2009 News
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Gray's Research on Virus Spread Quoted
(The New York Times, 11/9/2009)
In this blog article about debate over the relationship between the
H1N1 influenza virus and large-scale concentrated animal feeding
operations, research from GREGORY GRAY, director of the Center for
Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Iowa College of
Public Health, is quoted: "When respiratory viruses get into these
confinement facilities, they have continual opportunity to replicate,
mutate, reassort, and recombine into novel strains."
Read more...
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Pandemic Report: Farm to You?
(The Valley Advocate, 11/10/2009)
An article about possible links between swine flu and Concentrated
Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) references several research studies
conducted by GREGORY GRAY, director of the Center for Emerging
Infectious Diseases at the University of Iowa College of Public
Health.
Read more...
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Field Comments on Radon Exposure
(Capital Times, 11/13/2009)
BILL FIELD, professor of occupational and environmental health and
epidemiology, who has recently been appointed to the Advisory Board on
Radiation and Worker Health by President Obama, stated that protracted
radon progeny exposure is the seventh leading cause of cancer
mortality in the United States and the leading environmental cause of
cancer mortality. It is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among
nonsmokers. The Capital Times is published in Wisconsin.
Read more...
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Field Radon Cancer Death Study Noted
(Australia World News, 11/2/2009)
A story notes that a study by BILL FIELD, UI professor of occupational
and environmental health and epidemiology, found that protracted radon
progeny exposure is the seventh leading cause of cancer mortality in
the United States and the leading environmental cause of cancer
mortality. It is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among
non-smokers.
Read more...
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Nutrition Center Awarded Top Prize at UI Health Fair
The CPH Nutrition Center's exhibit at the UI Health on Nov. 4 was
recognized with the Best Booth Award. The award is based on
"interactivty of booth, friendliness of staff, quality of health
information, and the WOW factor." Staff members presented information
about whole grains and passed out freshly popped, healthfully prepared
popcorn, which proved to be a popular whole grain snack for fairgoers.
View photos...
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Gray Advocates Vaccine Priority for Swine Workers
(The Washington Post, 10/25/2009)
The importance of keeping a human pandemic flu strain out of pigs, or
limiting its spread, is underappreciated, according to experts.
They're concerned about the virus getting into pigs and then coming
back to people, questioning what may happen to the genetics during the
time it's in pigs. GREG GRAY, professor of epidemiology, campaigned
in medical journals to have swine workers be made a "priority group"
in any pandemic vaccine program.
Read more...
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Blog: Who's Investigating H1N1 in CAFOs?
(Grist Magazine, 10/29/2009)
Highlighting a quote from GREG GRAY, director of the Center for
Emerging Infectious Diseases, about respiratory viruses in confinement
facilities and their opportunity to replicate, mutate, reassort, and
recombine into novel strains, a Grist author calls for further
investigation of H1N1 infections or antibodies in confinement hogs.
Read more...
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UI College of Public Health Assists in H1N1 Find
(New York Times (multiple entries), 10/17/2009)
Of 103 pigs tested in late August, three pigs at the Minnesota
State Fair tested positive for H1N1, the flu virus that is causing the
current pandemic, the USDA reported. The pigs are the first in this
country found to harbor the virus. All the pigs appeared healthy.
They probably caught the virus from infected people, said researchers
at the University of Minnesota, who conducted the testing along with
researchers from the University of Iowa College of Public Health.
Read more...
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UI Researchers Help Confirm H1N1 in Pigs
(The Daily Iowan, 10/20/2009)
The USDA, with the help of UI researchers, confirmed the first cases of
H1N1 influenza in American-raised pigs. This fall, the researchers
collected swab samples from the nostrils of pigs at the Minnesota
State Fair, located just outside St. Paul. "It's a premier example,"
said GREG GRAY, professor of epidemiology. "We had known that there
had been a number of outbreaks in people associated with swine shows."
Read more...
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President Obama Names Field to Advisory Board on Worker Health
President Barack Obama announced Oct. 14 that he will appoint R.
William Field, professor of occupational and environmental health and
epidemiology in the University of Iowa College of Public Health, to
the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health.
Read more...
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CPH Shows Spirit at Homecoming Parade, Tailgate
In honor of the college's 10th anniversary year, faculty, staff, and
students and their families expressed their support for the Hawkeyes
-- and the college -- during UI Homecoming last week. Nearly 30 people
participated in the College of Public Heath's entry in the homecoming
parade, and on game day, a number of college supporters sipped on
hot cocoa at the CPH tailgate.
View photos...
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Snetselaar Discusses Childhood Obesity Prevention Projects
(KVFD - AM 1400, Fort Dodge, 9/16/2009)
LINDA SNETSELAAR, professor of epidemiology and interim head of the
Department of Community and Behavioral Health, decribed childhood
obesity prevention studies and community-collaborative projects in
Fort Dodge and Muscatine.
Listen here...
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Field Contributes to WHO's Global Initiative on Radon
University of Iowa professor R. William Field, Ph.D., is part of an
international team of scientists who contributed to a new World Health
Organization (WHO) publication that calls on countries to either
strengthen or establish programs to control the presence of radon in
homes and other residential settings.
Read more...
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UI Heart and Stroke Prevention Study Seeks Participants
Adults age 18 and older who have had a heart attack or heart surgery
are invited to participate in a University of Iowa research study.
Read more...
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Nutrition Center Encourages Celebrating Whole Grains Month
(Iowa City Press-Citizen, 9/2/2009)
For many, September is a time of transition. Now is a great time to
include food in this transition, as you jump start the school year and
eat for optimal performance. September is Whole Grains Month and an
opportunity to incorporate new choices into new routines, said LOIS A.
AHRENS, a registered dietitian in the Nutrition Center.
Read more...
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Gray Discusses Zoonotic Diseases
A rising number zoonotic infections - viruses transmitted between
animals and humans - has prompted increased research efforts at the
UI. GREG GRAY, professor of epidemiology, highlighted studies of
zoonotic infections during the CPH's annual Distinguished Faculty
Lecture. Gray, who joined the UI in 2001, has spearheaded the
creation an infectiousdisease epidemiology program and the
college's Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, which he directs.
Read more...
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Distinguished Faculty Lecture Focused on Zoonotic Infections
The college kicked off the academic year with the annual Distinguished
Faculty Lecture. GREG GRAY, professor of epidemiology, presented
"Zoonotic Infections: Their Importance and Neglect" on Aug. 25
highlighting various zoonotic disease research projects within the
college and the UI Center for Emerging Infectious Disease, which
Gray directs.
View photos...
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WHO Leader Presented HsuLi Lecture on Preventing Infection
Didier Pittet, professor of medicine and director of the Infection
Control Department at the University of Geneva Hospitals in Geneva,
Switzerland, delivered the 2009 HsuLi Distinguished Lecture in
International Epidemiology on Aug. 27 . Pittet's lecture, "Preventing
Infection: Scaling Up from Local to Global," described his experiences
working on several initiatives to decrease health careassociated
infections through improved hand hygiene practices.
View photo...
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Updated Fact Book Profiles Health of Iowans
The University of Iowa College of Public Health, in partnership with
the Iowa Department of Public Health, has released the 2009 Iowa
Health Fact Book, a broad-ranging report covering the health and
health-related behaviors of Iowans.
Read more...
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UI Study Finds Increase in Unintentional Poisonings in Iowa
Unintentional poisoning is a growing problem in Iowa, and deaths from
it are climbing, according to a University of Iowa report. The study,
led by JAMES TORNER, UI professor of epidemiology, found the number of
unintentional poisoning deaths in Iowa rose from 67 in 2002 to 160 in
2008.
Read more...
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UI Professor to Discuss Animal-Human Diseases Aug. 25
GREGORY GRAY, University of Iowa professor of epidemiology, will
present the 2009-10 College of Public Health Distinguished Faculty
Lecture, "Zoonotic Infections: Their Importance and Neglect," at 3:30
p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, in Room 2117 of the Medical Education and
Research Facility.
Read more...
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Expert to Speak on Preventing Infection Aug. 27
Didier Pittet, M.D., professor of medicine and director of the
Infection Control Department at the University of Geneva Hospitals in
Geneva, Switzerland, will deliver the 2009 Hsu-Li Distinguished
Lectureship in International Epidemiology at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug.
27, in Room E331 General Hospital (Medical Alumni Auditorium). He will
speak on "Preventing Infection: Scaling-Up from Local to Global."
Read more...
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Report Documents Rise in Unintentional Poisonings
(The Dubuque Telegraph Herald, 8/15/2009)
A UI report, led by JAMES TORNER, professor of epidemiology, documents
the growing threat of unintentional poisonings. Health officials lay
the blame on interactions between prescription drugs or the mix of
prescription drugs with alcohol -- noting the increase mirrors a rise
in the prescriptions of muscle relaxants and sedatives.
Read more...
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CEID Newsletter
The Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases posted its summer
newsletter featuring news about the certificate in emerging infectious
diseases, avian influenza, and more.
Source: Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases
Read more...
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CPH Study Notes MRSA Prevalence in Swine, Workers
(Indiana Star Press, 7/26/2009)
Livestock waste can be a source of methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus
aureus (MRSA), a growing health concern in many Indiana communities. A
study conducted by the UI COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH found that the
overall MRSA prevalence in swine was 49 percent and 45 percent in
swine workers.
Read more...
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Study: Being Active as a Preschooler Pays Off Later in Childhood
Being active at age 5 helps kids stay lean as they age even if they
don't remain as active later in childhood, a new University of Iowa
study shows. The study, published this month in the American Journal
of Preventive Medicine, indicates that kids who are active at age 5
end up with less fat at age 8 and 11, even when controlling for their
accumulated level of activity.
Read more...
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Disease Spreads in Rural Communities Too
(Discovery News, 6/15/2009)
During a disease epidemic, officials tend to focus on urban areas,
where people are packed into close, viral-spreading quarters, but
rural areas deserve attention too. "Classically, people retreated to
rural areas during epidemics," said GREGORY GRAY, professor of
epidemiology and director of the Center for Emerging Infectious
Diseases. "Today, we think that rural areas, particularly those
closely associated with large populations of animals, might be at
increased risk of infections."
Read more...
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Chrischilles Comments on Medication Studies in Elderly
(KVFD - AM 1400, Fort Dodge, 6/29/2009)
ELIZABETH CHRISCHILLES, professor of epidemiology and director of the
Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics, says there needs to
be an increased research focus on the effects of medications in elderly
patients, especially since many research trials involve subjects who
are under age 65.
Listen here...
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College Launches Public Phase of Fund-Raising Campaign
The College of Public Health held a campaign kickoff celebration on
June 18 marking the public launch of the "Building Today for a Healthy
Tomorrow" fund-raising campaign. Dean SUE CURRY welcomed an audience
of friends and supporters to the event.
View photos...
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College of Public Health Students, Faculty, Staff Honored
The University of Iowa College of Public Health held its annual
graduation reception and honors ceremony May 15 to recognize the
achievements of its students, faculty, and staff.
Read more...
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Myers Urged Better Understanding of Flu Transmission
(Reuters/AlertNet, 5/16/2009)
Days before the first Mexico swine flu case was identified, KENDALL
MYERS of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases released a
review online in the journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases. The review of
scientific literature documented the previous 50 suspected or known
cases of swine influenza in humans. Her team warned: "Because prior
studies have shown that persons who work with swine are at increased
risk of zoonotic influenza virus infection, it is prudent to include them in
pandemic planning efforts."
Read more...
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Veterinarians at Higher Risk for Zoonotic Disease (multiple entries)
(multiple sources)
A review of four decades of literature on the infection of
veterinarians by zoonotic pathogens has led to calls for vets to
do more to protect themselves, those around them, and the animals they
treat. The report was authored by GREGORY GRAY, director of the UI
Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and professor of epidemiology,
and WHITNEY BAKER, Ph.D. student in epidemiology.
Read more...
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CPH Study Documented MRSA Infections
(Journal Gazette, Ft. Wayne, Ind., 5/31/2009)
A study published in January was the first to document MRSA, or
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, in swine and swine
workers in the U.S. The findings suggested that "agricultural animals
could become an important reservoir for this bacterium," according to
lead study author TARA SMITH, assistant professor of epidemiology, and
other researchers.
Read more...
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Research Staff Award
Congratulations to Michele West, PhD recipient of the College of Public Health Staff Research Award. ......................................................................................................................
Congratulations to the Spring 2009 graduates:
MPH
Katie Pease
Jennifer Seidel
Kaitlin Zander
MS – Clinical Investigation
Farshad Elmi
Jorge Go
MS
Jason Egge
Margaret Graham
Eric Hawkins
Tracy MacIntyre
Brittany McKinnon
Hayden Smith
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Study: Veterinarians at High Risk for Infections from Animals
The recent H1N1 influenza epidemic has raised many questions about how
animal viruses move to human populations. While there is no evidence
that veterinarians played a direct role in the current H1N1 epidemic,
a new report by University of Iowa College of Public Health
researchers shows that veterinarians are at markedly increased risk of
infection with zoonotic pathogens, the viruses and bacteria that can
infect both animals and humans.
Read more...
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UI College of Public Health Honors Two Outstanding Alumni
The College of Public Health has selected James Cerhan, Ph.D., M.D.,
and Vickie Shavers, Ph.D., to receive 2009 Outstanding Alumni Awards.
The awards will be presented at the college's annual honors ceremony
May 15.
Read more...
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State Epidemiologist Discusses Influenza A (H1N1)
Patricia Quinlisk, state epidemiologist and medical director for the
Iowa Department of Public Health, discussed the recent outbreak of
influenza A (H1N1) May 6 as part of the Upper Midwest Center for
Public Health Preparedness's Grand Rounds series.
Read more...
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CPH Experts Comment on H1N1 Flu
(5/2/2009 - 5/6/2009)
Influenza A (H1N1) virus continues to be a news item this week as new
cases are confirmend and misinformation is clarified. This week, GREG
GRAY, professor of epidemiology, TARA SMITH, assistant professor of
epidemiology, and PETER THORNE, professor of occupational and
environmental health, weighed in on H1N1 in numerous media reports.
Read more...
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CPH Experts Respond to Influenza H1N1 Concerns
(various news media, 4/27/2009)
The spread of influenza A (H1N1) virus captured many news headlines this
week. GREG GRAY, professor of epidemiology and director of the
Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, TARA SMITH, assistant professor
of epidemiology, and CHRIS ATCHISON, director of the University Hygienic
Laboratory and associate dean for public health practice, weighed
in on the situation in numerous media reports as posted on the
CPH Influenza A (H1N1) Resources.
Read more...
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Student Honored for Research Poster on Staph, State Fair Swine
PHIL SCHEIBEL was honored with the Outstanding Poster Presentation
Award in the Social Sciences at the American Society for
Microbiology's General Meeting, held May 17-21 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Scheibel, a UI senior working with TARA SMITH, assistant professor of
epidemiology, presented "Prevalence, Antibiotic Resistance, and
Molecular Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus in State Fair
Swine."
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UI Recognizes Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni at Finkbine Dinner
The University of Iowa honored outstanding students, faculty, staff,
and alumni April 14 at the 92nd anniversary Finkbine Dinner for
representative student leaders, one of the university's most
prestigious award ceremonies. FLORIN OPRESCU, who will complete his
doctorate in community and behavioral health this year, was honored
with a Hancher-Finkbine Graduate/Professional Student Medallion.
Read more...
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Blog: MRSA in Hogs Has Unknown Affect on Human Health
(Cooking Up a Story, 3/27/2009)
MRSA, a type of Staph resistant to broad-spectrum antibiotics, has
recently been discovered in pigs and farm workers on farms in Iowa and
Illinois, in study by TARA SMITH, associate professor of epidemiology.
"That's our next direction of research, to really understand a little
more about this particular strain [ST398], and see if it's really a
cause for concern as far as human disease goes," she said.
Read more...
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Smith Weighs in on Gardasil Vaccine
(The Daily Iowan, 4/1/2009)
Gardasil, a vaccine developed to protect against human papillomavirus
(HPV), has been the subject of debate about its side effects, cost, and effectiveness. Some health professionals continue to advocate for its
role in protecting women against cancer. "Whatever hype there is for
the vaccine, if we have the means to prevent cancer that affects women's reproductive health and well-being, we should do it," said ELAINE SMITH, professor of epidemiology.
Read more...
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UI Steps Up Attention to Conflicts of Interest Disclosure
Interim Vice President for Research Jordan Cohen this week announced
revisions in the UI's Conflict of Interest in Research Policy and increased
attention to the requirement for disclosure of significant financial
interests in research.
Read more...
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Report Finds Injuries a Leading Cause of Death in Iowa
Injuries are a leading cause of death among Iowans with more than
1,500 injury-caused deaths each year -- more than four per day --
according to an inaugural report recently released by the University
of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center and Iowa Department of
Public Health.
Read more...
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Hancock County, Consortium for Cancer Control Team Up
(Forrest City Summit, The Britt News-Tribune, 3/17/2009)
Hancock County health data shows a high incidence of colon cancer with
a large percentage of it diagnosed in late stages. For this reason the
county public health department is teaming up with the Iowa Consortium
for Comprehensive Cancer Control, a coalition between the Iowa
Department of Public Health and the UI College of Public Health, to
increase the awareness for early CRC screenings.
Read more...
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UI Helps Advance Colorectal Cancer Awareness
With March serving as Colorectal Awareness Month, the disease was
highlighted at a presentation of the annual "Cancer in Iowa: 2009"
report, compiled by the State Health Registry of Iowa, which is based in
the Department of Epidemiology at the UI College of Public Health.
Read more...
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State Health Registry Provides Latest on Cancer in Iowa
The number of cancer deaths and new cancer cases in Iowa is projected
to remain the same as last year, but cancer could soon exceed heart
disease as the leading cause of death in the state, said an expert
with the State Health Registry of Iowa, located in the Department of
Epidemiology at the UI College of Public Health.
Read more...
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Nutrition Center Column Celebrates March as Nutrition Month
(Iowa City Press-Citizen, 3/7/2009)
March, which is National Nutrition Month, provides an opportunity to
consider a positive approach to eating. Instead of focusing on what
not to eat, think about enjoying a variety of nourishing foods, says
DONNA L. HOLLINGER, a registered dietitian in the Nutrition Center at
the College of Public Health, in a monthly column.
Read more...
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Annual "Cancer in Iowa" Report Released (multiple entries)
(3/9/2009-3/10/2009)
The "Cancer in Iowa: 2009" report predicts 6,300 Iowans will die
from cancer this year, and 16,000 new cancer cases will be diagnosed.
CHARLES LYNCH, State Health Registry medical director and professor of
epidemiology, said while heart disease has typically been the
leading cause of death in Iowa, its rates have been declining, and
cancer is on the verge of becoming the No. 1 cause of death in Iowa.
Read more...
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Op-Ed: Pigs, Human Health, MRSA Linked
(New York Times, 3/12/2009)
An Op-Ed looks at an outbreak of MRSA, methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus, in a small, farm town in Indiana. A study by
TARA SMITH, associate professor of epidemiology, found that 45 percent
of pig farmers she sampled carried MRSA, as did 49 percent of the hogs
tested. The study was small, and more investigation is necessary. Yet
the author says it might shed light on the surge in MRSA reports in
Camden, Indiana.
Read more...
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News Briefing on 'Cancer In Iowa: 2009' is March 9
The annual "Cancer in Iowa" report issued by the State Health Registry
of Iowa, based in the Department of Epidemiology, will be the focus of
a news briefing for media at 10 a.m. March 9 in the Kelch Conference
Room, room 1289, located in the Carver Biomedical Research Building.
Read more...
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MRSA a Threat to Livestock, Humans
(Kansas City infoZine, 3/5/2009)
In a recent study of two Midwestern farming systems, TARA SMITH,
assistant professor of epidemiology, and colleagues found MRSA in
swine and their human handlers for the first time in the U.S.,
suggesting MRSA is now a problem outside of hospitals. "These are two
farming systems in this area. We're not sure how representative these
are to the bigger picture," Smith said.
Read more...
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Smith's Study: Pigs, People Can Share MRSA
(The Gazette, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, 1/23/2009)
UI researchers found a strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus, or MRSA, in workers and hogs at a swine farm. Lead author,
TARA SMITH, associate professor of epidemiology, said the results raise
concerns for swine workers and the general public. Because MRSA is
easily transmitted, workers could spread the bacteria to family members
or others in their communities.
Read more...
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Drug-Resistant Staph Strain Found in U.S. Pigs
(Scientific American, 1/23/2009)
A strain of drug-resistant staph identified in pigs in the
Netherlands, which accounts for nearly one third of all staph in
humans there, has been found in the U.S. for the first time, according
to a study led by TARA SMITH, associate professor of epidemiology. The
infection "could be due to movement of animals from farm to farm, or
it could be de novo acquisition of [resistance] on this farm," she
says. "It is such a small sample that we don't know whether it has
larger significance or not."
Read more...
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First Reports of MRSA Isolation in U.S. Pigs, Farmers
(Med Page Today, 1/26/2009)
As they are in other countries, U.S. pigs and their caretakers may be
colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
"Transmission of MRSA on swine farms or in veterinary facilities could
complicate efforts to reduce MRSA transmission statewide and beyond,"
said TARA SMITH, associate professor of epidemiology.
Read more...
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UI Study Finds MRSA in Midwestern Swine, Workers
The first study documenting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA) in swine and swine workers in the United States has been
published by University of Iowa researchers. The investigators found a
strain of MRSA, known as ST398, in a swine production system in the
Midwest, according to the paper published online by the science
journal PLoS One.
Read more...
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Snetselaar: Short Walks Make Big Difference in Health
(Health24.com, South Africa, 12/23/2008)
The best way to start exercising is by walking, a simple activity
everyone can do that requires no special equipment, says LINDA
SNETSELAAR, professor of epidemiology. "If you can walk for 150
minutes a week -- that's 30 minutes a day, five days a week -- you can
make a marked difference in your health," Snetselaar said.
Read more...
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2008 Archived News Items
2007 Archived News Items
2006 Archived News Items
2005 Archived News Items
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