Category: Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program

AFM is Serious: Know the Symptoms. Act Fast.

Little girl in wheelchair

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a serious neurologic condition that causes limb weakness and paralysis. While uncommon, AFM affects mostly children, and can have devastating, long-term effects for patients and their families. There have been three AFM outbreaks in the United States—in 2014, 2016, and 2018. If this biennial pattern continues, another outbreak might occur Read More >

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Probabilities, Not Promises: How Computer Models are Used in Emergency Preparedness & Response

Computer models are not crystal balls. They are the result of a set of variables going through mathematical algorithms. What comes out is a simulation of what might happen if present truths are accurate predictors of future trends. Models show probabilities; they don’t make promises. Models have many applications. Epidemiologists use them to predict disease Read More >

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The Hero Within: Knowing Hands-Only CPR & How To Use An AED Can Save Lives

Performing CPR

The first week of June was National CPR/AED Awareness Week. In belated observance, Public Health Matters looks at how people can confidently help someone in cardiac arrest. The numbers are staggering. About 350,000 people have a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital each year, and about 9 in 10 of them die. (1) Bystanders and Read More >

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What You Need to Know About Pets & COVID-19

Golden retriever laying on ground next to cat

Post updated: Dec. 14, 2020 May 3 to 9, 2020, is National Pet Week. With the recent news of tigers, lions, and pet cats and dogs in the US testing positive for the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), you may be wondering about the risks to your pets. We’re still learning about this Read More >

Posted on by Casey Barton Behravesh, MS, DVM, DrPH, DACVPM, Director, One Health Office, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases13 CommentsTags , , , , , , ,

Managing Asthma During COVID-19

Little girl in a mask, treatments respiratory tract with a nebulizer at home

Asthma is a serious, but common lung condition that affects 1 in 13 people, including adults and children. People with moderate to severe asthma might be at a higher risk of getting very sick from Coronavirus (COVID-19). The past six months have proven to be a busy time for our family. We have made our Read More >

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National Battery Day: Plan Ahead with Emergency Power Sources

In observance of National Battery Day on February 18, take a minute to think about how integrated electricity and power sources, like batteries, are to our everyday lives. Electricity is so integral to our routines, that we sometimes take it for granted. So many facets of our lives require electricity. Look around you. From cell Read More >

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