaccinated.