03
Nov
2017
Flu

The Coming Flu Season
22
Sep
2017
Outbreaks
by Ralph Morris, MD, MPH

Getting Hepatitis A Off the Streets of San Diego

A Hepatitis A outbreak centered on homeless and illicit drug-using populations in the County of San Diego, California, has prompted a public health emergency. Headline-grabbing responses by local officials describe washing the streets and sidewalks with chlorine bleach solution, aggressively vaccinating the vulnerable populations, and distributing personal hygiene kits. What caused this local outbreak and... Read More »
21
Jul
2017
Preventing Infection
by Chris Wiant, MPH, PhD

Keeping Your Reusable Water Bottle Clean

The reusable water bottle is one of those “grab and go” items that travel with many of us on a daily basis. The filled water bottle provides a handy means of hydrating on the spot. As we’ve noted, many water fountains now conveniently include water bottle-filling features. There’s just one caveat to deriving the maximum health... Read More »
30
Jun
2017
Emergency Preparedness
by Water Quality & Health Council

Three Tips to Help You Prepare for a Home Water Emergency

Water flows into your home on a daily basis for essential uses, but how much do you know about your water supply and its circulation through your living space? Are you ready for a household water emergency? These tips can help you prepare for the unexpected. Know how to turn it off: In the event of... Read More »
02
Jun
2017
Outbreaks
by Bob G. Vincent, MPA

Zika Virus: What Can We Expect this Summer?

As summertime approaches and vulnerable areas of the US warm up, concerns over the potential spread of Zika virus are on the rise. The virus is spread mainly through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, but also can be transmitted sexually. Zika virus is associated with birth defects (microcephaly) in infants of infected... Read More »
12
May
2017
Norovirus
by Linda Golodner

A New Resource to Help Curtail Norovirus: Pictogram Disinfection Posters

Norovirus, the dreaded illness popularly known as the “stomach bug,” is the leading cause of gastrointestinal upset in the US. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 19 to 21 million cases of norovirus in the US annually. The highly contagious virus is an unwelcome visitor in schools, day... Read More »
05
May
2017
Outbreaks
by Fred Reiff, PE

Out of the Jungle: Yellow Fever on the Rise

Yellow fever, a deadly scourge transmitted by mosquitoes that has impacted the course of human history time and time again, is on the rise in Latin America. The first yellow fever death in Brazil in 17 years occurred in January 2017, when a young person who worked in the jungle succumbed to the disease. A... Read More »
31
Mar
2017
Preventing Infection
by Water Quality & Health Council

Preventing Infection with Environmental Controls: A “Broad-spectrum” Approach

As reports of the dangers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and “superbug” infections continue to make headlines, we think the time is right to consider the environmental controls at our disposal for fighting the spread of infectious illness. Environmental controls lower the risk of infection by taking the fight against pathogens into the environment. Once implemented, environmental... Read More »