News Articles

2024

• Doctors warn they’re seeing syphilis patients with unusual and severe symptoms | CNN
  A study presented at the 2024 Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Conference highlighted over two dozen cases of syphilis in Chicago last year. More than two-thirds of patients lacked typical syphilis symptoms, making diagnosis challenging for healthcare providers. EIS class of 2023 officer Amy Nham, PharmD, MPH, investigated cases with unusual symptoms such as headache, personality changes, altered mental status, and eye problems. Dr. Nham’s study, while focused on Chicago, mirrors similar observations nationwide. The findings underscore the importance of prompt and comprehensive treatment for syphilis to prevent severe outcomes and highlight the need for increased awareness and screening efforts among healthcare providers and communities.
  CNN
  April 26, 2024
• CDC ‘disease detectives’ study mold infections in COVID patients, more (ajc.com)
  CDC’s 2024 Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) conference features 104 presentations on a variety of public health investigations, including one by EIS officer Elizabeth Sajewski (class of 2023), who investigated how COVID-19 infection can make invasive mold infections even more deadly. Invasive mold infections are rare but serious and typically affect people with weakened immune systems. Sajewski’s investigation found that COVID-19 infection heightened the severity and fatality rates of invasive mold infections, particularly among patients with no severe immunocompromise prior to hospitalization. Another presentation by EIS officer Dylan Proctor (class of 2022) will discuss the spread of COVID-19 at last year’s EIS Conference. Findings from that investigation revealed that among attendees who responded to a survey distributed by conference organizers, 27% either tested positive for COVID-19 or reported COVID-like symptoms. Study authors report that high levels of vaccination helped avoid serious complications.
  Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  April 23, 2024
• CDC data show TB case counts increased in US since COVID-19 pandemic (healio.com)
  Paula Williams, DrPH, MPH, (EIS Class of 2023) led a study investigating the increase in Tuberculosis (TB) cases in the United States. TB, caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium, primarily affects the lungs but can also attack other organs such as the kidneys, spine, and brain. Using data from CDC’s National Tuberculosis Surveillance System, Dr. Williams and her colleagues observed a notable increase in TB cases across nearly all demographics in 2023. The rise in TB cases is concerning because TB is preventable. Despite the rise in cases, Dr. Williams emphasizes that “The United States has one of the lowest TB rates globally and has a goal of eliminating TB by 2035.” Continued efforts are essential to achieve TB elimination goals and curb the spread of this preventable disease.
  Daily Medical News, Free CME and Clinical Guidance (healio.com)
  March 28, 2024
• Less than half of surveyed facilities report performing C. auris screening (healio.com)
  Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer, Ian Hennessee, PhD, MPH, (EIS class of 2022) conducted a survey among infectious disease practitioners about Candida auris (C. auris) screening practices in U. S. health care facilities. C. auris is a type of yeast known to cause severe illness and can spread easily among patients in healthcare settings. It is often resistant to antifungal treatments, making infections challenging to treat. The results of Dr. Hennessee’s study revealed that less than half of the surveyed facilities reported conducting screening for C. auris, despite high detection rates among those that did. This finding underscores the importance of screening in guiding infection prevention strategies. An increase in screening throughout health care facilities could help prevent the spread of C. auris in healthcare facilities nationwide and protect vulnerable patients from infection.
  Daily Medical News, Free CME and Clinical Guidance (healio.com)
  March 27, 2024
• FSIS veterinary position created to improve retention
  On March 1, 2024, Epidemic Intelligence Service alumna, Kis Robertson-Hale, DVM, MPH (EIS class of 2008) was appointed by the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) as its chief veterinarian officer, elevating her to the rank of rear admiral in the USPHS Commissioned Corps. In this new role, Dr. Robertson-Hale will serve as a key advisor on veterinary matters to the Office of the Surgeon General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Her responsibilities will include recruitment, deployment, and career development. Alongside her new role, Dr. Robertson-Hale will continue to serve as the chief public health veterinarian at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and as deputy assistant administrator of the Office of Public Health Science. This appointment underscores the crucial role veterinarians play in public health.
  https://www.avma.org/
  March 20, 2024
• Illinois and IDPH are Supporting City of Chicago and Cook County Response to Measles Cases | EdGlenToday.com
  The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), along with other state agencies, is taking swift action to assist the City of Chicago and Cook County in containing a measles outbreak at a shelter for new arrivals. As part of this rapid response effort, an Epidemiologic Assistance (Epi-Aid) team from CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service has been deployed to provide on-site support at the shelter. Measles is a highly contagious virus that can lead to serious health complication. It is important for people to ensure their vaccinations are up to date to protect themselves and those around them.
  https://www.edglentoday.com/index.cfm
  March 13, 2024
• CDC report: More teens are turning to drugs to deal with stress, anxiety and depression
  Sarah Connolly, PhD, MPH, (EIS class of 2022) served as lead author on a CDC study which examined the motivational factors contributing to substance use among teenagers. The study found that teens with suspected substance use problems often turn to drugs to escape worries and relax, usually alone. Dr. Connolly highlights the connection between stress, anxiety, and substance use among teens, noting, “It might make sense that teens are looking for ways to reduce stress and anxiety because those conditions, including unprecedented levels of hopelessness, are often linked to substance abuse in adolescents.” The study findings underscore the need for mental health services and programs for adolescents and youth.
  Natural News
  February 22, 2024
• Alaskapox: What to know about virus after officials report first known fatal case | CNN
  Alaska health officials reported the first known death associated with Alaskapox, a virus primarily found in Alaska’s small mammal populations. Although it’s unclear how long the virus has been circulating in the state, infections follow contact with animals, according to Julia Rogers, PhD, MPH, an EIS officer (2023 class) assigned to the Alaska Department of Health. While only a few cases have been reported since 2015, with most being mild and self-resolving, health experts stress the importance of increased awareness and continued surveillance. The risk of Alaskapox outside Alaska is considered low, but further research and animal testing are needed to better understand the virus and its potential impact.
  CNN Health
  February 13, 2024
• Marijuana use among teens in the U.S. is down | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
  EIS officer Precious Esie, PhD, MPH (class of 2022), served as lead author on a study highlighting gender-specific trends in cannabis use among middle and high school students in her assignment to Washington Public Health ― Seattle & King County. The study found that although cannabis use has declined among both male and female students in King County, declines might have been faster among male vs. female youth. The downward trends in youth cannabis use observed in recent years are encouraging, but continued monitoring is necessary to better understand longer-term effects of social phenomena, including cannabis legalization and pandemic-related disruptions, and to assess whether observed decreases are sustained.
  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
  February 6, 2024
• Gov. Evers Signs Executive Order Creating Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce, Appoints Lieutenant Governor Chair
  Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has established a Governor’s Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce, naming Lt. Governor Sarah Rodriguez, MSN, MPH (EIS class of 2004), as it’s chair. The initiative comes in response to Wisconsin’s potential nursing shortage and aims to explore ways to attract, train, and retain qualified healthcare workers. The task force will consist of representatives from the Department of Workforce Development, Department of Health Services, higher education institutions, and individuals from various sectors, including healthcare professionals and patient advocacy groups. The group will work to create an action plan to address solutions related to workforce development for consideration in the governor’s 2025-37 biennial budget.
  Urban Milwaukee
  January 29, 2024
• Tummy Tucks, Liposuctions Are Killing Americans Visiting Dominican Republic
  A study led by EIS officer Matthew Hudson, MD, MPH, (class of 2020), found an increase in the number of deaths among U.S. citizens following cosmetic surgeries such as tummy tucks, liposuction, or buttock enhancements performed in the Dominican Republic. CDC and the Dominican Republic Ministry of Health found that most deaths were the result embolic events (such as a blood clot) that might have been prevented. The study emphasizes the need for better patient screening and preventive measures to avoid complications, highlighting the risks of cosmetic surgeries abroad.
  U.S. News and World Report
  January 26, 2024
• A rare fungal infection is popping up in an unexpected part of the U.S.
  A study led by Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) alumnus, Dr. Brian Borah, found that a rare fungal infection known as blastomycosis has become more common in unexpected areas. The infection, which thrives in wet soil and decaying organic matter, is well known in the Midwest and parts of the Southeast but is far less common in other parts of the country. Dr. Borah, now medical director for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Surveillance at the Chicago Department of Public Health, and his team used health insurance claims data to identify 114 blastomycosis cases in Vermont from 2011 to 2020, with 30% requiring hospitalization. Climate change, soil disturbances, and human travel are suggested factors in the fungus’s expanded range, and the study emphasizes the impact of climate change on the epidemiology of such diseases.
  NBC News
  January 24, 2024
• Wastewater can detect mpox, especially as cases increase
  A study led by Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer, Carly Adams, PhD, MPH, (2022 class), found that wastewater surveillance can be used to effectively detect mpox cases. The findings suggest that wastewater data, combined with clinical case data, can help determine and scale a proper public health response to a potential mpox outbreak and that the absence of mpox in wastewater provides reassurance of the absence of a large outbreak in a community.
  Helio
  January 18, 2024
• Angela Dunn leaving Salt Lake County Health Department to join the CDC
  Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) alumna, Angela Dunn, MD, MPH, (2016 class), will join CDC in February 2024, working to ensure state and local health departments nationwide have the resources they need to investigate and respond to public health threats effectively and efficiently. Before then, Dr. Dunn served as the executive director of the Salt Lake County Health Department, where she played a key role in Utah’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  Pedfire
  January 12, 2024
• Allison Arwady Joins CDC Following Her Commissioner Role for Chicago’s Department of Public Health
  Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) alumna, Allison Arwady, MD, MPH, joined CDC as the director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, where she leads research and programs aimed at preventing injuries and violence. Prior to joining the CDC, Dr. Arwady was the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, where she navigated the city through the COVID-19 pandemic. Her previous roles include chief medical officer in Chicago, overseeing behavioral health and disease control efforts. Under her leadership, Chicago expanded behavioral health programs, embedded mental health professionals into 911 response, and initiated various initiatives to enhance mental health support and reduce stigma. Dr. Arwady’s career includes responding to disease outbreaks and CDC missions in Saudi Arabia and Liberia. She holds degrees from Harvard University, Columbia University, and Yale University, and is board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics, actively practicing primary care. Dr. Arwady is recognized for her leadership and communication skills.
  CDC National Center for Injury Prevention & Control Newsroom
  January 9, 2024