Your Local Epidemiologist

A lot is unfolding at the national level, including the recent firing of about 1,300 federal health agency employees. We’re still learning about the impacts of the layoffs, but the direct impacts on New Yorkers are minimal.

Federal changes are happening at lightning speed, and while they may seem high-level or far away, they can have direct and indirect impacts on New Yorkers' health.

In the U.S. public health system, local and state health departments collect and own the data rather than the federal government. With uncertainties surrounding federal data sharing, this provides a sort of firewall.

Since 2011, ICE has not been allowed to arrest people in “sensitive locations,” including hospitals, schools, daycare centers, and places of worship. Last week that policy was revoked.

Navigating and getting care for Long Covid can be overwhelming. However, many New York clinics and hospitals are on the leading edge of understanding and treating it.

Does it feel like everyone around you is sick right now? Number of people with flu is high, and norovirus is surging.

Public health often gets attention when something scary happens. Here are some noteworthy recent accomplishments.

Respiratory viruses will likely increase over the holidays as many of us expand our social connections. But we have several tools to help keep us from getting sick.

Two to three women die of pregnancy-associated factors each week in New York, on average. The majority of these deaths are preventable.

RSV is on the rise and affecting a lot of young children. The good news is that there are now two key ways to protect babies.

When we see whooping cough increase, our response as a community is mainly aimed at protecting babies through vaccination and ensuring those around babies are vaccinated.

Even though we are seeing low levels of Covid-19, influenza, and RSV, the percent of clinic visits for general fever, cough, or runny nose is similar to last year.

Poor air quality from wildfire smoke poses health risks to everyone, with fine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.

The number of flu cases in New York state is still low but starting to increase quickly. It’s risen by 12% since last week.

The New York state and New York City health departments have begun releasing data. Here's the State of Affairs.

Here's the rundown on the top stories in New York public health this week.

Our wastewater system provides more than just sanitation. It can also act as an unbiased surveillance system (an epidemiologist’s dream).

Some counties have very low rates, and all that's needed in those unvaccinated pockets is a spark — an infected person traveling — to spread measles like wildfire.

EEE and West Nile virus are still present, so it's worth grabbing insect repellent for a couple more weeks.

Welcome to Healthbeat's first report from Your Local Epidemiologist New York. Dr. Marisa Donnelly gives the 'State of Affairs' on community health.