Hispanics Seem to Have Better Odds of Lung Cancer Survival

Hispanic people with lung cancer tend to live longer than white or black people with the disease, according to a new study.

Researchers say Hispanics’ increased likelihood of survival may be due to genetic factors or environmental advantages, such as lower rates of tobacco use.

To rest of the article is on the MedlinePlus Hispanic-American Health page available at http://1.usa.gov/Ipi1h4

Asian/Pacific Islanders and Cardiovascular Diseases: Statistical Fact Sheet

American Heart Association outlines the leading causes of death among Asian/Pacific Islander men and women.

Available at http://bit.ly/JtXJB0

2010 Census Island Areas

U.S. Census Bureau - Access demographic information for American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Available at http://bit.ly/K4tCEj

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a funding opportunity for Healthy Food Financing Initiative projects designed to improve access to healthy food. The Community Economic Development program (CED) will provide up to $10 million of funding to Community Development Corporations (CDCs) for projects located in food deserts and designed to improve access to healthy, affordable foods. Applications are due June 5th.

For more information – http://ow.ly/aeuT8  [Wellness and Prevention Health Reform Digest, April 11, 2012]

County Health Rankings 2012 was released on April 3, 2012. The County Health Rankings measure the health of nearly all counties in the nation and rank them within states. The Rankings are compiled using county-level measures from a variety of national and state data sources. These measures are standardized and combined using scientifically-informed weights.

This year’s edition includes the addition of the County Health Roadmaps to show what we can do to create healthier places to live, learn, work, and play.

Visit the website and see how your county ranks: http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/ .

Some individuals, particularly elderly individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms might be actually suffering from a malaria-like disease called babesiosis. A study by scientists and researchers found that elderly populations living in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and Massachusetts had the highest rates of babesiosis among the elderly population and that such infections appear to be on rise in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Read more: http://ow.ly/a1ve1 [FDA Science & Research]

The northeastern United States may see a significant increase in cases of Lyme disease this spring, warns Richard Ostfeld, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, N.Y.

The reason is that oak trees produced relatively few acorns this year, part of a normal cycle of boom and bust years for the acorn crop. But the small crop means trouble for the white-footed mouse, which feeds on the acorns. Mice are the preferred host for black-legged ticks, which transmit Lyme disease. When there are low numbers of mice, the tick may seek alternate hosts.

For more information: http://ow.ly/9UKgt [HealthDay News, March 20, 2012]

More about Lyme Disease at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/lymedisease.html .

The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative in 2009. The initiative brings together staff from across USDA to coordinate, share resources, and publicize USDA efforts related to local and regional food systems. Learn more about the initiative in this section of the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass. Then see USDA-supported local and regional food projects across the country by visiting the interactive map.

Learn more: http://ow.ly/9JRYi

HealthMap, a team of researchers, epidemiologists and software developers founded in 2006, utilizes informal sources for disease outbreak monitoring and real-time surveillance of emerging public health threats. The freely available Web site ‘healthmap.org’ and mobile app ‘Outbreaks Near Me’ deliver real-time intelligence on a broad range of emerging infectious diseases for a diverse audience including libraries, local health departments, governments, and international travelers.

For more, including an introductory video called “What is HealthMap?”: http://healthmap.org

Two free condom programs have recently launched.

In New York City there is an app for that.  An app from the New York City Health Department uses GPS  information from a users smartphone to let the user know where the nearest of it’s 1,000 vendors are to get free condoms.  The app itself is free and has been downloaded over 25,000 times.

In California there is a new program called The Condom Access Project which allows people ages 12-19 to order a free package of condoms, lubricant, and health brochures.  These packages are mailed in a nondescript envelope.  The program is run through the California Family Health Council and supported by the California Department of Public Health’s STD Control Branch.

http://bit.ly/Ab7Xaf

http://usat.ly/yz8oof

Join in on Valentine’s Day for a webinar focusing on how the County Health Rankings are created. This Rankings Methods & New Measures webinar will also be the first announcement of the exact measures being used in the 2012 version of the Rankings, which will be released on April 3, 2012.

The webinar will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. CST. To register: http://ow.ly/8ZV2L .