In recent news, Princeton University has been making headlines, but not because of their brilliant students. Yesterday, ABC news reported the Ivy League university has been faced with the re-emergence of Meningitis B. Since March, seven cases have been diagnosed, a majority of these being students. There has been debate among the FDA, the nation and the school on whether to import the vaccine, Bexsero, into the United States, but after much deliberation, the FDA has approved the importation. The vaccine is approved in Europe and Australia, but not yet in the United States. Bexsero is the only vaccine used for the type B strain. Bacterial meningitis is pretty rare, but the B strain is seen frequently in the United States and Europe. One in ten die and one in five suffer permanent disability. New Jersey mandates those living in college dorms to receive the vaccine against the other strains of meningitis, but type B has a separate vaccination, which is why many are not aware. College campuses provide a perfect breeding ground for the bacteria and officials are urging students to not have close contact, drink from each other, share items, but to wash hands and cover their mouths. Symptoms can quickly develop and meningitis can be fatal! The major symptom attributed to meningitis is a stiff neck. Among the students interviewed, many seemed willing to consider the vaccine. From an epidemiologist standpoint, I would be interested in figuring out how the disease was transmitted among those infected individuals and why hasn't the U.S. approved this vaccine yet? I believe the United States needs to always be prepared for the re-emergence of once rare, or even eradicated diseases and have the necessary vaccines, prevention strategies and treatment to be as success as possible in all their efforts to eliminate the spread.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/princeton-university-considers-meningitis-vaccine-20921420
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Water: Something We Shouldn't Take For Granted
On Monday, we had a guest speaker, Dr. Duran from Virginia Tech's faculty talk to our class about the water issues among developing countries around the world. He was such a knowledge person and very personable! I learned a lot from his lecture, but a very interesting finding he presented was how the women, in developing countries, were usually the gatherers of the water for the household. I found this unfair because women have so many other chores they must complete around the home daily and producing safe drinking water seems like the most daunting of the chores. In some developing countries, the government has installed pipes that run water into these areas, but when tested the water from the pipes usually contains fecal coliforms. We learned, the pipes do not circulate water continuously, creating pressure so this leads to cracking, which increases the chance of bacteria within the pipes.
Properly boiling and storing the water can prevent these fecal coliforms from appearing and reduce an individual's risk for illness, but many people in these developing areas run into obstacles. Dr. Duran was discussing how some people did not understand how to properly boil their water and were merely heating the water and then storing it in uncovered tubs. He also discussed how many people do not have the time or space to properly boil their drinking water and since those in their household seem free from disease, the "raw" water must be fine to consume without boiling. Listening to the guest speaker made me realize how I take such a basic necessity for granted. In our country, water is always available. We can make it hot or cold, run slow or fast, and have access to it everywhere! For those in developing countries, water can be deadly if it is not properly treated or an area is lacking it. I have found a new appreciation for my water and now I think twice about long showers and letting the water run continuously when brushing my teeth. Water shouldn't be something we take for granted, it should be something we always appreciate.
Properly boiling and storing the water can prevent these fecal coliforms from appearing and reduce an individual's risk for illness, but many people in these developing areas run into obstacles. Dr. Duran was discussing how some people did not understand how to properly boil their water and were merely heating the water and then storing it in uncovered tubs. He also discussed how many people do not have the time or space to properly boil their drinking water and since those in their household seem free from disease, the "raw" water must be fine to consume without boiling. Listening to the guest speaker made me realize how I take such a basic necessity for granted. In our country, water is always available. We can make it hot or cold, run slow or fast, and have access to it everywhere! For those in developing countries, water can be deadly if it is not properly treated or an area is lacking it. I have found a new appreciation for my water and now I think twice about long showers and letting the water run continuously when brushing my teeth. Water shouldn't be something we take for granted, it should be something we always appreciate.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Let's Be The Cultural Cure!
The world is vast and full of unexplored outlets pertaining to health. Dr. Wallis and her Epidemiology class have begun to open my eyes to not only the issues existing in our own country, but those throughout the world. On Monday, we listened to a lecture on global health and it reinforced the notation that her class is providing insight into other parts of the world and the issues they are battling. On Monday, November 4, Nicaragua has been battling Dengue. This illness is a classic staple of the humid, South American climate and other parts of the world. Mosquitos are the main vector for the illness and thrive in moist, tropical climates. It has been an epidemic for some time and continues to cause illness throughout these populations. Currently, five children, ranging in age from 5 to 15, have Dengue fever and are in critical condition. Over 1,000 people have become hospitalized as a result of Dengue fever in Nicaragua. The government and Cuban health officials have acknowledged the current epidemic and are planning strategies to control the outbreak. Becoming educated about issues around the globe allows for a more diverse outlook on health prevention and treatment. It's so easy sometimes to enclose yourself in your own world and not explore areas outside of it. Dr. Wallis challenges me to take a step back out of this world and dive into one that I never paid attention too. By becoming educated and understanding other nations, you become more culturally competent and can then begin to think critically about prevention and implementation strategies that may be more successful than those strategies before. For example, the issue of unsuccessful relocation attempts of individuals living in urban slums, understanding their mindset, culture and way of life could lead to more successful strategies to overcome this problem not only in Europe, but throughout the world!
Source: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2013/11/04/5-kids-in-critical-condition-with-dengue-fever-in-nicaragua/
Source: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2013/11/04/5-kids-in-critical-condition-with-dengue-fever-in-nicaragua/
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