Infection Control Today Magazine

Public Health

WHO and UNICEF Condemn Attacks on Health Workers in Pakistan

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have issued a joint statement today: "WHO and UNICEF join the government of Pakistan and the provinces of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in condemning the multiple attacks that have killed six health workers in the past 24 hours. ...More
December 18, 2012
Posted in News
Emerging Vectorborne Diseases Create New Public Health Challenges

Land-use change, globalization of trade and travel, and social upheaval are driving the emergence of diseases in many regions, experts sayWest Nile virus, Lyme disease, dengue fever, and plague are examples of "vector-borne zoonotic diseases," caused by pathogens that ...More
December 1, 2012
Posted in News
Sources of E. coli are Not Always What They Seem

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have identified sources of Escherichia coli bacteria that could help restore the reputation of local livestock. Studies by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist Mark Ibekwe suggest that in some parts of California, ...More
November 30, 2012
Posted in News
Engineers Awarded $2.2 Million Grant for Toilet Research

A University of Toronto engineering team has received a major grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to continue work on designing for a waterless, hygienic toilet that is safe and affordable for people in the developing world. The Gates Foundation awarded the ...More
November 30, 2012
Posted in News
Survey: Many Adult Entertainment Workers Never Tested for HIV Despite Risky Behavior

To measure the incidence of substance abuse and risky sexual behavior as they related to healthcare, Esther Choo, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Rhode Island Hospital surveyed 69 female adult entertainment club workers in Rhode Island. The results were recently ...More
November 28, 2012
Posted in News
Researchers Explore Social Media for Infectious Diseases Prevention

A Kansas State University-led research team is looking at social media as a tool to reduce and prevent diseases from spreading. Researchers are studying whether a well-timed post from a public authority or trustworthy person could be as beneficial as flu shots, handwashing ...More
November 27, 2012
Posted in News
World Toilet Day Raises Awareness About Sanitation, Public Health Issues

World Toilet Day, being held today, Nov. 19, 2012, aims to highlight the plight of 2.5 billion people without access to a clean, private toilet. “I give a s---, do you?” is the theme of this global awareness campaign, spearheaded by the Water Supply and Sanitation ...More
November 19, 2012
Posted in News
Slide Show: Sequestration and Public Health

As Congress debates strategies to avoid the fiscal cliff, we look at the impact that sequestration would have on public health and infectious disease control and prevention. ...More
November 19, 2012
Posted in Galleries, Policies and Practice
Sequestration Could Cripple U.S. Public Health

Under the Budget Control Act, most Federal programs face an across-the-board cut in January 2013 if Congress does not enact a plan before then to reduce the national debt by $1.2 trillion. This inaction, and the resulting sequestration, has serious consequences for public ...More
November 16, 2012
Posted in News, Policies and Practice
Better Risk Communication Needed When Foods Pose Public Health Danger

The recent decision by supermarket giant Kroger to stop selling fresh sprouts is important for public health and shows why risk communication messages must be improved at all levels, according to a Kansas State University food safety expert. Doug Powell, professor of food ...More
October 30, 2012
Posted in News