About 1 in 6 people in the United States gets sick from eating contaminated food, a rate that has not declined in seven years.
Public Health
Fertilizer’s Dangerous Ingredient: The Health Hazards of Ammonia Exposure
A blast at a fertilizer plant in the small town of West, Texas, raises concerns about exposure to anhydrous ammonia, a potentially deadly gas that is stored at high pressure.
Protecting Against Ricin Exposure: Mail Facility Safeguards “Work”
Screening procedures put in place after 9-11 detected letters testing positive for ricin mailed to the President and Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi.
Why Circumcision Lowers Risk of HIV
Promising trials hinted that circumcision could lower rates of HIV infection, but until now, researchers didn’t fully understand why
Letter With Ricin Sent to Senator: How Dangerous Is the Toxin?
Congressional officials confirmed that a letter addressed to Senator Roger Wicker tested positive for ricin, a potentially fatal natural toxin.
SARS 10 Years Later: Are We Better Prepared for Outbreaks?
SARS raised the worldwide alarm for how vulnerable we are to disease epidemics. Did we learn our lesson?
What Roller Derby Can Teach Us about Our Germs
Researcher and former skater Jessica Green wanted to test how microbes are spread by contact. What better way to do so than via a sport with plenty of contact?
Aloha to the Healthiest State: Hawaii Ranks Highest in Well-Being
Are we really surprised?
Remembering Dr. C. Everett Koop, America’s Doctor
Koop endowed the office of Surgeon General with important powers to influence public health
The Legacy of Lead: How the Metal Affects Academic Achievement
Lead exposure may be on the decline, but it’s still taking its toll on children’s performance in school.
In Global Push for Vaccination, Moms Give Kids a Shot@Life
To promote the need for immunizations, public health groups turn to mothers.
If Men Are Scarce, Women Have Smaller Babies
It’s about evolution; if dads aren’t around, mothers-to-be make subconscious calculations to balance their needs against those of their children.
What Researchers Can Learn from a Failed TB Vaccine Trial
A highly anticipated trial of a tuberculosis vaccine yields disappointing results.