Why There Are Suddenly Not Enough COVID Tests Nov. 24, 2020 Experts say the rush for tests is now putting a strain on the country's already-flagging coronavirus response infrastructure. "No diagnostic test is 100%. Also, testing is one moment in time, so just because you tested negative on Wednesday doesn't mean you won't be positive on Thanksgiving," said Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease epidemiologist and adjunct professor at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. "The problem is that testing feels like this very tangible thing that you can do, and I get it, but it's only one piece." Slate
Man Shares Battle Against Pancreatic Cancer Nov. 24, 2020 Nurses Mike and Missy Skaggs share their battle against pancreatic cancer after Mike was diagnosed with the disease at 47. Dr. Rachna Shroff, associate professor of medicine and chief of GI Medical Oncology at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, explains the disease is difficult to treat because there is no preventative screening to detect pancreatic cancer. Today with Hoda & Jenna (NBC)
UArizona Statewide Study Building Knowledge About Health Risks Before, After COVID-19 Infection Nov. 23, 2020 Arizona CoVHORT is a multiyear study that will answer questions about risk factors for COVID-19 and how the virus impacts long-term health outcomes. Read more Image
How to Clean Your Coffee Maker to Make Your Brew Taste Even Better Nov. 23, 2020 The warm, moist environment of most coffee makers can be a breeding ground for germs like bacteria or mold. "We see growth from that residual moisture," said Kelly Reynolds, a University of Arizona professor of public health specializing in water quality, food safety and disease transmission. "There are a lot of little crevices in a coffee maker that stay moist for a long time." SELF
Valley 101 Podcast Answers FAQs About Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Nov. 23, 2020 The CDC is advising people not to travel for Thanksgiving. However, some will still need to travel. Kacey Ernst, a professor in the University of Arizona College of Public Health and an infectious disease epidemiologist, provides advice on what to expect and how to protect yourself when traveling by plane. Arizona Republic
Study: Delay Lab Tests in Low-Risk HIV Patients to Minimize COVID-19 Exposure Nov. 23, 2020 In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians have had to reconsider how and for whom testing is done, particularly in people living with HIV who, as a result of a myriad of risk factors, may be predisposed to having severe disease should they acquire COVID-19, Lawrence D. York, PharmD, from the University of Arizona Health Sciences, said during a virtual poster presentation at IDWeek. Healio
Flu Cases in Arizona Are Low Compared to November 2019 Numbers Nov. 23, 2020 Flu cases are low in Maricopa County, especially compared to this time last year. Doctors believe it is partly because of COVID-19 preventative measures such as mask-wearing, but they also say it is too early to tell if the state will have a bad flu season. "The main reason we know this is because of the data that we have from the southern hemisphere where we see that we had a very mild flu season," said Dr. Shad Marvasti, director of public health, prevention and health promotion with the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. KSAZ-TV (Fox) Phoenix
So You're Flying This Thanksgiving? Here's Which Parts Are the Riskiest. Nov. 22, 2020 Last week, the Centers for Disease Control advised Americans against traveling for Thanksgiving, though it stopped short of issuing a mandate to that effect, and the warning may have come late enough that many won’t change their plans. "The airport is where all the bad behavior happens," said Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist and adjunct professor at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, based on her own experiences flying during the pandemic. "When we have been talking about traveling, we've been so focused on the airplane – understandably, it's a small enclosed space – but we can't just focus on one piece of the travel process. It has to be the entire thing." Slate
Glendale Nurse Recovering From Rare Disorders Linked to COVID-19 Nov. 22, 2020 Although extremely rare, health experts have linked Guillain Barre Syndrome and Bell's Palsy to COVID-19. "While we have a few case reports, it is not something that is common either," said Dr. Shad Marvasti with the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Arizona's Family (3TV/CBS 5) Phoenix
UArizona Clinical Trial Expanding After Early Results With Personalized Cancer Vaccine Nov. 21, 2020 Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences are working to help treat head and neck cancer by using personalized vaccine. It works in combination with the immuno-therapy drug Pembrolizumab. Molly Cassidy, who was diagnosed with oral cancer and participated in the clinical trial, is interviewed. KOLD-TV (CBS) Tucson