Thursday, July 31, 2008

HIV / AIDS in African American pop rivaling Africa

"U.S. leads global efforts against AIDS, but neglects epidemic in Black America."

Levels of African Americans with HIV / AIDS rivaling some African nations.

Read report: http://www.blackaids.org/ShowArticle.aspx?articletype=SITEFEATURE&articleid=576&pagenumber=1

Environmental movement a model for One Health movement?

An oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, in 1969 helped launch the environmental movement.

Could this serve as a model for a "One Health" / Convergence of human, animal and environmental movement?

And, will it take a "oil spill" in the convergence context to create such a movement?

Report on 1969 oil spill from National Public Radio: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91808345

Sunblock for fruit? Farm producers using SPF on plant

Sunscreen for fruits and vegetables is being tested in Australia, Chile and California .

Just like people can get sunburns, produce can also get nasty burns. That's why farmers are applying sunscreen to their crops to prevent skin blistering, heat stress and blemishes.

Climate change and drought have meant challenging growing conditions affecting the quality, yields and price of produce. Farmers lose money with each fruit or vegetable that develops sun damage.

Full article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25907647/

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

HIV - AIDS on rise among Latinos - The nexus of disease and migration

"So far, the toll of AIDS in the nation's largest and fastest-growing minority population has mostly been overshadowed by the epidemic among African Americans and gay white men. Yet in major U.S. cities, as many as 1 in 4 gay Hispanic men has HIV, a rate on par with sub-Saharan Africa."

"The nexus of AIDS and migration -- the reality that viruses know no borders -- will gain fresh prominence at the International AIDS Conference next month in Mexico City. It is a nexus that plays out in dramatic fashion in San Ysidro and other communities along the U.S.-Mexican border, where the tensions associated with immigration tend to exacerbate an already stigmatized illness."

Full article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25808098/

Monday, July 14, 2008

Interview - Dr. Lonnie King - Zoonotic disease explained

Interview with CDC's Dr. Lonnie King from the American Public Health Association:

"...first major group of zoonotic diseases probably occurred between 8,000 and 10,000 years ago..."

"...approximately 75 percent of the new human diseases that have emerged are zoonotic..."

"...in the summer or warm months when there are mosquitoes, you need to worry about West Nile virus or other mosquito-transmitted diseases..."

Link:http://www.getreadyforflu.org/pg_advice_zoonoticdiseases.htm

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Vaccine to limit E.Coli 0157:H7 spread

Today, Bioniche Life Sciences presented data on an E.coli 0157:H7 vaccine that is the world's first to be used on-farm to reduce the amount of E.coli O157:H7 in cattle. The vaccine efficacy test rate in calves was 98.3%.

E.coli O157:H7 is most recognized due to food contamination recalls and of concern in beef, produce and prepared food. A result of improved interventions could be a reduction in the potential for human illnesses and death.

In the U.S. alone, approximately 100,000 E.coli O157:H7 cases are reported each year.

More: http://www.pharmalive.com/News/Index.cfm?articleid=555114

Can Cell Phones Help End Poverty

Cell phones are everywhere and the hands of more than 3 billion users worldwide. With 1.6 million new cell phones added everyday, how can they go from a communication tool to contact mom or the spouse for that frequent stop at the store for more milk?

The article below describes Nokia's efforts to link phone design and technology to end user needs, and examines cell phones as a tool for managing poverty, among other global crises.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/magazine/13anthropology-t.html