+Numbers | July 18, 2011

17,584

Reported measles cases in the first half of 2011, as reported by Ethiopian health officials to the United Nations. Public health experts blame much of the spread on conditions at refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya, where poor sanitation, frequent movement and close quarters create an environment where infectious diseases — including cholera and typhoid fever in addition to measles — flourish [via AP]

+Global Health | July 6, 2011

U.N. Update: Barriers to Women’s Access to Justice and Health Care Persist

By Meredith Melnick
BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images

As it does each year in advance of the G8 meeting, the United Nations released an update on Tuesday on its progress toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), a series of initiatives set forth in 2000 to improve conditions for the world’s poorest and most disadvantaged inhabitants, while fostering environmental sustainability, development and global partnerships.

+Public Health | September 7, 2010

The Daily Dose: Superbug Hits Japan, Magic Mushrooms and Fancy Sneaker Smackdown

By Meredith Melnick

Custom Running Shoes Don’t Lower Injury Risk: Sporting goods stores that evaluate foot shape to help customers buy running shoes may have it wrong. A study of Marine recruits who had running shoes customized to their arch heights showed that nice shoes didn’t lower the instance of injury during basic training.