Public Health Roundup: Wide Gap In Black Infant Mortality Rates; High Temps Lead To Toddlers Falling Out Of Windows
And in other public health news: autism, genomics, West Nile virus, vaping, yoga and teen birth rates.
Los Angeles Times:
In The U.S., Infant Mortality Gap Costs The Lives Of About 4,000 Black Babies Each Year
If black infants born in the United States had all of the health and medical benefits enjoyed by white infants, nearly 4,000 fewer of them would die each year, new research suggests. That would amount to a nearly 60% decrease in the number of black infants that die each year. Instead, black babies are nearly 2.5 times more likely than white babies to die during their first year of life. (Kaplan, 7/3)
The Mercury News:
Toddlers Often Fall From Windows When Temperatures Rise
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center officials on Friday said four toddlers who have fallen out of second- or third-story windows since June 17 provide a cautionary tale to all parents: When temperatures rise, so does the risk of these falls. “Just like adults, when it’s hot, children are drawn to a breeze from a window,’’ said Dr. Adella Garland, VMC’s director of general surgery. (Seipel, 6/30)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Autism Still Gets Dismissed By Some Doctors, Family Learns In Yearlong Challenge
oe and Rafeef Samo knew something was wrong with their younger son when, at the age of two and a half, he began regressing socially. At times, he didn’t appear to be aware of others. At other times, he had tantrums that lasted interminably. He began hurting himself. These were abundant signs of problems that needed attention. But it took the San Diego couple an entire year to get a diagnosis that their son, now 7, had autism. They were the drivers, saying that their then-pediatrician was dismissive of their concerns. (Fikes, 7/4)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
What Is Genomics, And How Can It Help You?
he study of genes, called genetics, has been around for decades. But of late, it has been overshadowed by genomics, which studies all the DNA in an organism. San Diego County’s large biotech industry has made this region a hotbed of genomics, as shown during the Biotechnology Innovation Organization’s recent national convention here and the Festival of Genomics, which took place this past week in the same city. (Fikes, 7/2)
The Bakersfield Californian:
West Nile Virus Infects First Resident In Kern County This Year
A Kern County resident has been infected with West Nile virus, the first human to have reported contracting the disease in the county, according to the Kern County Public Health Services Department. West Nile virus, an arthropod-borne virus, is transmitted through mosquitos, which contract the virus through birds they feed on. (Pierce, 6/30)
KPBS:
Cost Of Vaping Goes Up Again In California
Thanks to the passage of Proposition 56, the tax rate of tobacco products other than cigarettes is being raised again. The new, higher tobacco tax does not apply to vaping devices. But it does apply to any other vaping products that contain nicotine, including e-liquids. (Goldberg, 6/30)
The Mercury News:
For Girls In Juvenile Hall, ‘Trauma-Informed’ Yoga Is A Saving Grace
The young women sat in a tight circle on purple mats, ready to start their weekly yoga session before lunch. A small centerpiece was set on the gym floor with flameless candles and inspirational stones that read “believe,” “courage” and “blessing.” “You’re in control of your body,” said instructor Rocsana Enriquez as she guided them through a series of classic poses: Cat. Warrior. Tree. (Sanchez, 7/4)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Nation's Teen Birth Rate Falls To Record Low, New Report Says
he nation’s birth rate for teenagers has fallen to an all-time low, according to new provisional data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency’s National Center for Health Statistics estimated that overall, American women had nearly 40,000 fewer babies last year than they did in 2015. The overall birth rate declined from 62.5 to 62 newborns per 1,000 females aged 15 to 44. Almost all of that year-over-year drop occurred among girls and young women, with every age bracket from 10 to 29 showing declines in births. (Sisson, 7/4)