Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Post

Clinicians and environmental health professionals play a vital role in keeping communities safe from per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Journal of Environmental Health by the National Environmental Health Association featured the PFAS Information for Clinicians from ATSDR. Read the full report to learn how clinicians and environmental health professionals can use ATSDR’s resources to engage patients with PFAS concerns: https://bit.ly/4eL1EjQ

Emergency and public health planners: Ready to turn up the heat on preparedness? CDC’s Heat and Health Tracker offers data and information to help inform your preparedness and response efforts for heat events. Explore heat and health information for your community: bit.ly/CDCHeatTracker

Recent data from CDC's Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Network (SET-NET) showed that pregnant people with complicated lived experiences, such as substance use or being unhoused, are more likely to receive inadequate or no treatment for syphilis during pregnancy. Data are the oxygen that powers our ability to protect health and improve lives. In 2023, CDC made data visualizations available to health departments that displayed state or local data related to emerging and re-emerging threats on maternal and infant health. Why This Matters: Timely access to these data helps CDC and health departments focus on maternal and infant health and guide needed interventions locally. These data enable CDC and health departments to be ready to respond to new and emerging health threats during pregnancy. Read more about this story and other stories highlighting achievements in advancing public health data: https://bit.ly/45veazv

Environmental health professionals need specialized training to evaluate, communicate, and mitigate risks related to land reuse. Since 2019, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the National Environmental Health Association have offered hands-on training opportunities to students and professionals through the Environmental Health Land Reuse (EHLR) program. Read more to see how our partnership is closing the workforce gap: https://bit.ly/4aLiUC1

Calling all community and public works leaders: Economic benefits exceed the cost for improvements to park, trail & greenway infrastructure. Such improvements, combined with structured programs or transportation connections, increase physical activity. Read the American Journal of Preventive Medicine publication: https://bit.ly/3KsdhxO

Are you a healthcare provider who helps care for newborns? Screening for critical congenital heart defects (CHDs) can help identify newborns with a critical CHD before they go home from the birth hospital, aiding in prompt care and treatment. Timely care may prevent disability or death early in life for infants with critical CHDs. Current published recommendations focus on screening newborns in the well-baby nursery or other units from which discharge from the hospital is common during a newborn’s first week. Find out more about screening methods for critical CHDs: https://bit.ly/3XriuO7

Healthcare providers: HIV screening is part of routine health care. CDC recommends that every patient between 13 and 64 years old be screened for HIV at least once. Download CDC’s brochure on integrating routine HIV screening into your practice: https://bit.ly/4b0ly75

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted unanimously in favor of annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older with rare exception, with few changes to the annual recommendations this season compared to last season. This vote should serve as a green light to providers to begin their flu vaccination planning efforts and start vaccinating patients for whom it is indicated once the 2024-2025 flu vaccines become available. More info: https://bit.ly/3xEeAah

Registration and abstract submission are now open for the 2024 Tuberculosis Education and Training Network and Tuberculosis Program Evaluation Network Conference. Join us at the conference, September 17–19, in Atlanta, GA. This conference presents a unique opportunity for TB program staff and others to expand their understanding of TB education, training, and program evaluation. For more information visit: https://bit.ly/3VHivMM