September may be known for crisper temperatures and the smells of autumn tailgating, but it is also a month full of cancer awareness. September is host to Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month, National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, World Cancer Research Day, and National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week.  Public health communicators and members of the general public should understand the aim behind these awareness months and preventive measures that can lessen the risk of ever developing...

If you have been following news headlines in recent weeks, you may have noticed more frequent references to a virus that you might have thought was all but eliminated in the U.S.: Poliovirus. Polio is a vaccine-preventable disease that has been eradicated in the United States for more than 40 years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the disease has recently resurfaced in an individual in Rockland County, New York, and wastewater monitoring has shown the continued presence of the virus in that community.  Here’s what you need to know about poliovirus,...

As the third summer of the COVID-19 pandemic comes to a close, many people may feel fatigued from trying to keep up with current guidance as it relates to avoiding the virus, testing for the virus, and managing a COVID-19 illness. However, it’s essential for public health communicators and anyone approaching the start of the new school year with questions to stay informed. On August 11, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published new, streamlined guidance to help simplify the current pandemic-related calculus.  Here’s an overview of these streamlined CDC COVID-19...

September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), which falls during Suicide Prevention Month. WSPD is organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO).  Read this article to learn more about WSPD.  History of WSPD  WSPD was established in 2003 in Stockholm with a singular message of preventing suicide. It spurred campaigns all around the world that have contributed toward raising awareness about suicide prevalence and reducing the stigma surrounding it. WSPD is observed in more than 60 countries, with many events...

Climate change is affecting the lives of millions of people in many ways. It poses a large threat to public health, in general, as the rising temperatures and side effects of climate change negatively affect people’s health.  This article has NPHIC’s take on how climate change is affecting public health.  Public Health Consequences of Climate Change  Climate change is affecting many social and environmental determinants of health. The rise in temperatures across the globe affects elements from the air we breathe to the water we drink and the food that we eat. All of these things are foundational...