Health Beat: CDC updates Zika virus travel alerts
by February 3, 2016 9:41 am 118 views
Editor’s note: Each Wednesday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Health Beat,” a round-up of health-related topics.
CDC UPDATES ZIKA VIRUS TRAVEL ALERTS: The Center for Disease and Control (CDC) is working with other public health officials to monitor for ongoing Zika virus transmission, recently adding American Samoa, Costa Rica, Curacao, and Nicaragua to the Zika virus travel alerts. CDC has issued a travel alert for people traveling to regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. For a full list of affected countries and regions, go to this link.
PENTAGON INCREASING PAID MATERNITY LEAVE FOR WOMEN IN ARMED FORCES TO 12 WEEKS: The Defense Department is increasing military maternity leave and instituting other changes in an effort to support the health of military families, improve retention and strengthen the force of the future, Defense Secretary Ash Carter has announced.
Women across the joint forces can now take 12 weeks of fully-paid maternity leave, doubling the amount of time compensated for military family members. The maternity leave decision applies to all service members in the active duty component and to reserve-component members serving in a full-time status or on definite active duty recall or mobilization orders in excess of 12 months. In addition, the Defense Department is seeking legislation to expand military paternity leave from the current 10-day leave benefit to a 14-day.
NIH LAUNCHES PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGN ON LINK BETWEEN HYPERTENSION AND BRAIN HEALTH: A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that uncontrolled high blood pressure is not only the leading cause of stroke but may also be linked to cognitive decline and dementia. In support of that research, the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is launching a public health education campaign called Mind Your Risks. The campaign is designed to raise awareness about how controlling the risk factors for stroke in middle age, particularly high blood pressure, may reduce the risk of cognitive decline later in life.
CLINTON SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE STARTS ‘COMMUNITY CONVERSATION’ ON DIABETES: According to the latest statistics available through the Centers for Disease Control, from 1994 to 2013, the percent of adults in Arkansas diagnosed with diabetes more than doubled – from approximately 5% to more than 11%. The Clinton School of Public Service will bring Arkansans together at 6-8 p.m. on Feb. 9 to talk about how to best address this growing and costly disease in local communities and across the state. Following a brief presentation about the research that went into developing the discussion guide that will be used, participants will engage in a discussion facilitated by Clinton School students and alumni to explore various approaches to addressing diabetes in Arkansas.
PHARMACISTS NAME VINSON TO VP FOR INNOVATION ROLE: The Arkansas Pharmacists Association (APA) has named John Vinson, Pharm.D., as the new Vice President of Practice Innovation. For the last 12 years, he has served in a volunteer leadership role within APA on various committees and on the APA Board of Directors as 2015-2016 APA President. In his role as Vice President of Practice Innovation, Vinson will oversee the pharmacy practice, clinical affairs, and continuing education areas of the Association, as well as oversee the APA’s Pharmacist Immunization Program and assist the APA’s 2,400 members with solving challenges within their practices.
In addition to his role as Vice President of Practice Innovation, Vinson will also serve as the Executive Director of the Arkansas Pharmacists Foundation, a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization created to promote the profession of pharmacy in Arkansas by performing clinical practice research, offering continuing education, and providing scholarships to outstanding students. Vinson holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Arkansas and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.