02
Jun
2017
Outbreaks

Zika Virus: What Can We Expect this Summer?

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 »
10
Mar
2017
Preventing Infection
by Barbara M. Soule, RN, MPA, CIC, FSHEA, FAPIC

Superbugs: Rising from Hospital Drainpipes

Superbugs are sneaky creatures. A new University of Virginia (UVA) study reveals how these microbes, once washed down the drains of hospital sinks, colonize the drainpipe and rise up slowly along the sides of the pipe, eventually reaching the sink strainer. The researchers hypothesize that when the sink faucet is operated, the potential pathogens and... Read More »
09
Feb
2017
Norovirus
by Chris Wiant, MPH, PhD

Your Norovirus Season Survival Guide

Norovirus, the dreaded “stomach flu” or “winter vomiting disease,” is spreading misery far and wide this winter. The Wall Street Journal (January 24) reported on multiple school closures across the US and unhappy households in which family members are falling sick in succession like a line of dominoes. Meet the Virus Not a flu but... Read More »
09
Dec
2016
Preventing Infection
by Water Quality & Health Council

Handkerchief or Tissues? That is the Question!

Ah-choo! How do you handle sneezes and a runny nose? Do you reach for a handkerchief or tissues? Which option is more sanitary? Which option is most environmentally responsible? How do affordability, comfort and convenience factor into your decision? More men than women may prefer handkerchiefs, but that may be changing. Rather than endorse one... Read More »
28
Oct
2016
Flu
by Ralph Morris, MD, MPH

Five Tips for Getting through Flu Season

The 2016–2017 flu season is off to a slow start, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts an uptick in flu activity in the coming weeks and months. Here are some tips to help prepare and inform you as flu appears in your community: Get a Flu Shot: CDC recommends a flu... Read More »