Surge In STDs Attributed To Perfect Storm Of Rise In Reporting, Lower Condom Use
Experts are particularly concerned by the increasing rate of syphilis among women, and in particular pregnant women
The Mercury News:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases On The Rise In Bay Area, State
Sexually transmitted diseases — chlamydia, gonorrhea, and early (infectious) syphilis — have mostly been on the rise in the Bay Area over the past six years, according to state Department of Public Health statistics. One local health official said the trend reflects fewer people using condoms and increased reporting of the diseases by medical clinics. (Richards, 11/22)
In other public health news —
The New York Times:
Creeping Progress In Pledge To Cut Calories In Sugary Soda
It hasn’t been a good year for the troika that dominates soft drink sales, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Dr Pepper Snapple. The public’s attention on the health effects of sugary sodas has continued to increase, slowing growth and increasing political pressure. This year, soft drink companies and their lobbying group, the American Beverage Association, spent $38 million to defeat election-season proposals to impose taxes on sugary drinks in four cities: San Francisco, Oakland and Albany in California, and Boulder, Colo. The companies lost all of those fights. Now, seven cities around the country have a soda tax. (Strom, 11/22)
Sacramento Bee:
Sacramento Community Leaders Tackle High Black Youth Death Rates
It’s the sort of game-changing aid – $2.5 million over the next three years – that Focus on Family and six other Sacramento County nonprofit groups say they need to grapple with the county’s alarmingly high rates of black child deaths. Including money spent on a range of other services, the county has dedicated $26 million to the effort, and matriarchs, health workers and other leaders in seven of the most affected neighborhoods are making big plans for change. Between 2010 and 2015, African American children in Sacramento County died at far higher rates than those of people under age 18 from other racial or ethnic groups. (Caiola, 11/23)