A new grant will increase the capacity for sequencing and infectious disease research in Michigan, to improve the state’s ability to respond to health crises.
Four universities are receiving a total of $ 18.5 million for the work.
Dr Teena Chopra, co-director of the Detroit-based Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases at Wayne State University, said the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of increasing the focus on research and preparedness for this pandemic and future pandemics.
“The work for the grant is to look at emerging infections, not only the SARS-CoV 2 that causes COVID, but also other multidrug resistant organisms that have plagued the city of Detroit for years and are now even worse. after the pandemic. Chopra explained.
She noted that genomic sequencing can help track COVID transmission faster, control epidemics in communities, detect new variants and develop vaccines.
Dr Marcus Zervos, who also co-leads the WSU Center, said collaboration between universities is important. He stressed that efforts to understand the spread and scope of viruses such as COVID require national and international cooperation.
“We have not been able to respond quickly to a pandemic because we did not have mechanisms for testing and contact tracing, investigation and control of epidemics,” Zervos said. “If it is COVID, or if it is a new strain of bacteria resistant to antibiotics, it is essential to put in place a public health infrastructure. “
The data showed In Detroit and other cities, black and Latino communities have been hit harder by COVID than white communities. The Center also aims to reduce disparities, working with the state, the Detroit Health Department and community groups to find ways to benefit community health.
Disclosure: Wayne State University contributes to our civic engagement, education, health issues, and social justice reporting fund. If you would like to help support the news in the public interest, click here.
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Half of Texas residents say COVID-19 has caused them financial hardship, and Hispanic families have suffered the most serious consequences, says one new survey by the Episcopal Health Foundation.
Brian Sasser, the foundation’s director of communications, said the report highlighted how the pandemic is affecting Texans differently based on household income, race and other factors.
“Fifty-nine percent of Hispanics in Texas have experienced financial difficulties,” Sasser reported. “And in fact, Hispanics who were not born in the United States, that number jumps to 71%.”
The November investigation was conducted before the Omicron variant hit the United States. It also showed that 56% of parents who have children between the ages of 12 and 17 would support some sort of mandate in their school requiring proof of vaccination for students and staff. And nearly half said they would support vaccination mandates for non-essential businesses, including restaurants and theaters.
Sasser pointed out that the survey found that those earning less than $ 66,000 a year, or 62% of Texas families, were much more likely to say they had suffered financially from COVID-19.
“If you work by the hour, or if you can’t work from home or live in a crowded apartment complex or something similar, you are just affected differently from others,” Sasser argued.
Texans 65 and older who reported being in poor health or suffering from chronic health conditions or a disability expressed the most concern about COVID-19.
Sasser noted that the public health crisis has hit those with the fewest resources hardest.
“They may not have time to take off to get the vaccine because they fear side effects that would prevent them from working,” Sasser observed. “They don’t have sick leave, so they can’t just go to work and still earn a living.”
The survey also showed that a third of Texans say they know someone who has died of COVID-19 and more than half say they or someone they know has been seriously ill. The results of those interviewed as part of the Episcopal Health Foundation’s 2021 survey were almost identical to those conducted in 2020.
Disclosure: The Episcopal Health Foundation contributes to our fund for reporting on health issues, mental health, philanthropy, and poverty issues. If you would like to help support the news in the public interest, click here.
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A bilingual and multicultural health center providing affordable health care to uninsured residents of the Charlotte area is now expanding its services to include more nutrition classes in Spanish.
The Camino Vida program at Camino Health Center educates participants about food groups, family diets, and healthy meal preparation.
According to data from the UNC Population Center, the communities of Mecklenburg County and Wake County represent more than one quarter of the Latino population throughout the state.
Sharisse Johnson, executive director of the Camino Health Center, said the classes were among many new additions to the center for 2022 focused on holistic wellness and access to quality health care.
“The main things we’re focusing on are access to care,” Johnson explained. “Making sure people get the services they need to receive service, in a language they can understand, at a cost they can afford. “
A Study 2021 by Camino highlights the challenges many Latino immigrants face in the Charlotte area, with 74% of respondents reporting some level of difficulty paying for medical appointments, and 89% reporting stress from the pandemic coronavirus.
Camino’s expansion efforts are funded in part by a community mini-grant from the American Heart Association and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.
Johnson stressed that the center is continuously ask for feedback of residents on how to improve services, and emphasized the ongoing assessment of the strengths and needs of Latin Americans in North Carolina.
“For anyone who is Latino, who is 18 and over and lives in North Carolina, we would love to have them go to caminohealthcenter.com and take this assessment,” Johnson urged.
Shannon Emmanuel, vice president of health strategy for the American Heart Association in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, said few wellness education resources are available for low-income communities. She believes nutrition classes in Spanish are an important part of disease prevention.
“Because we want to educate people about healthy food groups, how to incorporate them into their diets and provide a framework for it,” Emmanuel noted.
She added that the pandemic has exacerbated health problems in the Latin American community.
“And what we found, especially at the height of the pandemic, is that the rate of COVID infections was 50% or more with the Latin American population,” Emmanuel reported.
The Camino Vida wellness center includes a gym and fitness specialists to help residents manage chronic illnesses through self-care, lifestyle changes and stress reduction.
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Arkansas reported a record number of new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, as the highly contagious variant of Omicron spreads, reflecting trends seen across the country.
the Arkansas Department of Health saw more than 6,500 positive cases on Tuesday, the highest number since the summer 2021 outbreak. Hospitalizations have yet to reach the same peak levels, but that’s something health officials monitor.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said next month would be tough and suggested the Arkansans do their part by wearing a mask and talking with their doctor about getting the shot if they’re eligible.
“We are entering a period of probably the greatest risk we have faced during the pandemic,” he said. “We have Omicron here which is less severe – but at the same time the sheer volume of numbers poses challenges for us that we have never faced before.”
Hutchinson said his administration requested 1.5 million in-home COVID tests from the White House last week, but expects delays due to a national shortage. Arkansas is also reporting a record positivity rate in COVID testing of 25.5% in the past seven days.
The state is increasingly concerned about the capacity of children’s hospitals as pediatric cases of COVID are on the rise. Health Secretary Jose Romero said he was encouraging parents to get eligible children vaccinated as soon as possible.
“We have a great children’s hospital here in the state with a satellite campus in Northwest Arkansas,” he said, “so there’s a chance with a higher number of cases, we could overwhelm that system. “
Authorities have also recommended that parents send their children to school with face masks. According to the state Department of Health, school districts with a mask warrant have seen a 25% reduction in COVID-19 cases among students and staff.
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