A deadly virus is spreading from state to state and has infected 19 million Americans so far. It's influenza

Jan 31 2020

(CNN)The novel coronavirus that's sickening thousands globally -- and at least six people in the US -- is inspiring countries to close their borders and Americans to buy up surgical masks quicker than major retailers can restock them. There's another virus that has infected 19 million Americans across the country and killed at least 10,000 people this season alone. It's not a new pandemic -- it's influenza. The 2019-2020 flu season is projected to be one of the worst in a decade, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. At least 180,000 people have been hospitalized with complications from the flu, and that number is predicted to climb as flu activity swirls.

Source: CNN

Could we say ‘goodbye’ to cervical cancer by 2120?

Jan 31 2020

According to the WHO, in 2018 — the latest year for which data are available — there were an estimated 570,000 new cases of cervical cancer globally. They also note that this form of cancer has a high mortality rate, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. However, applying the right preventive measures could significantly lower this rate. Now, two separate studies that appear in The Lancet argue that cervical cancer could become a distant memory within the next 100 years. The studies — conducted by researchers affiliated with The WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Modelling Consortium — outline the measures that they advise different countries to apply when it comes to preventing cervical cancer.

Source: Medical News Today

Colorado Lawmaker Wants To Make Threatening Elected Official A Felony

Jan 30 2020

DENVER (CBS4)– Rep. Kyle Mullica knew when he got into politics that it would be vicious at times. But death threats against him and his family, he said, were not part of the deal. It’s why the Democrat representing Adams County introduced a bill making threats against an elected official a felony. Mullica said the bill is in response to threatening emails he received last year after he carried a bill that would have made vaccine exemptions more difficult. He shared some of the emails with CBS4.

Source: CBS4 Denver

The State Of A Potential Vaccine For The New Coronavirus

Jan 29 2020

Several teams are working on a vaccine to protect against the new coronavirus. Although a vaccine is many months off, new technologies have helped build potential vaccines in record time.

Source: NPR

Denver boy fights through life-threatening case of influenza B

Jan 27 2020

DENVER – One Denver family knows just how dangerous the flu can be this season. Their 7-year-old son, Fin, spent one week in the pediatric intensive care unit at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children fighting off a life-threatening case of influenza B last month. The boy’s mother, Dr. Mindy Banks, said his situation deteriorated quickly. “His left lung, which was partially collapsed, had then completely collapsed overnight, so it was really terrifying,” she said. Doctors had to perform a procedure to remove a large mucus plug from Fin’s chest, and then he finally started to feel better.

Source: Fox 31 Denver

Standing Up to Cancer During Cervical Cancer Awareness Month (And Beyond)

Jan 24 2020

Guest Post by Laurie Cardin Laurie Cardin was 48 years old when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2013. Six years later, Laurie is cancer-free. She still lives with the trauma—both mental and physical—of her battle with cervical cancer. But with the support and encouragement of family, friends and support groups, Laurie has chosen to embrace life and support other women and families who are affected by cervical cancer. Laurie also advocates for the HPV vaccine and its incredible power to prevent the cancer that changed her life. In honor of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Laurie shared her story with Immunize Colorado. Life before I got cancer was spontaneous! During the summer of 2013, before I received my diagnosis, our family was incredibly busy. We’d planned three road trips to visit family across the U.S. When we weren’t road-tripping, we were constantly on the go. My daughter was 12 and full of energy which meant we were always busy and running from one thing to the next

Source: Team Vaccine

Netflix releases ‘Pandemic’ docuseries as coronavirus spreads

Jan 23 2020

Netflix quietly released a new six-episode docuseries called “Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak” on Tuesday — right in time for the alarming spread of the Wuhan coronavirus. In “Pandemic,” viewers meet the “heroes on the front lines of the battle against influenza and learn about their efforts to stop the next global outbreak,” the series’ summary on Netflix reads. “Pandemic” creates urgency for the need to prepare against epidemics by following several viruses and diseases around the globe and what’s being done to battle them — as scientists fight underfunding in research and health care, anti-vaxxers, misinformation and political red-tape, including unvaccinated migrants at the U.S. border.

Source: New York Post

What measles outbreaks have cost US

Jan 23 2020

The cost of 11 recent U.S. measles outbreaks ranged from nearly $10,000 to $1 million, according to a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Researchers conducted a literature review and found 10 studies, published between 2001 and 2018, that presented cost estimates from 11 measles outbreaks. They found total costs per measles outbreak ranged from $9,862 to $1 million, with a median cost of $152,308. Cost per case ranged from $7,396 to $76,154, with a median cost of $32,805. Researchers concluded that this information is valuable for public health department budgeting, and costs of measles outbreaks should be documented more broadly.

Source: Beckers Hospital Review

This Year's Flu Season Taking Deadly Aim at Kids

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- How bad or how long this year's flu season will be remains to be seen. But one thing is already clear: It's proving to be an especially lethal season for infected children. Fueled by a strain of influenza that children may be especially vulnerable to, less than two months into flu season 39 children have already died, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Colorado lawmakers reintroduce ‘Parent’s Bill of Rights’

Jan 20 2020

DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) -- For the third time in five years, Colorado state legislators have introduced a bill to allow parents more control over their child's education and health, including when their beliefs conflict with state laws. Most recently introduced in 2016, the 'Parent's Bill of Rights' would allow parents greater control over their child's education, health and religious upbringing. That bill died in the house from a narrow vote along party lines, but has now been reintroduced in 2020. The 2020 Parent's Bill of Rights HB 20-1144, introduced by Republican state Rep. Rod Pelton, states that any "governmental entity or institution shall not infringe upon the fundamental right of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of his or her minor child without demonstrating that the compelling government interest [...] cannot be accomplished in a less restrictive manner."

Source: KRDO