Officials emphasize commitment to Flint after federal emergency declaration expires
HHS, EPA, the State of Michigan, and the City of Flint reaffirmed a continued commitment to restoring Flint’s drinking water system and support for Flint residents past the August 14expiration date of the federal emergency declaration. Nutrition, health care, and behavioral health programs are in place and they will continue to provide services to the Flint community. Learn More >>
HHS awards $5.1 million to InBios to advance Zika diagnostic
A Zika diagnostic test will receive advanced development support from ASPR. If approved, the test may be able to return results in about four hours and it could be used in commercial and health care facility laboratories. Faster Zika diagnoses could enable doctors and patients to make more informed decisions. This test would also increase laboratory capacity by providing a faster, easy-to-run, commercially available test to laboratories in health care facilities. Learn more >>
Single-dose anthrax vaccine enters clinical trial with HHS support
An anthrax vaccine that could be given in a single dose is advancing to its first clinical trial with support from ASPR. Under a two-year, approximately $14 million contract between BARDAand Altimmune, Inc., the company will begin the first clinical trial of the anthrax vaccine NasoShield. If approved, the vaccine could help save lives in an anthrax attack by protecting people from the disease more quickly. Learn more >>
Pikachu in the PICU: Pokémon Go Away!
Pokémon GO brings a beloved set of cartoon characters from the 1990s into your environment through an app on your cell phone. It can also bring gamers to your hospital looking for Pokémon, not treatment. There are a wide range of reasons that people should not be roaming the halls of a health care facility to find a cartoon character. As your hospital plans for cyber-threats, remember that not all of them look scary on the outside. Learn more >>
Prevent Mosquito Bites
Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites. Use repellents, cover your baby or child’s skin, treat clothing and gear, as well as take steps to control mosquitoes inside and outside your home. The CDC shares helpful tips for everyone. There is information about clothing, natural and chemical repellents, and the use of screens on windows and doors. Remember to empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water. Mosquitoes lay eggs near water. Learn more >>
Watch, Listen and Learn: CARB-X
Antimicrobial resistance presents one of the greatest modern threats to public health. Dr. Joe Larsen, Acting Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, provides an overview of the Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator, or CARB-X. CARB-X was created to help address the threat of antibiotic resistance. It is one of the world’s largest public-private partnerships focused on preclinical discovery and development of new antimicrobial products. Learn more >>
Infant Feeding During Disasters
Did you know that breastfeeding helps babies stay healthy during disasters and every day? During a disaster or an emergency there may be no clean drinking water.Breastfeeding helps protect babies from unclean water, boosts immunity and provides comfort. The Office of the Administration for Children and Families provides information about breastfeeding during disasters and why it matters. Responders can learn how they can assist breastfeeding mothers during emergencies too. Learn more >>
Be a Seed for Change 