“You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.”
— William Wilberforce
In April 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report estimating the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States at 1 in 59 children. The figure was based on a 2014 survey of eight-year-old children across 11 residential communities in the country, so clearly it was out of […]
The government of Peru declared a 90-day health emergency earlier this month following an outbreak of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) that has killed at least four people in the country. According to the Institute of Neurological Sciences (INCN) in Lima, Peru, the emergency was declared because the cases “have unusual and atypical characteristics that require rapid […]
Story Highlights Findings from a new study suggest that removing the appendix is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. The appendix, which is an organ that is part of the body’s immune system, was once believed by medical professionals to have no functional purpose. Interfering with the body’s natural immune system carries the […]
With all the attention to being given by the media and state legislatures to measles these days, it easy to overlook the mysterious polio-like disorder known as acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) that continues to affect children in the United States and other countries. Last year, there were a total of 230 confirmed cases of AFM […]
Story Highlights A new, experimental vaccine against celiac disease has been granted fast-track status by the FDA, indicating a perceived urgency in getting the vaccine to market. Celiac disease has been increasing dramatically over the last 50 or so years, approximately mirroring the introduction of new breeds of wheat, bred for greater yield, that now […]
In October 2018, the Minnesota State Senate established a working group called the Minnesota Autism Council to provide guidance on how best to address issues relating to autism, including “treatment, educational options, employment opportunities, independent living, and more.” It was decided that the council would consist of individuals from different backgrounds, including autism advocates and […]
Public school teachers in Los Angeles, California went on strike last month to demand better conditions for students in their schools. Not only were teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District asking for a pay increase but also demanded smaller class sizes, more counselors, more librarians and a full-time nurse in every school.1 Such […]
On Dec. 10, 2018, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a record 158 confirmed cases of the polio-like condition known as acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in 36 states. The number surpassed the previous record of 149 confirmed cases in 39 states in 2016.1 As of Dec. 21, 2018, confirmed cases of AFM […]
Health officials have still been unable to find definitive answers to the cause and treatment for acute transverse myelitis (ATM)— paralytic condition associated with inflammation in the spinal cord. Historically, the first ATM cases were described in 1882, but the term “acute transverse myelitis” was not used until 1948.1 Now, the estimated incidence is approximately 1,400 […]
On Nov. 19, 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the creation of the Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) Task Force aimed at looking for the cause of AFM—a mysterious polio-like illness that involves inflammation of the spinal cord and primarily paralyzes healthy children—and improving treatment and outcomes for individuals suffering with AFM. […]