Category: prevention

3 Reasons Why Handwashing Should Matter to You

Unseen woman washing her hands with soap in a sink.

Most of us are familiar with the parental-like voice in the back of our minds that helps guide our decision-making—asking us questions like, “Have you called your grandmother lately?” For many that voice serves as a gentle, yet constant reminder to wash our hands. Handwashing with soap and water is one of the most important Read More >

Posted on by David M. Berendes, PhD, MSPH, Epidemiologist15 CommentsTags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Personal Protective Actions You Can Take in a Flu Pandemic

Period photo of a flu patients during the 1918 influenza pandemic.

Every fall and winter the United States experiences epidemics of seasonal influenza (flu). Sometimes a flu pandemic occurs due to a new flu virus that spreads and causes illnesses around the world. We cannot predict when a flu pandemic will occur, but over the past 100 years, we have documented four flu pandemics resulting in Read More >

Posted on by National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Community Interventions for Infection Control Unit (CI-ICU)3 CommentsTags , , , , , , , , , ,

Kentucky Takes a Novel Approach to Fight the Opioid Crisis

A pile of prescription medicine bottles.

The opioid overdose epidemic is a public health emergency. The state of Kentucky has the third highest rate of drug overdose in the country. The FindHelpNowKY.org website bridges a gap between Kentucky residents and timely access to substance use treatment facilities and services. It provides near real-time available openings at local area substance use disorder Read More >

Posted on by Terry Bunn, Director, Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center at the University of Kentucky, College of Public Health2 CommentsTags , , , , , , , , , ,

Preventing Prescription Opioid Overdoses in New York State

A pile of prescription medicine bottles.

Like many states, New York is suffering from the consequences of the opioid overdose epidemic. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of overdoses due to both prescription and illicit drug use in recent years. Overdoses are killing people of all races and ages. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is Read More >

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The Right Accessories for Your #SunSafeSelfie

HEADER PHOTO_SunSafeSelfie_Public Health Matters

CDC is encouraging everyone to show off their favorite ways to stay sun-safe. Snap a photo of yourself, your friends, and your family using sun protection while outdoors and share on social media. Be sure to tag the photo with #SunSafeSelfie and check out other photos with the hashtag. Most importantly, practice what you post Read More >

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The 1918 Flu Pandemic: Why It Matters 100 Years Later

100 years ago, an influenza (flu) pandemic swept the globe, infecting an estimated one-third of the world’s population and killing at least 50 million people. The pandemic’s death toll was greater than the total number of military and civilian deaths from World War I, which was happening simultaneously.  At the time, scientists had not yet Read More >

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