The CDC posted a nationwide food safety alert on a contaminated batch of baby spinach with a E.coli O157:H7, specifically Josie’s Organic Baby Spinach with best by date of 23 October 2021. So far, there have been 10 reported illnesses and 2 hospitalizations in 7 states.
Continue reading “Baby spinach contaminated with toxic E.coli”Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment of coastal zones in Washington by Eleni Kokolakis
Eleni Kokolakis developed a THIRA table on the flooding risk of the coastal zones of Washington. View it here.
Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment of NYC Health and Hospitals by Holly Romeo
An excellent assessment of the hazards and risks of NYC health and hospitals by NYU student Holly Romeo. See it here.
Case Study Presentation on Bioterrorism by Khadija Akther
Khadija Akther presented an excellent case on our state of preparedness against bioterrorism events. After the occurrence of 9/11, for instance, there were numerous factors that assessed the management of the event, and its takeaways for future events.
Continue reading “Case Study Presentation on Bioterrorism by Khadija Akther”Investigative journal finds a flaw in Salmonella testing
Investigations of salmonella outbreaks revealed that the outdated policies and influence from industry has hindered action to prevent pathogens that cause foodborne illness from entering the food chain.
Continue reading “Investigative journal finds a flaw in Salmonella testing”CDC revises it’s herd immunity targets
The CDC have revised the recommendation of vaccinating a specific number of individuals as the end goal, instead the focus is now on reducing mortality and the spread of infection for a certain period of time. The CDC have not yet determined the details of this period and how long it must be sustained to deem any public health interventions as successful. Furthermore, the term herd immunity will be replaced by community immunity to emphasize the factors that influence transmission at the local level. Read the full news article here, and the CDC update here.
$1.85 trillion infrastructure bill to build back better
President Biden signed a bill into law that aims to improve the nation’s infrastructure, from upgrading electrical grids to cleaning up superfund sites. A significant amount will be dedicated to tackling environmental issues such as removing lead from water systems, improving climate resiliency, cleaning up environmental issues overseen by the EPA, targeting racial inequity, investing in climate change action, and expanding transportation to underserved rural areas. Read the New York Times article here.
Dr. Jacqueline Merrill: the co-developer of the public health emergency competencies
Dr. Jacqueline Merrill, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, FACMI is interviewed by Dr. Robyn Gershon and delves into her career from starting as a nursing graduate working in critical care to becoming the director for public health preparedness at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
Continue reading “Dr. Jacqueline Merrill: the co-developer of the public health emergency competencies”Thousands protest climate change at COP26 and around the world
The biggest COP26 protest so far took place with thousands in attendance, with many similar events occurring in 100 countries around the world. Activists are challenging global leaders and demand action for climate justice by marching from Kelvingrove Park to Glasgow Green. Read the full story here.
Country policy updates on climate change
Read a brief article that pin points key policies and promises on climate change here.