public health

Cannabis candies, made to look appealing, are being ingested by children under 6, sending some kids to the hospital. Most of the children found the edible weed at their own homes.

Health & Safety

3,000+ young children accidentally ate weed edibles in 2021, study finds

12:19pm January 03, 2023

by Rhitu Chatterjee

The cases of accidental ingestion of cannabis candies and baked goods among small children increased 1,375% in five years, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics.

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Bithaniya Fieseha, a high school senior, graduates from the Youth Public Health Ambassador program run by the Fairfax County Health Department at West Springfield High School in Fairfax County, Va.

Health & Safety

Short on community health workers, a county trains teens as youth ambassadors

9:50am January 01, 2023

by Pien Huang

In Fairfax County, Va., the health department is training high school students to become health ambassadors in underserved communities and get a leg up on future careers in public health.

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People line up to receive the monkeypox vaccine.

Science
Arts

Talking about monkeypox? Then you should be talking about sex

5:00am August 18, 2022

by Andrew Limbong

Despite the possibility of stigmatizing queer sex, experts say it's important to keep sex at the center of the conversation around monkeypox.

People protest during a rally calling for more government action to combat the spread of monkeypox at Foley Square on July 21, 2022 in New York City.

Critics say 'monkeypox' is a racist name. But it's not going away anytime soon

3:34pm August 01, 2022

by Bill Chappell

Scientists call the name "discriminatory and stigmatizing." The World Health Organization agrees. But no progress has been made on finding a new name. And some say the name doesn't need changing.

A man waits in line to receive a monkeypox vaccine in Brooklyn, N.Y., earlier this month.

As monkeypox spreads, know the difference between warning and stigmatizing people

2:50pm July 26, 2022

by Rachel Treisman

While the current monkeypox outbreak appears to mostly affect men who have sex with other men, others are still at risk. History and public health experts say it's dangerous to suggest otherwise.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (right) has sued the CDC over its air travel mask mandate, while Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (left) has sued and sent cease and desist letters to dozens of school districts over mask mandates.

Conservative blocs unleash wave of litigation to curb public health powers

5:00am July 18, 2022

A coalition of religious groups, conservative think tanks, and Republican attorneys general have chipped away at local and state authority, altering how the nation can respond during health crises.

Health & Safety

COVID-19 booster shots available for kids 5-11 at Forsyth County Department of Public Health

3:35pm May 23, 2022

by April Laissle

COVID-19 booster shots are now available in North Carolina for children ages 5-11. The news comes amid a surge in cases.

President Joe Biden speaks at the virtual Global COVID-19 Summit on Sept. 22, 2021, in Washington, D.C. On May 12, the White House will host the second Global COVID-19 Summit.

5 big ideas for the White House's Global COVID Summit

5:18pm May 11, 2022

by KAMALA THIAGARAJAN

We asked experts from around the world: What would they like to see on the agenda for this virtual event. Their ideas include fair pay for all health workers — and a makeover for foreign aid.

Health & Safety

COVID-19 hospitalizations remain stable in NC, despite uptick in cases

10:49am April 29, 2022

by April Laissle

COVID-19 cases are up again in North Carolina.

A child receives a polio vaccine in Kampala, Uganda, on Jan. 14, 2022.

Vaccine-derived polio is on the rise. A new vaccine aims to stop the spread

6:18pm April 26, 2022

by Ari Daniel

Countries in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia are counting more cases of vaccine-derived polio. One reason for this, say experts, is that vaccination efforts have lapsed during the pandemic.

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