public health Archives - Gordian Knot

US EPA and WHO Sign Five-Year “Memorandum of Understanding”

January 21, 2022 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

This week, the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) joined together to protect environmental and public health. The agreement stems from a place of concern over the dramatic public health effects climate change and global warming will have on individuals not only in the United States, but all over the world.

Joining forces: US EPA and WHO. Picture by Shutterstock

Both organizations signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate “on a wide range of specific and crosscutting environment and health issues, particularly air pollution, water and sanitation, children’s health, and health risks due to climate change” (1).

Interesting Read on Preparations For Future Pandemics

February 20, 2021 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

Disaster management will be crucial in future pandemics. Picture by Shutterstock

This Wall Street Journal article was written by Tom Frieden, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2009 to 2017. While COVID-19 preoccupies us at the moment, it is crucial to begin thinking about the next inevitable pandemics. Dr. Frieden explains that in the years after COVID-19, it is likely that another infectious disease, possibly a similar pneumonia-like illness, suddenly emerges. Will we be ready?

The Climate Connection

October 8, 2020 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

Climate change increases the risk of new epidemics. Picture by Shutterstock/ diy13

I originally created this blog as a way to spread awareness of the importance of public health preparedness, as it was an undervalued and underfunded topic. However, times have changed and public health and emergency management are at the forefront of news and public policy today as a result of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Disaster Plan Templates for Healthcare Organizations

September 30, 2020 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

Free templates available for COVID-19 disaster plans!

If you are working for a healthcare organization and are looking for a COVID-19 disaster plan, you can now download a template using the link below.

Freely available to any organization, COVID-19 disaster plan templates were created by 30 students from schools across NYU including Medicine, Nursing, Public Service, Social Work and Global Public Health.

History of Public Health in Germany

September 5, 2020 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

Prof. Dr. Manfred Wildner, MD, MPH

The history of public health in Germany is inseparably intertwined with German historic events and public figures. I was able to learn about it from two experts in this field: Prof. Dr. Manfred Wildner and his colleague Dr. Herbert Zöllner, who are both based in Munich, Germany.

Interesting Read on the First Documented Coronavirus Reinfection

August 27, 2020 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

COVID-19 reinfections are now documented in several countries. Picture by Shutterstock/ Lightspring

The first documented Coronavirus reinfection was reported in Hong Kong on August 24^th, 2020. Experts say this finding was not unexpected, “especially given the millions of people who have been infected worldwide”. While there have been many presumed cases of reinfection, this case was the first to be confirmed.

Harvard Online Course “Readings in Global Health”

June 2, 2020 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

How can you learn more about global public health? Picture by Shutterstock/ Imageflow

Since the COVID-19 epidemic has raised awareness for global public health in general and pandemic outbreaks in particular, many, especially young people of my generation, might want to learn more about this field. I wanted to share and review one of the first online courses in public health I completed, which provided a perfect introduction to the topic for me.

The Race to a Vaccine

April 5, 2020 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

Scientists in a high security lab. Picture by Shutterstock

While social distancing is the best way to slow the spread of Coronavirus and flatten the curve of infections to make sure that hospitals are not overwhelmed, to return to full normalcy, we need to discover, test, and administer a vaccine in large quantities. The good news is that there are currently 35 companies racing to create a vaccine and at least 52 vaccine programs underway.

Do Your Own COVID-19 Simulation

March 24, 2020 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

Stop the spread! Picture by Shutterstock/ Fotomay

Check out this COVID-19 simulation tool. It allows you to change several different variables both individually and together. You can test how duration, interventions, severity, and contagiousness all affect the trajectory of this fast-spreading virus.

http://covidsim.eu

Setting Priorities: Coronavirus Preparedness in the US

February 29, 2020 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

How can the coronavirus outbreak be mitigated? Picture by Shutterstock

The US seems behind in its efforts to contain the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. Learnings from other countries, in particular Italy and Germany, indicate that infections have already spread widely in communities and can no longer be traced and controlled. These countries are ahead of the curve and there is no reason to believe that developments in the US will not follow this same path. Continue Reading