The recent surge in measles cases across the United States has experts sounding the alarm about the importance of vaccination. Pediatric infectious diseases specialists are reminding parents that measles is a highly contagious virus that can lead to serious complications, including hospitalization, pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death.

“The most effective way to prevent measles is vaccination,” emphasizes Dr. Caitlin Naureckas Li, MD MHQS, an infectious diseases specialist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “If parents are concerned that their child was exposed to measles or may have measles, they should call their child’s doctor. They should not attempt to treat measles on their own without a physician’s advice.”

According to Dr. Li and her colleagues, who recently published an article in Pediatrics, the risk of serious complications from measles is very real. In 2024, for example, 40% of people with confirmed measles were hospitalized, including 52% of children under 5 years old and 25% of those between 5-19 years old.

Moreover, the mortality rate for measles in the US is estimated to be one-three deaths per 1,000 infections. This risk is even higher for young children under 5 years old.

One of the most common complications of measles is pneumonia, which affects over 50% of cases. Measles can also impact the brain, leading to encephalitis in about one out of every 1,000 cases. SSPE (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis), a nearly universally deadly brain disorder that occurs years after measles infection, is another potential complication that strikes one in 100,000 cases, with a higher risk for children under 1 year old.

“MMR vaccination is safe,” Dr. Li stresses. “This vaccine is the best way for families to protect their children from potentially life-threatening complications.”

In conclusion, experts urge parents to prioritize vaccination against measles and take any necessary precautions if they suspect exposure or infection. By doing so, they can help prevent serious complications and keep their children safe.

The study, conducted by Glenna Nightingale and colleagues from the University of Edinburgh, UK, has shed new light on the factors that contribute to rising obesity rates. The research, published in PLOS One, found that being raised by a mother who smoked or was obese can significantly increase a person’s likelihood of becoming overweight or obese as an adult.

This study adds to the ongoing debate about the origins and causes of obesity, which has been a global public health concern for years. While individual genetics and behaviors are often discussed, the researchers behind this study highlight the importance of environmental factors, such as socioeconomic status, in developing obesity.

The analysis drew from the 1958 National Child Development Study, which followed the lives of over 17,000 people born in England, Scotland, and Wales during a single week. The data revealed that children raised by mothers who smoked or were obese were more likely to be overweight or severely obese at ages 16 and 42.

What’s striking is that these early life factors continued to have a persistent effect on a person’s weight throughout their lives, even after the rise in obesity rates began in the UK. This suggests that individual risk factors, such as behaviors, did not change significantly during this time period.

The researchers suggest that targeting obesity prevention programs for children and adults based on societal and early-life risk factors could be an effective approach. Furthermore, they emphasize the need for new studies to identify societal factors that may have contributed to the current obesity pandemic.

As one of the authors notes, “Our research shows that the effect of maternal influences persists through to age 42, and those predictors were just as powerful (and prevalent) in the era before the current obesity pandemic began.” This underscores the importance of exploring community and societal factors that may have caused the current obesity epidemic.

As hurricane season approaches once again, a new study from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research has shed light on the devastating financial impact of last year’s storms on Houston residents. The report found that more than half of workers in the area lost income due to power outages and job closures, while nearly 90% of residents experienced prolonged power outages.

The study, titled “2024 Storm Impacts and Harris County: A Descriptive Overview,” reveals a compounding effect of financial strain on residents. Many reported losing hundreds of dollars’ worth of spoiled food, sometimes more than once, adding to the overall economic burden. Home and property damage also contributed to the financial toll, with about half of all residents affected.

“Living through these storms firsthand, we anticipated seeing widespread power outages and home damage,” said Daniel Potter, director of the Houston Population Research Center at the Kinder Institute. “But the cumulative impact on people’s finances was a shock – losing hundreds of dollars in food spoilage alone can make it difficult to recover.”

Other key findings from the study include:

* About 6 in 10 residents reported combined food loss worth around $500
* Over two-thirds of respondents experienced health impacts due to the storms
* Half of residents suffered home or property damage, while about 1 in 7 experienced vehicle damage

While FEMA and other agencies have tracked physical damage from these storms, this report provides a broader understanding of the cumulative effects on residents’ finances and well-being.

“Before these storms, we knew nearly half of Houston-area residents said they’d struggle to come up with $400 for an unexpected expense,” Potter noted. “A storm that wipes out hundreds of dollars in groceries is a prime example of such an unforeseen cost.”

As Houston prepares for the next hurricane season, officials and preparedness efforts can benefit from these findings, which highlight the need for further research on disparities in impacts across neighborhoods and communities.

“With additional research, we can better understand how to deploy resources quickly where they’re most needed,” Potter emphasized. “This is crucial as we anticipate another disaster – it’s not a matter of if but when.”