Suicide rising across the US

"Suicide is a leading cause of death in the US. Suicide rates increased in nearly every state from 1999 through 2016. Mental health conditions are often seen as the cause of suicide, but suicide is rarely caused by any single factor. In fact, many people who die by suicide are not known to have a diagnosed mental health condition at the time of death. Other problems often contribute to suicide, such as those related to relationships, substance use, physical health, and job, money, legal, or housing stress. Making sure government, public health, healthcare, employers, education, the media and community organizations are working together is important for preventing suicide. Public health departments can bring together these partners to focus on comprehensive state and community efforts with the greatest likelihood of preventing suicide.

States and communities can:

• Identify and support people at risk of suicide.
• Teach coping and problem-solving skills to help people manage challenges with their relationships, jobs, health, or other concerns.
• Promote safe and supportive environments. This includes safely storing medications and firearms to reduce access among people at risk.
• Offer activities that bring people together so they feel connected and not alone.
• Connect people at risk to effective and coordinated mental and physical healthcare.
• Expand options for temporary help for those struggling to make ends meet.
• Prevent future risk of suicide among those who have lost a loved one to suicide..."

Suicide

Keeping Backyard Chickens and Other Poultry

"ALERT: Multistate Outbreaks of Human Infections linked to Live Poultry

CDC and many states are investigating several outbreaks of human Salmonella infections linked to live poultry in backyard flocks. These outbreaks are a reminder to always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching live poultry.

Backyard chickens and other poultry can carry germs such as Salmonella. After you touch a bird, or anything in the area where birds live and roam, wash your hands so you don’t get sick!

Owning backyard chickens and other poultry can be a great experience. However, children and other groups of people have a greater chance of illness from handling live poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam. Even handling baby birds displayed at stores can cause a Salmonella infection.

There Are Many Ways You Can Get Salmonella from Live Poultry

Live poultry might have Salmonella germs in their droppings and on their bodies (feathers, feet, and beaks), even when they appear healthy and clean. The germs can get on cages, coops, feed and water dishes, hay, plants, and soil in the area where the birds live and roam. Germs also can get on the hands, shoes, and clothes of people who handle or care for the birds.

People become infected with Salmonella germs when they put their hands or equipment that has been in contact with live poultry in or around their mouth. Young children are more likely to get sick because their immune systems are still developing and they are more likely to put their fingers or pacifiers and other items into their mouths.

People who have contact with items, like coops or water dishes, in the area where poultry live can get sick without actually touching one of the birds. Germs on your hands can spread easily to other people or surfaces, which is why it’s important to wash hands immediately with soap and water after touching poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam...".
Backyard poultry

Avoid Dengue by Preventing Mosquito Bites

"Use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and control mosquitoes inside and outside your home.

Each year, an estimated 400 million people are infected with dengue virus. About 100 million get sick. Outbreaks have occurred in Southeast Asia, the Western Pacific, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa.

Signs and Symptoms of Dengue

Most people infected have mild or no symptoms. About 1 in 4 people infected with dengue will get sick. Mild symptoms of dengue may be confused with other illnesses that cause fever and flu-like illness. Most people will recover after about one week.

Global risk of dengue.

The most common symptoms are fever and one or more of the following:

• Headache
• Eye pain (typically behind the eyes)
• Muscle, joint, or bone pain
• Rash
• Nausea and vomiting
• Unusual bleeding (nose or gum bleed, small red spots under the skin, or unusual bruising).."
  Dengue

Home Canning and Botulism

"Home canning is an excellent way to preserve garden produce and share it with family and friends. But it can be risky—or even deadly—if not done correctly and safely.

It’s summertime and time to harvest the delicious produce you’ve been growing. You may be thinking about home canning as a way to preserve your garden goodies. But beware! If home canning is not done the proper way, your canned vegetables and fruits could cause botulism.

What is botulism?

Botulism is a rare but potentially deadly illness caused by a poison most commonly produced by a germ called Clostridium botulinum. The germ is found in soil and can survive, grow, and produce a toxin in certain conditions, such as when food is improperly canned. The toxin can affect your nerves, paralyze you, and even cause death.

You cannot see, smell, or taste botulinum toxin—but taking even a small taste of food containing this toxin can be deadly..."
Home canning

Prevent the Risk of STDs While Traveling

"What happens abroad may not always stay abroad. More than 1 million sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are acquired every day worldwide. You can prevent the risk of STDs when you travel with these healthy tips from CDC Travelers’ Health.

The excitement of being in another country and meeting new people may encourage travelers to do things they would not do at home, such as engaging in unprotected or casual sex with new partners. Travelers who have vaginal, anal, or oral sex are at risk for STDs, many of which may not have visible signs. Many STDs, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, are treatable, but if left untreated they can cause serious health problems. Some STDs, like herpes and HPV (human papillomavirus) infections, can spread through genital to genital contact and oral sex.."
STD and travel

Understanding Tourette Syndrome

"The more people know, the better equipped they are to improve the lives of everyone living with Tourette.

People living with Tourette syndrome (TS) often face challenges, such as co-occurring conditions including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), discrimination, exhaustion, bullying, and uncertainty. Despite these challenges, many people with Tourette are high achievers, resilient, and lead rich and fulfilling lives. An accurate diagnosis, treatment, and support for individuals and their families are the key to this success.

There are many ideas and misconceptions about Tourette syndrome (TS)—what it is, how it affects individuals who have it, and what it means to everyone around them. This is why CDC works to understand TS and its effect on individuals, families, and the community. Here’s what we have learned so far.

• About 140,000 children aged 6 to 17 years in the United States have ever been diagnosed with TS.¹ Because only about half of children with Tourette are diagnosed, the actual number may be twice as high — 300,000 — and even more have another tic disorder.
• TS affects children’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being and can negatively impact their health, education, employment, family, and friendships.
• People with TS have many healthcare needs including healthcare visits, special educational services, medication, and psychological and behavioral counseling..."
  Tourette Syndrome

Staying Healthy During and After Cancer Treatment

"“I’m proud to say that my family is full of survivors. My mother, aunt, and cousin are all cancer survivors. However, it’s a whole different ballgame when the person with cancer is staring at you in the mirror,” says Pam.

“I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in 2013. Not only did I learn I had triple-negative breast cancer (an aggressive and hard-to-treat type of breast cancer), but I accepted that my treatment plan would include chemotherapy followed by surgery and radiation.

“Before 2013, my days were spent working, driving a carpool, making dinner, and checking tasks off my never-ending to-do list. I wasn’t anywhere on that list. My true focus centered more on the health and happiness of my two boys.

“I’m thankful to be cancer-free today,” she says. “Having cancer forced me to understand the importance of making my health a priority.”

Preventing Infections During Chemotherapy

If you get chemotherapy to treat cancer, you’re more likely to get an infection. Chemotherapy kills many white blood cells, which are good cells that help your body fight infections. This is a side effect called neutropenia.

The most important things you can do to lower your risk of infection are—

• Wash your hands often, and ask your family, visitors, and health care providers to wash theirs, too.
• Get a flu shot every year, and encourage your family and friends to get one. Ask your doctor if you need a pneumococcal shot.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice any signs of an infection, especially a fever..."
  Cancer treatment

Preparing for a Hurricane or Tropical Storm

"You can’t stop a tropical storm or hurricane, but you can take steps now to protect you and your family.

If you live in areas at risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages you to begin preparing for hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 through November 30 each year.

Please follow these important hurricane preparedness tips from CDC:

• Preparing for a Hurricane: Take basic steps now to ensure your safety should a storm hit.
• Emergency Supplies You Will Need: Stock your home and your car with supplies.
• Make a Plan: Create a family disaster plan.
• Avoid Flooded Areas: Take precautions before, during, and after a flood.
• Prepare to Evacuate: Never ignore an evacuation order.
• Protecting Older Adults: Understand older adult health and medical concerns.
• Protecting Pets: Ensure your pet’s safety before, during, and after an emergency.
• Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after the storm: Ensure your CO detector has working batteries. Place generators outside at least 20 feet from any door, window, or vent.
• After a hurricane: Learn how to avoid injuries, make sure your food and water are safe, and clean up mold safely.."
  Hurricane season

Summer Travel 2018

"Escaping to an overseas retreat this summer? From the bustling cities of Europe to the sunny, tropical beaches of the Caribbean, here’s everything you need to know about staying healthy and safe before, during, and after your vacation.

Now that warm weather is here to stay, it’s time to plan your next vacation. As you venture overseas for summer vacation, there are health and safety risks you should be aware of. No matter where you go—majestic mountains, secluded beaches, or bustling cities—kick off your travel adventure by getting prepared with CDC Travelers’ Health..."
Summer travel

Dance Your Way to Better Brain Health

"Join a dance class to exercise your brain and body.

Exercise is not only good for your body, it’s good for your brain! Sticking to a regular workout plan can be tough, but including activity in your routine doesn’t need to be boring. Scientists have found that the areas of the brain that control memory and skills such as planning and organizing improve with exercise.^1,2 Dance has the added dimensions of rhythm, balance, music, and a social setting that enhances the benefits of simple movement – and can be fun!

The Science of Dance

At the University of Illinois at Chicago, through the CDC-funded Prevention Research Centers’ Healthy Brain Research Network, researchers designed a Latin ballroom dance program for older sedentary adults. Participants in the program, BAILAMOS^©, reported improvements in memory, attention, and focus.³ In a separate ballroom dance program, older people experiencing mild cognitive impairment improved their thinking and memory after a 10-month-long ballroom dancing class.."
Brain health and dance

Sidewalks, Streets, and Tweets: Is Twitter a Public Forum?

"On May 23, 2018, a federal district court in New York in Knight First Amendment Institute v. Trump held that the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment prohibited President Trump from blocking Twitter users solely based on those users’ expression of their political views. In so doing, the court weighed in on the now-familiar but rapidly evolving debate over when an online forum qualifies as a “public forum” entitled to special consideration under the First Amendment. Significantly, the district court concluded that “the interactive space for replies and retweets created by each tweet sent by the @realDonaldTrump account” should be considered a “designated public forum” where the protections of the First Amendment apply. This ruling is limited to the @realDonaldTrump Twitter account but implicates a number of larger legal issues, including when a social media account is operated by the government rather than by a private citizen, and when the government has opened up that social media account as a forum for private speech. The ability of public officials to restrict private speech on Twitter may be of particular interest to Congress, given that almost all Members now have a Twitter account..."
Twitter

(Robo)Call Me Maybe: Robocalls to Wireless Phones Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act

"Robocalls—calls placed using an automated dialing system or artificial or prerecorded voice—are on the rise. Advances in technology have made it cheaper and easier than ever to dial millions of consumers’ numbers in infinitesimal periods of time. Furthermore, with more consumers using their wireless phones as their primary, or only, contact number, the invasiveness of robocalls has increased because callers may now reach consumers wherever they go.

Enacted in 1991, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), as amended, is one of the primary federal statutes addressing robocalls to wireless phones. Other statutes, such as the Telemarketing Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act of 1994, also address phone calls consumers may consider intrusive, but are outside the scope of this sidebar. The TCPA vests the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with authority to interpret and enforce the TCPA. In 2015, the FCC issued an order (2015 Order) interpreting certain aspects of the TCPA as they relate to robocalls. Recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (D.C. Circuit), in ACA International v. Federal Communications Commission, overturned certain FCC interpretations of the scope and application of the TCPA in the 2015 Order. This sidebar briefly describes the provisions of the TCPA relating to robocalls and the 2015 Order, analyzes the D.C. Circuit’s decision, and addresses the FCC’s reaction to the decision and potential considerations for Congress..."
Robocalls

2018 Medicare Trustees Annual Report

"The Medicare program has two separate trust funds, the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund (HI) and the Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund (SMI). HI, otherwise known as Medicare Part A, helps pay for hospital, home health services following hospital stays, skilled nursing facility, and hospice care for the aged and disabled. SMI consists of Medicare Part B and Part D. Part B helps pay for physician, outpatient hospital, home health, and other services for the aged and disabled who have voluntarily enrolled. Part D provides subsidized access to drug insurance coverage on a voluntary basis for all beneficiaries and premium and cost-sharing subsidies for low-income enrollees. Medicare also has a Part C, which serves as an alternative to traditional Part A and Part B coverage. Under this option, beneficiaries can choose to enroll in and receive care from private Medicare Advantage and certain other health insurance plans. Medicare Advantage and Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) plans receive prospective, capitated payments for such beneficiaries from the HI and SMI Part B trust fund accounts; the other plans are paid from the accounts on the basis of their costs.."
Medicare report

Travel Insurance: Peace of Mind While You Travel

"If you are planning an international trip, you should consider getting travel insurance to cover yourself against accidents or illness while you’re abroad. Even if you already have medical insurance back home, it may not cover you when traveling outside the United States, or if it does cover you that coverage may not be enough.

There are 3 types of insurance you should consider: trip cancellation insurance, travel health insurance, and medical evacuation insurance. These will cover different situations and may give you financial peace of mind, as well as allowing for safe and healthy travel.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Trip cancellation insurance covers your financial investment in your trip, such as flights, cruises, or train tickets. Carefully examine the policy to make sure that it covers what you need it to cover, including cancellation if you or a close family member gets sick. Depending on the policy, trip cancellation insurance might not cover any medical care you need overseas, so you may need a separate travel health insurance policy.

Trip cancellation insurance might help ensure you are able to make a last-minute cancellation or change your itinerary in the event of an international outbreak, such as the current outbreak of Zika. Be sure to check the fine print to see if your coverage includes disease outbreaks at intended travel destinations and what any restrictions might be..."
Travel insurance

Alien Incarceration Report Fiscal Year 2018, Quarter 1

"This report includes data on known or suspected aliens under the custody of BOP or USMS, and limited data regarding immigration status of convicted aliens incarcerated in state prisons and local detention centers throughout the United States. Future reports will also provide information regarding immigration status of aliens incarcerated in state prisons and local detention centers.
Summary of Findings

A total of 57,820 known or suspected aliens were in DOJ custody for a range of offenses at the end of the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) (see Figure 1). Of those, 34,834 were confirmed aliens with orders of removal, 15,536 were still under investigation by ICE to determine alienage, 4,410 were aliens who were illegally present and undergoing removal proceedings, and 2,871 were legally present and undergoing removal proceedings. A total of 169 aliens in DOJ custody had been granted relief or protection from removal.."
Alien incarceration