prevention & control

"The COVID-19 pandemic isn't over. But even as governments around the world try to get it under control, they're also starting to talk about what happens next. How can we prevent another pandemic from killing millions of people and devastating the global economy? Can we even hope to accomplish this? Bill Gates believes the answer is yes, and he has written a largely upbeat book that lays out clearly and convincingly what the world should learn from COVID-19, explains the science of fighting pandemics, and suggests what all of us can do to help prevent another one. Given the worldwide success of How to Avoid a Climate Disaster (which debuted at #1 on the New York Times best seller list), Gates is more respected than ever for his approach to solving the world's biggest challenges"--.

"It began with a bat. This was the species in which the virus first emerged before infecting humans. A member of the coronavirus family of diseases, the symptoms of the virus included high fever, dry cough, body aches, diarrhea, and pneumonia. It spread primarily through respiratory droplets emitted when an infected person coughed or sneezed. This made it important to minimize person-to-person contact and observe social distancing in public spaces where the virus could be transmitted. Once the world became aware of the disease, it mobilized to stop it. These efforts were successful. Quarantine measures, quickly adopted, substantially slowed the spread of the disease. Within months of the detection of the virus in humans, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak contained. A total of 8,098 people were infected during the outbreak, and 774 died"--.

As a nation, we are facing an unprecedented opioid crisis that is killing more than 65,000 people a year. It is destroying our families and decimating our neighborhoods. And it is costing us billions. As more and more people are dealing with chronic pain, and as the opioid crisis reaches epic proportions, alternative approaches to understanding pain and its management are necessary. Here, Dr. Akhtar Purvez, a seasoned researcher, pain specialist, and pain advocate, offers basic information about pain and pain conditions and considers how we approach pain from cultural, biological, and medical perspectives. He discusses the latest minimally invasive, interventional approaches like nerve blocks and ablation procedures, and neuromodulation techniques like peripheral nerve, spinal cord, and brain stimulation. The uses of marijuana and associated interventions is reviewed, and Purvez walks readers through the process of assessing pain, finding a doctor who can treat it, and methods for coping with pain through non-medical approaches like meditation. Anyone coping with pain or helping someone who is will find here a ready resource that offers hope and understanding.

Presents a concise guide to preventing fetal alcohol syndrome and provides information on the effects of alcohol on the unborn fetus, the risks of birth defects, and educational approaches in dealing with FAS.

Provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of homeland security, covering incident management, threat assessment, planning for and responding to terrorism and other violent acts, the federal response plan, and weapons of mass destruction.

Examines issues related to the pharmaceutical industry and the privatization of risk, discussing the role of the Food and Drug Administration in protecting the public, the effect of giving the private sector and markets greater responsibility and reducing public oversight, and other topics.

Describes the extent of childhood obesity in the U.S. and the serious health risks obese children face, presenting scientific research and case studies, and explains what changes must be made in homes and schools to remedy the problem.

Presents the study of Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) that casts light on the organization's founding principles, distinctive culture, and inner struggles to realize more fully its "without borders" transnational vision.

Discusses tactics people use to manipulate teens into a sexual relationship, such as flattery, jealousy, and intimidation, and covers how to teach young people to discern between healthy and unhealthy relationships to prevent physical and emotional harm.