Epidemiology & Biostatistics – Page 2 – UC Irvine Wen Public Health

The Orange County Register, September 9, 2024

California’s COVID booster rates are dismal as new shot debuts. More sickness ahead?

"During the Delta surge, it was clear COVID was going hell-for-leather. Now we get these surges, and it’s less predictable. Unlike 2020 and some extent 2021, most people have had a COVID vaccine by now...I still believe it reduces severity. I’d advise readers who haven’t gotten any to get on board. You could be saving your own, or someone else’s, Nana." (Andrew Noymer)

University of California, September 5, 2024

You know wildfire smoke is bad for you. But did you know it’s this bad?

"When it clocks pollution particles, your immune system first responds with inflammation, generating heat and bombarding the point of entry with specialized cells meant to attack anything your body recognizes as foreign. Inflammation is good when it fights off viruses and bacteria, but too much of it for too long can also wear down your organs and contribute to chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes." (Masashi Kitazawa)

Medical Xpress, September 4, 2024

Study identifies therapeutic targets for veterans with Gulf War illness

"Notably, veterans with Gulf War illness had a noticeably different mix of gut bacteria, often expressed as Bray-Curtis beta diversity, compared to those without the illness. This mix is important because it has implications for gut, immune and brain health." (Saurabh Chatterjee)

MDLinx, September 3, 2024

The new COVID vaccines are here: What to know before the next surge

"The best way to stay safe, data repeatedly shows, is to get vaccinated. COVID is here to stay, and for many people, these vaccines can be the difference between severe illness with hospitalization versus a bad cold." (Bernadette Boden-Albala)

Meteored, September 2, 2024

Study finds that frequent exposure to forest fires and smoke can cause both physical and mental damage

"Coneving with frequent burns can have much more harmful effects than imagined on physical and mental health - causing everything from health problems such as breathing difficulties, sinusitis and eye irritation, to psychological symptoms of continuous stress, anxiety and outbreaks of fear." (Suellen Hopfer)

Futurity, August 29, 2024

What are the impacts of repeated wildfire and smoke exposure?

"Through our community-academia partnership, our findings can serve as a critical resource for policymakers, emergency response teams, and public health officials aiming to develop more effective support systems to protect ECV’s most vulnerable populations." (Suellen Hopfer)

Medical Xpress, August 28, 2024

Study based in Southern California reveals health impacts of repeated wildfires and smoke exposure

"Through detailed focus groups and surveys across four affected locales—Thermal, Mecca, Oasis and North Shore—in eastern Coachella Valley, the work provides a comprehensive look at the personal and collective toll these disasters take on residents." (Suellen Hopfer)

Verywell Health, August 27, 2024

Should You Get Another Mpox Vaccine Dose?

"We haven’t seen any clade 1 cases in the U.S. yet. I’m sure we will, and I’m sure that will be a game changer, but unless we see a large number of cases, dozens of cases, and death, it’s probably going to be kind of in the background. " (Andrew Noymer)

Undark, August 19, 2024

At the Salton Sea, Uncovering the Culprit of Lung Disease

"The Salton Sea may simply provide a glimpse of the future, as climate change begins to produce new and unexpected health challenges. " (Michael Kleinman)

Verywell Health, August 19, 2024

CDC Issues Alert for Parvovirus B19 Uptick. What Are the Symptoms and Who’s Most at Risk?

"If a pregnant parent has a child who's sick with parvovirus B19-like symptoms, it's best to see a doctor and get the child tested. Since parvovirus B19 is a bone marrow pathogen, it could lead to severe anemia in rare cases, especially in people with cancer, unregulated HIV infection, or conditions like sickle cell disease." (Suellen Hopfer)