In the News
The flu is still going around Washington. It’s not too late to get your shot | KUOW
To date, at least 296 people in Washington state have died of the flu since the fall. But it’s not too late to get the shot if you haven’t already. Dr. Helen Chu, professor of epidemiology and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
Bacterial vaginosis may be helped by male partners being treated, study says | The Washington Post
Bacterial vaginosis affects nearly one in three women of reproductive age. A study adds to evidence it is sexually transmitted, offering a new way to reduce recurrence. Jennifer Balkus, clinical associate professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
Why the NIH cuts could have a "devastating impact" on medical research | KUOW
The National Institutes of Health announced they would immediately slash four billion dollars of funding for research institutes across the country. This would directly impact at least 70 research facilities in Washington State. Dr. Helen Chu, professor of epidemiology and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
Dr. Helen Chu was ready for Covid — now she's preparing for the next pandemic | KUOW
It’s been nearly five years since the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a worldwide pandemic. One of the first researchers to document its community spread was Dr. Helen Chu with UW Medicine. Now, Dr. Chu’s team has a new study called SeaPrep up and running in Seattle, that’s meant to help us prepare for the next pandemic. Dr. Helen Chu, professor of epidemiology and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
‘No Room’: Washington hospitals overwhelmed by ‘worst flu season since 2009′ | KIRO 7
Respiratory virus season is sweeping across the nation, and Washington hospitals are struggling to meet the need. Dr. Scott Lindquist, affiliate professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
RFK Jr. says government ignores chronic disease, but that's misguided | NBC News
In his testimony this week, Kennedy claimed that infectious diseases receive far more federal funding than chronic diseases. Government records suggest the opposite. Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
When is Tamiflu worth taking? | TIME
The flu is always a nasty foe—and it’s particularly vicious this year. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been at least 12 million flu infections since the fall in the U.S., leading to 160,000 hospitalizations and 6,600 deaths. Dr. Helen Chu, professor of epidemiology and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
Opinion: Wear a helmet, don’t drink and ride: the preventable perils of e-scooters | The Seattle Times
"There’s no question the use of e-scooters comes with significant safety risks, especially when it comes to head injuries. Unfortunately, helmet use has been almost nonexistent. As their use has soared, e-scooter-related injuries continue to rise," writes Dr. Beth Ebel, professor of pediatrics in the UW School of Medicine. Xinyao De Grauw, research scientist in the UW School of Medicine, is mentioned.
The United States is leaving the World Health Organization — what could that mean for Spokane? | The Spokesman-Review
As of President Donald Trump’s first day back in office Monday, the United States is leaving the World Health Organization. Some local experts think such a move might leave Spokane and the United States unprepared for the next pandemic. Dr. Carey Farquhar, professor of global health, epidemiology and medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
UW study aims to spot the next pandemic before it spreads | KNKX
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus was probably spreading in the community well before the threat was identified. UW researchers say they want to be better prepared for the next pandemic and are launching a multiyear study that could provide advance warning of disease outbreaks. Dr. Helen Chu, professor of epidemiology and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
Driving away from wildfires can be harrowing — here’s what to do | The Washington Post
Fire safety experts urge drivers to maintain clean air filters and leave keys behind if they have to flee. Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
UW awarded grant for COVID study to be led by researcher Helen Chu | Northwest Asian Weekly
Researchers at the UW School of Medicine have been awarded a five-year grant from the CDC n to study the spread of influenza, RSV, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses in communities. Dr. Helen Chu, professor of epidemiology and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is mentioned.
UW Medicine launches five-year study of respiratory illnesses as flu, bird flu cases rise | KIRO 7
UW Medicine is currently conducting a five-year study that will monitor and help us learn more about the spread of COVID-19, RSV, and other respiratory-related illnesses. Dr. Helen Chu, professor of epidemiology and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
Is it safe to eat eggs amid bird flu outbreaks? | Fox News
A registered dietitian shares cautions about eating soft-boiled or 'runny' eggs while avian flu persists. Dr. Anna Wald, professor of medicine, epidemiology and of laboratory medicine and pathology in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
With RFK nomination, Washington state health leaders brace for local impacts | KUOW
President-elect Donald Trump has named Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, a choice that worries some Washington state leaders, largely because of his position on vaccines. They anticipate funding cuts and increased vaccine skepticism under the next administration, and want to ensure local vaccination programs are safeguarded from a political shift. Dr. Helen Chu, professor of epidemiology and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
Millions of people below 50 have this incurable, often asymptomatic, STD | Fox News
Genital herpes simplex virus, or HSV, is at a global high — and it can be transmitted without symptoms. Dr. Anna Wald, professor of medicine, epidemiology and of laboratory medicine and pathology at the UW, is quoted.
Sen. Patty Murray opposes RFK, Jr.; promotes vaccines | Seattle's Child
Washington’s growing vaccine hesitancy discussed during Seattle UW Medicine roundtable event. Dr. Helen Chu, professor of epidemiology and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is mentioned.
Patty Murray, at UW Medicine, sounds alarm on RFK Jr. and vaccines | The Seattle Times
Putting the nation’s leading anti-vaccine activist in charge of the massive federal department overseeing America’s sprawling system of health care, disease control and medical research would “set our country back in a way that I cannot fathom,” U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said Friday at a UW Medicine facility in Seattle. Dr. Helen Chu, professor of epidemiology and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
WA is getting whooped by whooping cough | KUOW
Whooping cough is making a major comeback in Washington state. The bacterial disease is most dangerous to babies, and many who get it require hospitalization. Dr. Helen Chu, professor of epidemiology and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is interviewed.
WA reports nearly 1,200 whooping cough cases so far this year | The Seattle Times
This year could shape up to be the worst year for whooping cough Washington has seen in over a decade. Dr. Helen Chu, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted, and Collrane Frivold, doctoral student in epidemiology, is mentioned.
Opinion: Whooping cough vaccine vigilance is slipping in WA | The Seattle Times
"This week, the Washington State Department of Health reported that so far this year 1,099 cases of whooping cough have been reported compared to just 45 at the same time last year," write Dr. Helen Chu, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, and Collrane Frivold, a doctoral student in epidemiology at the UW.
Taxing sweetened drinks decreases consumption in lower-income households by 50% | Scripps News
The researchers say this result could suggest that taxing helps reduce health disparities and promotes healthier choices. Jessica Jones-Smith, associate professor of epidemiology and of health systems and population health at the UW, is quoted.
Oppressive state laws raise mental health risks for trans people | HealthDay
There's a strong association between a state's policies and laws around the rights of transgender people and the mental health of transgender residents, a new study shows. Arjee Restar, assistant professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
Opinion: Violence intervention programs need time to demonstrate impact | The Seattle Times
"Amid racial injustices laid bare in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, police violence and community turmoil, governments started to invest in a different kind of public safety strategy. This approach capitalizes on community insights and relationships and focuses on healing and prevention rather than punishment," co-write the UW's Kristian Jones, assistant professor of social work, and Julia Schleimer, doctoral student of epidemiology.
Rates of anxiety doubled among transgender Americans since 2014 | HealthDay
The rate of self-reported mental distress and depression among American adults who identify as transgender or gender-diverse (TGD) more than doubled between 2014 and 2022, an analysis of federal health data reveals. Arjee Restar, assistant professor of epidemiology at the UW, is mentioned.
A grieving Seattle community considers ways to keep Garfield kids safe | The Seattle Times
Gun violence cast a particularly dark shadow over their spring. In between school plays, prom and graduation, two Garfield students were shot. Dr. Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
Heat wave can put hearts into ‘oxygen debt,' lab experiment shows| STAT
When temperatures soar, so do heart attacks. Now, a lab experiment explains just how temperatures climbing into Fahrenheit’s three-digits can cause ischemia and potential heart attacks, all while international efforts to limit long-term warming seem like they’re running out of time. Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine in the UW School of Medicine, is quoted.
Washington has become ‘safe haven for people seeking abortions,’ study finds | KIRO 7
A new study, published in JAMA Network Open this week, has found that since the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, Washington has seen a 50% increase in out-of-state patients seeking abortions. Dr. Emily Godfrey, associate professor of family medicine and of obstetrics and gynecology in the UW School of Medicine, and Taylor Riley, doctoral student in epidemiology at the UW, are quoted.
Rise in out-of-state patients for abortion in Washington state | HealthDay
Following the fall of Roe v. Wade in the summer of 2022, there's been a surge in women from as far away as Texas and Florida traveling to Washington state to have a legal abortion, new data shows. Dr. Emily Godfrey, associate professor of family medicine and of obstetrics and gynecology in the UW School of Medicine, and Taylor Riley, doctoral student in epidemiology at the UW, are quoted.
Washington state abortion clinics see rise in out-of-state patients | KOIN
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Washington state has seen an increase in out-of-state patients seeking an abortion than before the high court struck down the case, according to a University of Washington study. Dr. Emily Godfrey, associate professor of family medicine and of obstetrics and gynecology in the UW School of Medicine, and Taylor Riley, doctoral student in epidemiology at the UW, are quoted.
Out-of-state abortions have risen in Washington since 2022 | KUOW
The number of out-of-state women coming to Washington for abortions went up after 2022, when national protections for abortion care ended, according to a new assessment. Taylor Riley, doctoral student in epidemiology at the UW, and Dr. Emily Godfrey, associate professor of family medicine and of obstetrics and gynecology in the UW School of Medicine, are quoted.
Out-of-state abortions have increased by 50% in Washington post-Dobbs, UW study finds | The Spokesman-Review
Out-of-state abortions have increased by 50% in Washington since the Supreme Court ruled the procedure is not constitutionally protected, according to a new University of Washington study. Dr. Emily Godfrey, associate professor of family medicine and of obstetrics and gynecology in the UW School of Medicine, and Taylor Riley, doctoral student in epidemiology at the UW, are quoted.
Rise in out-of-state patients seeking abortions in Washington | KHQ
According to research published by JAMA Network Open, since the Supreme Court's decision on abortion rights, women have been traveling to Washington from Texas and other states to seek care, as reported by the UW Medicine. Taylor Riley, doctoral student in epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
We can prevent another summer mPox outbreak | Scientific American
Queer people’s behavior squashed the U.S. mpox outbreak in 2022. We shouldn’t have to rely on that to stop future outbreaks here or abroad. Miguel Paredes, a doctoral student of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
Analysis: Free school meals for all may reduce childhood obesity, while easing financial and logistical burdens for families and schools | The Conversation
"School meals are critical to child health. Research has shown that school meals can be more nutritious than meals from other sources, such as meals brought from home," write the UW's Jessica Jones-Smith, associate professor of epidemiology and of health systems and population health, and Anna Localio, a doctoral student of health systems and population health.
Idaho attorney general asks US Supreme Court to allow ban of gender affirming care for minors | KREM
Idaho's attorney general is asking the highest court in the U.S. to allow the state to ban gender affirming care for minors. Diana Tordoff, a doctoral student in epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
Philadelphia health officials are tracking a measles outbreak: What to know | ABC News
The city health department said there were eight confirmed cases as of Monday. The UW's Dr. Indi Trehan, associate professor of pediatrics in the School of Medicine and adjunct associate professor of global health and epidemiology, is quoted. This story is written by Dr. Angela Zhang, a pediatric resident in the UW School of Medicine.
Traffic exhaust could increase blood pressure, UW study finds | The Seattle Times
Even brief exposure to highway pollution could cause significant increases in blood pressure, a new study from the UW has found, adding to a growing body of work correlating vehicle exhaust with negative health outcomes. Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine, is quoted.
Does your commute give you high blood pressure? It might be the traffic pollution | NBC News
A new study provides some evidence that suggests sitting in traffic could help trigger medical conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, though more research is needed to establish clear links. Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine, is quoted.
Air pollution can cause an increase in blood pressure | KNKX
A new study from researchers at the UW finds that air pollution on the roadway causes an increase in travelers blood pressure. Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine, is quoted.
Like a high-sodium diet: traffic pollution can cause rise in blood pressure — study | The Guardian
Study finds the spike in blood pressure can last up to 24 hours and may contribute to cardiovascular problems. Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine, is quoted.
Rush-hour traffic in Seattle increases blood pressure, but not for the reason you think | KUOW
A new study suggests that ultrafine particles circulating on and near congested freeways — a toxic mixture of exhaust from tailpipes, brake and tire wear, and road dust — increases blood pressure, which could lead to other health problems. Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine, is quoted.
Traffic pollution has an immediate impact on blood pressure | Earth.com
A study from the UW offers new insights into the health risks associated with air pollution from congested city roadways. The findings reveal the direct impact of traffic pollution on blood pressure. Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine, is quoted.
Sitting in traffic triggers a blood pressure surge that lasts 24 hours | New Atlas
Inching forward bumper to bumper on a highway when you’re on the way to an appointment, or worse, the airport, is enough to spike anyone’s blood pressure. But researchers have found that a blood pressure surge occurs independent of external stressors, and it could be due to the poor air flowing into the car from surrounding traffic. Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine, is quoted.
Surprisingly large effects from breathing traffic fumes inside your car | Newsweek
Both short- and long-term exposure to air pollution have been linked to a wide range of diseases, including strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, diabetes, obesity and even Alzheimer's, according to the World Health Organization. Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine, is quoted.
Supreme Court’s devotion to gun rights faces a challenging test | The New York Times
The justices will hear arguments on Tuesday on whether the government can disarm people subject to restraining orders for domestic abuse. Dr. Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, professor of epidemiology at the UW, is mentioned.
More Washington kids get the measles vaccine, thanks to a rule change | KUOW
More school kids in Washington state have been getting vaccinated against measles. That’s because, after measles outbreaks in 2019 — including a major one in the Portland/Vancouver area — legislators tightened who could opt out of the shots. Julia Bennett, doctoral student in epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
A vending machine in Seattle that dispenses the morning-after pill | KUOW
There’s a new kind of vending machine on the UW campus. It sells pregnancy tests, tampons, tylenol – and the morning-after pill for $12.60, packaged in purple and white boxes. Taylor Riley, doctoral student in epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
Mass shooting rates by US state | NBC News
Washington, D.C., and Louisiana had the highest rates of mass shootings per capita from 2014 to 2022, while Hawaii and North Dakota were the only two with zero. Dr. Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, professor of epidemiology at the UW, is quoted.
Rise of emergency contraception vending machines on college campuses | USA Today
At least 39 colleges and universities across 17 states have implemented emergency contraception vending machines on their campuses, including in some places that have largely banned or restricted abortion access. This move is gaining steam in schools located in or near contraceptive deserts – areas that lack reasonable access to health centers. Meghan Eagen-Torkko, associate professor of nursing at UW Bothell, and Taylor Riley, doctoral student in epidemiology at the UW, are quoted.