The coronavirus, COVID-19, can affect anyone. But reports show Latinos and other overlooked populations are more affected, amid worsening health differences. What are the data really showing? UPDATE 3/5/24: CDC releases new COVID-19 death rates by background. COVID-19 Case Rates for Latinos
The U.S. population recently rose to 19.1% Latino. At the outset of the pandemic, COVID-19 sickened many Latinos. Variants like Delta and Omicron sparked case surges, too. Latinos comprised 24.3% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, second only to Whites (53.8%), according to CDC data on health improvement and cases on April 19, 2023. As of March 5, 2024, CDC is no longer maintaining incidence rates by background on this web page. Several states experienced Latino coronavirus ...
Juanita Mora recalls the exact moment that inspired her to be a doctor. Her mother had fallen ill with kidney disease. A young Mora served as translator between her Spanish-speaking mother and her English-speaking doctor. “I remember turning to my mom and saying 'Mommy, why does it take so long to see the doctor?' And she turns around and says, 'Because there's not enough doctors who speak Spanish,’” Mora recalled. Mora went on to earn her doctorate in medicine, becoming a highly accomplished physician and making a difference for her patients in their own language. As a leader in the field of allergy and immunology and a fellow with the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), she is delivering competent care and practicing infection control to prevent ...
With the winter season in full swing, it’s peak time for flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two. But RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. Latino children also face a “significantly higher burden.” “[A recent study] found that 59% of the burden of respiratory infections [including RSV] was distributed among Blacks and Hispanics,” MD Newsline reports. Let’s dive into how RSV can be transmitted, common symptoms, and how you can protect yourself and loved ones from getting infected.
What Are the Symptoms of RSV?
People infected with RSV usually show symptoms within 4 to 6 days after getting infected, ...
Access to practical and valuable infection control training is crucial for all healthcare workers. That’s why CDC’s Project Firstline developed Infection Control Micro-Learns – a series of guided infection control discussions that can be easily incorporated into team meetings or huddles facilitated by an experienced team member with infection control expertise. These short and easy-to-understand learning opportunities can help healthcare workers recognize and minimize infection control risks to protect themselves, coworkers, and patients from infectious diseases. Let’s explore the Infection Control Micro-Learn on Draining Wounds.
What Should You Do When You See a Patient with a Draining Wound?
A draining wound is a break in the skin or other tissue that has liquid ...
Dr. Veronica Ramirez is the first physician in her family. The youngest of four children, Ramirez grew up in Escondido, California, with an interest in service. She watched her parents generously help others and give back to the community. So, when Ramirez’s aunt, who she was very close to, was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in her late 30s, Ramirez was motivated to take her service orientation to a new level – medical school – to help those like her aunt. “Seeing her go through that experience inspired me to want to go into medicine to help others,” Ramirez said. Ramirez has done more than achieve her goal. As an assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, a hospitalist with UCLA Health, and a fellow ...
When the holidays season is in full swing, families and friends gather to enjoy time together over warms meals and plenty of dessert. But sometimes food spoils the party. Every year, foodborne diseases sicken 1 in 6 Americans (48 million people), hospitalize 128,000 people, and kill 3,000 people, according to the CDC. Let’s tackle how we can prepare food safely and keep the holidays healthy.
What Is Food Poisoning?
You can get sick with food poisoning after swallowing certain germs like salmonella. Common symptoms include: Diarrhea
Stomach pain or cramps
Nausea
Vomiting
Fever “Most people have mild illnesses [from food poisoning], but some infections spread by food are serious or even life-threatening. Some people may need ...
The winter holidays are nearing, which means a drop in temperatures and a rise in flu! The CDC estimates that the flu caused up to 41 million illnesses, up to 710,000 hospitalizations, and up to 52,000 deaths every year between 2010 and 2020. How does flu season impact Latinos and all people? What preventive steps can you and your family take?
Latinos and Flu Rates
Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs, according to the CDC. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. A 2021 study found that flu-associated hospitalization, ICU admission, and in-hospital death were prominent among overlooked groups, including Latinos. The study also found that ...
Healthcare workers, looking for your next informative – and entertaining – infection control resource?! Look no further, the Washington State Department of Health’s Project Firstline Podcast covers a variety of infection control topics, from healthcare-associated infections to multi-drug-resistant organisms. The podcast is part of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Project Firstline, which provides all healthcare workers the infection control training and resources they need to protect themselves, their patients, and their coworkers from infectious diseases. With 17 episodes to choose from, you’ll be sure to learn something new. Let’s dive in!
A Glimpse at the Episodes
Dating back to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the opening episodes ...
Going on its fourth year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Project Firstline aims to provide all healthcare workers with the infection control training and resources they need to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Project Firstline is made up of a group of more than 80 healthcare, public health, and academic partners, as well as state, local, and territorial health departments. In collaboration with the National Hispanic Medical Association, Salud America! is one of those partners. Today, we’re exploring some of Project Firstline’s collaborative efforts to support infection control training in the classroom.
AHA and League Partnership
In 2021, Project Firstline launched a new collaborative partnership with the American Hospital Association ...
