HEALTH NEWS FOR WRITERS AND PRODUCERS FROM REAL TO REEL FALL 2011 Health Headlines Hollywood, Health & Society (HH&S) is a program of the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center. HH&S is a free, on-demand resource for entertainment writers working on medical and health storylines. The HIV Gel Blocks Herpes, Too program is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The California Endowment, the Bill A microbicide gel, originally developed & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Barr Foundation and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. to fight AIDS in Africa, was found to have the unexpected bonus of being even more effective against genital herpes, a much more common risk for Funding Agency News young American women. Overall, the Real People, Real Lives gel reduced HIV infections by 39% and What’s Your Status? herpes by 51%. Herpes is far more com- A new report released by CDC states that A Dirty Fight mon than AIDS; the World Health Or- nearly 3 out of 4 Americans living with HIV Steve McMinn and his wife, Julie are just two of ganization estimates that 20% of all do not have their infection under control. the Bellingham, WA residents fighting to stop sexually active adults have it. Although This low percentage is because 1 in 5 people the building of a coal-export terminal in their herpes can often be controlled by drugs, with HIV don’t realize they are infected, and town. The terminal would ship coal to China it is not curable and can cause painful of those who know of their positive HIV sta- to be burned for electricity. Not only does the sores and other symptoms. (The New tus, only 51% receive ongoing medical care burning of coal contribute to climate change, York Times, 10.20.11) Read the study and treatment. Improvements are needed but community residents are concerned about and more about herpes and STDs. at each stage in the process of treatment local consequences of the mining, handling, and care. CDC recently launched a new na- and burning of coal as well. The sailboat-lined Post-Baby Blues May Be Bad News tional awareness campaign called “Testing waterfront would be overtaken by trains, A recent study draws the first connec- Makes Us Stronger” to increase HIV testing diesel particulate matter, and coal dust, and tion ever between postpartum mental rates among black gay and bisexual men, the local park will see an increase in traffic, illness and later bipolar disorder. Wom- one of the populations most affected by noise and pollution. McMinn knows this is en who reported having symptoms HIV. (CDC,11.29.11) Read the report, press where “think global, act local” comes into of mental illness within two weeks of release, and more about the campaign, HIV play, and is working to stop the dirty business childbirth were more than three times transmission, treatment, and testing. from coming into town. (NPR, 10.26.11) Read as likely to be diagnosed later with bi- more on climate change. polar disorder, compared to women Support for Polio whose first episode of mental illness The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation an- Chicken Pox Lollipop, Anyone? was not in the postpartum period. nounced new grants to support Pakistan’s Kari Campbell Soto, a mother of four young This analysis implies that a postpar- polio eradication program after the Sindh children in southern California, recently took tum mental problem may really be an province experienced a significant polio her children to a play date at the home of a underlying facet of bipolar disorder. outbreak following floods this year, ac- young girl who had chickenpox, hoping her (Los Angeles Times, 12.5.11) Read counting for nearly 20% of cases reported children would acquire the virus. She is among more about postpartum depression in the country. The grants will aim to pro- other parents who oppose vaccinations and and bipolar disorder. vide assistance to polio survivors and ad- prefer their children develop natural immunity dress the urgent needs of families affected rather than run the risk of vaccine side effects. Movin’ On Up by the floods in parts of Sindh province. Online groups are forming on Facebook Want to improve your health? Try Progress against polio in Pakistan is critical offering lollipops infected with the virus, as moving … out of your neighborhood. to achieve global eradication because polio well as other infected items such as towels, A recent study found that Los Ange- anywhere means there is a risk of polio ev- children’s clothes, and rags. Law officials have les residents who moved from a poor erywhere. (The Bill & Melinda Gates Foun- begun clamping down on this dangerous neighborhood to a better-off one be- dation, 11.30.11) Read the press release practice. (The New York Times, 11.17.11) Read came thinner and healthier than those and more about polio. more about chickenpox and vaccination. who stayed behind. Study participants were given a voucher that would pay Healthy Kids, Health Communities Death by Airplane Food for part of their rent so that they could The California Endowment celebrates a Othon Cortes was on a flight from Barcelona, move to a neighborhood where less new partnership with HealthCorps, a well- Spain, to New York’s JFK Airport when he ate an people lived in poverty. Around 15 years ness movement with in-school educational on-board meal containing chicken. He quickly later, researchers found that those who and mentoring programs now in 54 highs became pale, had sharp stomach cramps, moved had lower rates of obesity and schools in 12 states and the District of Co- shortness of breath, and eventually had a fatal diabetes than those who didn’t move, lumbia. The curriculum will focus on nutri- heart attack. CDC reports an estimated 48 demonstrating that where you live tion, fitness and mental strength to high- million Americans suffer from food poisoning plays a big role in your health. (Los An- light how promoting health in schools is every year. Othon’s case is thought to come geles Times, 10.20.11) Read the study essential to building a healthy community. from Clostridium perfringens, a bacterium that and more about healthy environments. This aligns perfectly with The California most often occurs with improper cool down Endowment’s major priority to empower and storage of prepared foods, especially in youth and school faculty to take charge of meats, meat products and gravy. (Los Angeles their own health. (The California Endow- Times, 12.6.11) Read more about Clostridium WRITERS, WE’RE HERE TO HELP! ment, 10.20.11) Read the press release and perfringens and more about food safety here. Need health topics for scripts? more about healthy communities. Need to talk to a health expert? Need health posters for your set? [email protected] (800) 283-0676 www.usc.edu/hhs.