Kudzu, a perennial climbing vine and invasive species to the American South, occupied a unique space in the city of Atlanta, Georgia as a danger to public health from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. This article examines why municipal authorities understood the vine as a threat to public health. Kudzu's ability to smother surfaces allowed it to conceal murdered people and serve as a habitat for rats, snakes, and mosquitos, making it a direct threat to public safety in the eyes of public health authorities. Kudzu also grew extensively in vacant lots where city officials were trying to promote the city as progressive and prosperous. The city council voted in support of an ordinance against extensive growths of the vine, but eradication produced its own challenges: kudzu removal was expensive, and permanent eradication required large investments in time. Unhoused people also relied on the vine for shelter, which meant that eradication directly affected their safety. Examining how municipal authorities framed kudzu as a threat to public health, this article demonstrates that the vine's status as a health risk lay in how it unintentionally clashed with the promoted image of Atlanta as a business-friendly city with harmonious relationships among its citizens.
Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common infectious agents linked to any malignancy. Recent studies report higher H. pylori prevalence and gastric cancer incidence rates in the Navajo Nation than in general U.
Dengue infection poses a significant public health challenge in tropical countries. In Thailand, children ages 5-14 years are among the groups with the highest incidence of dengue. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations in children with dengue infection and assess prognostic factors for severe dengue.
Although China has achieved malaria elimination certification, the risk of malaria transmission reintroduction due to imported malaria remains. We analyzed data on imported malaria cases collected from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2021, using multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify the factors associated with severe and relapsing malaria. The odds of severe malaria were around 4-fold greater for patients who were initially diagnosed with a nonmalarial illness than for patients initially diagnosed with malaria.
Author Affiliations: Public Health Accreditation Board, Alexandria, Virginia (Dr Kuehnert); and Mississippi Public Health Association, Jackson, Mississippi (Dr Bender).
Background: As Alzheimer disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD) progress, individuals increasingly require assistance from unpaid, informal caregivers to support them in activities of daily living. These caregivers may experience high levels of financial, mental, and physical strain associated with providing care. CareVirtue is a web-based tool created to connect and support multiple individuals across a care network to coordinate care activities and share important information, thereby reducing care burden.
