Many American Children Chronically Absent from School Are Sick and Disabled
A report released in March 2024 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that millions of American children experienced chronic absenteeism from school due to an injury, illness and/or disability.1 Many states define chronic absenteeism as missing 10 percent of school days (or around 18 days) during a school year. The […]
Life-Threatening Skin Reactions Linked to Commonly Prescribed Antibiotics
According to a large, two-decade-long study of older adults, commonly prescribed oral antibiotics are linked to skin reactions known as cutaneous adverse drug reactions (cADRs), which can be life-threatening. These cADRs can vary significantly in severity and symptoms, ranging from mild, itchy rashes to life-threatening reactions that cause extensive skin peeling and blistering. In severe […]
WHO Declares Monkeypox a Global Health Emergency
On Aug. 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox (mpox) a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). “Today, the Emergency Committee met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,1 2 3 […]
Coronavirus Test Swabs Contain Carcinogen Ethylene Oxide
Ethylene oxide (EtO) is primarily used to produce chemicals such as antifreeze. But in smaller quantities, EtO is also used as a pesticide as well as a sterilizing agent in medical settings.1 The ability of ethylene oxide to damage DNA is what makes it effective as a pesticide and sterilizing agent, but is also what […]
Vaccine Strain Poliovirus Detected in Gaza Sewage—WHO Sending a Million Doses of Polio Vaccine
In response to a statement last week by the Palestinian Ministry of Health declaring that the Gaza Strip is “epidemic area“ for polio, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced it will send more than one million doses of polio vaccine to be administered over the next few weeks even though the poliovirus detected in Palestine […]
Weight Loss Drugs Ozempic and Wegovy Linked to Vision Loss
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight loss drugs sold under brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy, has been linked to a condition that causes vision loss, according to a new study published on July 3, 2024 in JAMA Ophthalmology. In the study, patients who were prescribed semaglutide were more likely to develop non-arteritic anterior […]