Federal report warns of climate change impact on public health; Salmonella outbreak linked to ground beef affects 16 Americans; and a study finds bike lanes help create safe neighborhoods. These stories and more top public health news on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — NOAA, USGS: Climate change impacts to U.S. coasts threaten public health, safety and economy
According to a new technical report, the effects of climate change will continue to threaten the health and vitality of U.S. coastal communities’ social, economic and natural systems. The report, Coastal Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerabilities: a technical input to the 2013 National Climate Assessment, authored by leading scientists and experts, emphasizes the need for increased coordination and planning to ensure U.S. coastal communities are resilient against the effects of climate change.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to ground beef
A total of 16 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from 5 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Arizona (1), Illinois (2), Iowa (1), Michigan (9), and Wisconsin (3). 53% of ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. Collaborative investigative efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicated that ground beef produced by Jouni Meats, Inc. and Gab Halal Foods are likely sources of this outbreak.
Medical News Today — 7 in 10 Americans track health
The first national US survey to measure health data tracking finds 70% of American adults track at least one health indicator either for themselves or a loved one, although half of “trackers” report they do it “in their heads”. The Pew Research Center study, which was released online on Monday, carried out telephone interviews with over 3,000 adults living in the US. The survey finds that 6 in 10 American adults say they track their weight, diet or exercise routine, one third track a health symptom or indicator like blood sugar, headaches, blood pressure or sleep pattern, and just over 1 in 10 says they do the tracking for a loved one.
TIME — For weight loss success, think about when, not just what, you eat
Timing is everything for losing weight. In the latest collaborative study, researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Tufts University and the University of Murcia in Spain, found that the time of day you eat large meals may help to predict how many pounds you drop.
Annals of Behavioral Medicine — Effect of bike lane infrastructure improvements on ridership in one New Orleans neighborhood
Background: Incorporating cycling into daily life is one way to increase physical activity.
Purpose: This study examined the impact of building new bike lanes in New Orleans to determine whether more people were cycling on the street and with the flow of traffic after bike lanes were built.
Methods: Through direct observation of one intervention and two adjacent streets, observers counted cyclists riding on the street and sidewalk, with and against traffic, before and after installation of the lanes. Data were tallied separately for adults, children, males, females, and by race for each location.
