Public Health

As the world holds its breath and waits for the start of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution, there is a looming question about the apparent exclusion of pregnant women in vaccine trials. Pregnant women have been found to be at an increased risk of contracting severe forms of COVID-19. According…

Despite improvement over the recent years, more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur every year in the United States. Medical uncertainty amid the COVID-19 pandemic contributes to the surge of wrong prescriptions and treatments, amplifying the threat of antibiotic resistance.…

Crime in Los Angeles county went from 257 homicides in 2019 to 300 homicides so far in 2020. Major cities across the United States have also been seeing rising numbers of shootings, murders, and crime in general this year. Minneapolis Police attributes the shortage of police officers as one reason…

Rural communities in Missouri have been experiencing record-high infection and death rates due to COVID-19. Critically ill patients from rural areas are sent to urban hospitals for more advanced treatments, causing strain on hospital capacities and staffing. These areas are particularly unadapted…

According to a recent CDC report, the rate of overdoses deaths as a result of cocaine has skyrocketed since 2014. There is now a 2½ rate increase of cocaine-related deaths that is plaguing the nation despite the years of stable overdose deaths from 2009 through 2013. While the report does not…

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is at the global front of responding to public health threats, but their role in the COVID-19 response has been significantly affected and filtered politically by the White House. Two CDC retirees, Bruce G. Weniger, MD, MPH (medical…

A CDC study released demographic information of hospitalized COVID-19 patients from 14 states in the month of March. It found that African Americans make up 33% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients despite making up only 13% of the U.S. population. This study highlights not only the racial disparities…

As state officials implement stay-at-home orders amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, police departments have seen a noticeable increase of domestic violence cases in hot spot cities. 9-1-1 call data is not entirely all-encompassing, however, as domestic violence victims may choose to seek help from…

During the current pandemic, people are experiencing different levels of “solution aversion” in response to the call for social distancing. Solution aversion can be defined as the psychological phenomenon in which people tend to deny a problem when they are resistant to the solution. The current…

Credit: Getty ImagesDuring the current COVID-19 outbreak, the EPA has decided to ease restrictions on pollution. Public health experts are concerned this decision will endanger those who are susceptible to COVID-19 by aggravating respiratory illnesses. Historically, in virus hot spots such as New…

The coronavirus poses a threat to college campuses across the United States, prompting many schools to quickly formulate preparedness plans and inform students of changes to campus life including alternative online class options. Schools are also imposing travel restrictions, preventing university…

Despite projections of 1 to 1.5 million tests to be performed this week from Vice President Mike Pence and Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the FDA, the number of actual tests performed in the U.S. is much lower. The Atlantic was only able to verify that less than 1,900 people have received…

Northwell Health, a large healthcare provider in the state of New York, has pledged one million dollars to help address the issue of gun violence. In addition, their President and CEO, Michael Dowling, is urging others in the healthcare industry to also treat gun violence as a health and public…

Jason Green — The Mercury News In order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), Stanford University has canceled all in-person classes for the last two weeks of the winter quarter, as well as their yearly Admit Weekend event for prospective undergraduates who have been offered…