U.S. Government News

Hand Hygiene Saves Lives: Patient Admission Video

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:06:24 PST

This video, available in English and Spanish, teaches two key points to hospital patients and visitors to help prevent infections: the importance of practicing hand hygiene while in the hospital, and that it is appropriate to ask or remind their healthcare providers to practice hand hygiene as well.

Caring For Sports Injuries

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:07:21 PST

If you want to dance like a star or shoot hoops like a pro, you need to be prepared for injuries. Don’t take valuable time away from the dance floor or the court because you get hurt - learn how to recognize injuries and how to heal faster once they happen

Important Vaccines for Summer 2008 International Travel

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:03:25 PST

Summer is here, and many people will be packing to travel. No matter where you travel abroad this summer, please don’t let your vacation be spoiled by getting the measles, flu, hepatitis, or any other infection that could have been prevented by using routine or travel-related vaccines.

June is Cancer Survivorship Month

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:32:38 PST

In June we focus attention on the needs of cancer survivors. As the population of cancer survivors continues to increase, CDC is working with national, state, and local partners to create and implement strategies to help the millions of people in the US who live with, through, and beyond cancer.

Counterfeit Drugs and Travel: CDC Update

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:29:12 PST

Counterfeit (or fake) drugs are products that are manufactured using incorrect, inactive, or harmful ingredients. These drugs are then packaged and labeled to look like real brand-name and generic drugs to deceive consumers into thinking that they are buying real drugs. Counterfeit drugs are unsafe because they may contain inactive ingredients that are not effective or toxic ingredients that are harmful to your health.

Internet Loan Scams: Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance Issues Warning

Sat, 31 May 2008 08:26:15 PST

The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance is issuing a warning of yet another scam targeting consumers who use Internet-based companies to borrow money. This time, a company calling itself Penbrook Financial Group, which lists its address as 6910 Pacific Street, Omaha, NE, offers personal loans to consumers and requires up-front "collateral payments" in advance of funding a loan.

Veteran Suicides: VA Appoints Panel of National Suicide Experts

Mon, 26 May 2008 08:45:31 PST

There is nothing more tragic than the death by suicide of even one of the great men or women who have served this nation,” Peake said. “VA is committed to doing all we can to improve our understanding of a complicated issue that is also a national concern.

Dietary Supplement Alert: Supplement Contains Hazardous Levels of Selenium (up to 200 times)

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:23:02 PST

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working collaboratively with state health departments, the American Association of Poison Control Centers, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on reports of adverse health effects following consumption of the dietary supplement “Total Body Formula,” and “Total Body Mega Formula” manufactured in the USA exclusively for Total Body Essential Nutrition, Inc. This dietary supplement has been found by FDA to contain hazardous levels of selenium (up to 200 times the label value) and chromium (up to 17 times the label value).

CDC Update: HIV/AIDS in the United States

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:18:28 PST

At the end of 2003, * an estimated 1,039,000 to 1,185,000 persons in the United States were living with HIV/AIDS [ 1 ]. In 2006, 35,314 new cases of HIV/AIDS in adults, adolescents, and children were diagnosed in the 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting [ 2 ]. New HIV/AIDS diagnoses tell us how many people have been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS, but do not necessarily represent new HIV infections because a person may have been infected in years past but received a diagnosis in 2006. * CDC plans to release the estimated number of new HIV infections this year.

Indoor Air: CDC Releases Results of Formaldehyde Level Tests

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:12:21 PST

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released today preliminary results from recent testing that found higher than typical indoor exposure levels of formaldehyde in travel trailers and mobile homes used as emergency housing in the Gulf Coast Region.

What's New: Hand Hygiene Interactive Training Course:

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:16:02 PST

Review key concepts of hand hygiene and other standard precautions to prevent healthcare-associated infections.

New Resource for Preventing Diabetes in African-Americans

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 06:47:56 PST

A new diabetes prevention resource designed to encourage and help faith–based and community organizations get actively involved in deterring preventable diabetes among African–Americans was released by the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), a joint venture of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health.

CDC Update: HIV Prevalence in the U.S. Household Population

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:37:14 PST

Approximately half of 1 percent (0.47 percent) of the U.S. household population between the ages of 18 and 49 are living with HIV, according to estimates from CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) based on surveys conducted between 1999-2006.

FAQ On The 2007-2008 Flu Season

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 15:15:08 PST

Flu seasons are unpredictable in a number of ways. Although epidemics of flu happen every year, the beginning, severity, and length of the epidemic depends on many factors, including the different types and strains of influenza viruses circulating and whether the viruses in the vaccine match influenza viruses that are circulating.

Teen Birth Rate Rises for First Time in 14 Years

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:43:43 PST

The teen birth rate in the United States rose in 2006 for the first time since 1991, and unmarried childbearing also rose significantly, according to preliminary birth statistics released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Nearly One in Five Americans Say They Can’t Afford Needed Health Care

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:17:41 PST

Nearly one in five U.S. adults – more than 40 million people – report they do not have adequate access to the health care they need, according to the annual report on the nation’s health released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

CDC Update: Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV, Viral Hepatitis & TB

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:43:18 PST

Despite prevention efforts, some groups of people are affected by HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB more than other people. The occurrence of these diseases at greater levels among certain population groups than in others is often referred to as a health disparity.

December 1st is World AIDS Day

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 07:41:35 PST

December 1st is World AIDS Day. Established by the World Health Organization in 1988, World AIDS Day serves to focus global attention on the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Observance of this day provides an opportunity for governments, national AIDS programs, faith organizations, community organizations and individuals to demonstrate the importance of the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Free Resources for Teachers

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 09:20:46 PST

Free For Teachers , the FCIC’s newest web page, provides a variety of resources for middle and high school teachers to help open the door to savvy everyday life skills and a wealth of government information for 6^th-to-12^th graders.

November is American Diabetes Month

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:00:15 PST

Over 20 million Americans have diabetes, putting them at risk for complications such as cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney disease, and lower –limb extremity amputations.