Category: water

Why Diarrhea & Swimming Don’t Mix

Two children by the pool

  The summer swim season is here, and millions of Americans will be flocking to local pools for fun in the sun and exercise. However, swimming, like any form of exercise, does not come without health risks. The good news is that we can all take a few simple but effective steps to help keep Read More >

Posted on by Michele Hlavsa4 CommentsTags , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

After Matthew: The Hidden Dangers of Hurricanes

Fallen trees and damaged electrical power lines blocking a road; hazards after a natural disaster wind storm

The thrashing winds have died down. Relentless rain has ceased. The clouds have cleared and the sun is shining. But this is no time to let your guard down. Last week, Hurricane Matthew pounded its way through the Caribbean before bearing down on the eastern U.S. coastline from Florida to North Carolina. Many lives and Read More >

Posted on by Blog Administrator1 CommentTags , , , , , ,

Small Changes, Big Dividends: A Global Look at Preparedness

Soumbedioune fish market in Dakar, Senegal

There’s a big difference between seeing something in a picture and experiencing it in 360-degree reality, saturated with sounds and smells. In the summer of 1987, I traveled to Senegal for three weeks. This was the first time I had really traveled and seen firsthand what the rest of the world was like. In Dakar, Read More >

Posted on by Dr. Stephen Redd, Director, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response2 CommentsTags , , , ,

Danger in the Water: When Algae Becomes Toxic

Harmful algal blooms

Ever wondered what’s causing the water in your favorite lake to turn red?  Or were the family photos from your river rafting trip spoiled by brown water in the background? You may be looking at an algal bloom. Summer is upon us and warm weather is the perfect environment for these algal blooms, which can Read More >

Posted on by Blog Administrator10 CommentsTags , , , , , ,

Protecting the Air We Breathe: A deeper look at Legionnaires’ disease

Medical illustration of Legionella pneumophila

CDC scientists discovered Legionnaires’ disease in 1976, during one of the largest respiratory disease investigations in U.S. history. CDC’s disease detectives were called upon when people became sick with pneumonia, a serious lung infection, while attending an American Legion convention at a hotel in Philadelphia. Findings from the investigation suggested that a germ was being Read More >

Posted on by Blog Administrator6 CommentsTags , , , , ,

Zika, Mosquitoes, and Standing Water

Zika, Mosquitoes, and Standing Water

With spring weather and mosquito season coming soon in the United States, the Zika virus – and the mosquitoes that carry the virus – may be a major concern. Zika is currently affecting more than 30 countries and territories in the Americas and Pacific Islands. Zika virus is primarily spread through the bite of an Read More >

Posted on by Blog Administrator45 CommentsTags , , , , , ,