Latest news with #NewYorkCityHealthDepartment
CBC
28-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
How Elvis got teens vaccinated against polio
Back in the 1950's, the polio epidemic spread across the world. Scientists hoped a vaccine would eliminate the dreaded disease. In 1954, the New York City Health Department launched a massive publicity campaign to promote polio vaccinations. The vaccination had been developed by Jonas Salk. Over 900,000 New Yorkers got vaccinated, and the number of new polio cases in the city fell to almost zero. But then something happened. Columnist and media personality Walter Winchell threw cold water on the initiative, saying the vaccine might, in fact, cause deaths. His influence stoked fear among teenagers – who were at the highest risk of contracting polio – so they stopped getting vaccinated. Immunization levels among teens dropped to an abysmal 0.6 percent, and polio was paralyzing an average of 35,000 kids annually. The medical community needed a way to reach those teenagers. So they turned to someone who had incredible sway over that demographic. Elvis Presley's career had skyrocketed after his historic appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. In 1956, "Heartbreak Hotel" had reached #1 on the charts, and Love Me Tender, his debut film, would be released that November. So on September 9, 1956, before the Ed Sullivan Show started, Presley smiled, rolled up his sleeves in front of the press, and Sullivan himself, and let a doctor and nurse give him a polio shot in his arm. Elvis publicized the moment by sending photos of his inoculation out across the nation. Teens all across Canada and the United States followed in Elvis's footsteps and got the polio shot. As a matter of fact, vaccination rates among youth soared to 80 percent just six months later. That was Elvis's superpower. He was admired by the hardest-to-reach population – teenagers. Seeing him get vaccinated was far more powerful than any statistic, political speech, or sombre commercial. In many ways, that photo of Elvis was one of the most effective public service messages of all time.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Anthem Blue Cross under fire for ‘refusing to' help NYC crack down on soaring health care costs, new report shows
An inaugural report by the New York City Health Department aimed at cracking down on sky-high prices hospitals charge patients has gaping holes in it because the Big Apple's largest public-employee insurer refuses to turn over records, officials said. The 263-page report quietly released Friday through the agency's new Office of Healthcare Accountability says hospital prices are wildly inconsistent. The study focused on payments made through the city's health care provider, Anthem Blue Cross, and not private-sector insurance plans. The city's GHI-Comprehensive Benefits Plan through Anthem paid on average $45,150 for inpatient services last fiscal year at New York's top 10 hospital systems, the report said. The highest prices for full in-patient treatment were at New York-Presbyterian ($92,727) and Montefiore Medical Center ($83,573), while Stony Brook University Hospital was the lowest ($36,876). The report noted the city spent $3.3 billion paying for employee hospital care during the fiscal year ending June 30, and half went to three hospital systems: Northwell Health ($759 million), New York-Presbyterian ($485 million) and NYU Langone Health ($443 million). New York-Presbyterian had the highest prices for 11 of 12 inpatient procedures analyzed and 14 of 27 outpatient procedures, the report said. Prices at hospital systems ranged widely, from $940 to $12,000 for a colonoscopy, and $7,000 to $58,000 for a cesarean-section delivery. And the city is now spending more on hospital outpatient care than inpatient. The report cited Anthem — which the city pays a whopping $3 billion yearly to provide insurance to roughly 900,000 employees — for refusing to provide the OFA the full costs of health care at hospitals and other data it needs to determine whether these prices are warranted. Anthem claimed releasing some of the pricing data would violate confidentiality agreements it has with hospitals that predate a 2021 federal rule requiring hospitals to disclose their prices to the public. However, Councilwoman Julie Menin (D-Manhattan), who sponsored legislation creating the first-of-its-kind health care watchdog office in 2023, isn't buying it. 'It's a slap in the face to the City of New York when federal rules require hospital pricing be made public, but Anthem won't comply with city law due to so-called 'preexisting agreements,'' she said. 'This health care industry cat-and-mouse game is costing the city billions, and we need full transparency now.' 'It's so distressing to see these prices,' added Menin. 'It's extremely high and is why we need price transparency. Why should New York City be paying so much for health care? It's sickening and unsustainable.' The city's health care insurance contract is up later this year, and the city 'must require full disclosure of pricing' to whoever gets it,' said Menin. Anthem is among the bidders for the new deal. The Post two years ago reported on analyses by 32BJ SEIU, the city's building-services employee union, showing the Big Apple could save taxpayers as much as $2 billion annually by auditing exactly how much municipal workers pay for care at various hospitals and making recommendations on ways to lower the prices. Manny Pastreich, president of 32BJ, said his union pushed hard to create the OFA but added it's unfortunate the 'inaugural report is more noteworthy for what is missing.' 'It's clear that hospitals and insurers are still exerting their influence to block sharing certain data the city needs to reverse the trend of exorbitant health care costs,' he said. The OFA was created in large part to offer greater transparency to patients on costs of medical procedures at a private hospital vs. city-run medical facilities as it has the authority to publicly release hospital pricing citywide. It operates with a $2 million budget and 15 staffers. 'Health insurance companies and New York City hospitals must remove arbitrary barriers to data access that would otherwise support transparent and equitable pricing of medical services,' said Henry Garrido, executive director of District Council 37, the city's largest municipal employee union. 'We must utilize every tool at our disposal to fight these unfair practices, including ensuring the Office of Healthcare Accountability is adequately staffed to fulfill its primary purpose of tackling disparity pricing that exploits the vulnerabilities of New Yorkers in need of care.' Anthem reps did not immediately return messages.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
At least two cats in New York City confirmed to be infected with bird flu in latest cases amid more raw food warnings and withdrawals
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The ongoing bird flu outbreak continues to concern officials with the New York City Health Department issuing warnings to cat parents not to feed their pets raw cat food from Savage Cat Food. This comes after three cats were infected with bird flu over the past two months, with all three cases potentially connected to the company's food, according to officials. The lot number for the packages concerned is 11152026. NYC Health Department Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse said, via FOX 5, 'We strongly encourage New Yorkers whose cats are experiencing illness after consuming Savage Cat Food products or other raw meat or dairy products to contact their vet.' Health officials reported that one cat fell ill after eating Savage Cat Food, displaying signs of bird flu in cats, including fever, appetite loss and respiratory difficulties. It was confirmed to be bird flu, and the cat later died as a result. Another cat also died due to the virus after showing symptoms of fever, respiratory difficulties and liver disease. Testing indicated that the cat was infected with a strain of bird flu related to the one found in Savage Cat Food. Per the officials, the cat didn't actually consume the food themselves but was exposed to a sick cat – the third cat who fell ill. This cat developed a fever after eating Savage Cat Food but went on to survive. This cat wasn't tested for bird flu, but it's thought that they had the virus given that the other cat exposed to them tested positive. The Health Department has been in contact with cat owners, veterinary staff and Savage Pet Food. Meanwhile, officials in New Jersey have also confirmed that bird flu has been detected in a number of outdoor cats in Hunterdon County, and Wild Coast Raw food has been recalled following cases of bird flu in Oregon and Washington as part of the ongoing outbreak. If you have any concerns about your own cat, it's important to seek veterinary advice as soon as possible. As well as fever, loss of appetite and respiratory difficulty, symptoms to watch out for include lethargy, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from the ears and nose, and neurological issues like tremors and seizures – take a look at these 11 signs to take your cat to the vet, too. To minimize the risk of bird flu, avoid feeding your cats raw food or unpasteurized dairy products. Looking to swap your cat's food? Here's our guide to the best dry cat foods on the market.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
2 house cats infected with bird flu in New York City, health officials say
NEW YORK — Two cats in different households in New York City were infected with bird flu, the city's health department announced. Officials did not disclose the cats' conditions and are still investigating how they contracted the virus, but urged pet owners not to let their felines roam outdoors or feed them raw food or raw milk — common ways avian influenza can be transmitted. 'The current risk to New Yorkers of bird flu remains low,' Michelle Morse, acting commissioner of the New York City Health Department, said in a statement Friday. 'Bird flu viruses present a wider risk to the general public only if the virus develops the ability to transmit between people — which we have not seen.' It's possible for people to catch bird flu from animals, however, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since the start of the current outbreak in 2022, 70 people have been infected with bird flu, one of whom died, according to the CDC. On Feb. 7, after detection of avian flu at seven live poultry markets in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens, Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered all live bird markets in New York City, plus Westchester, Suffolk and Nassau counties, 82 fowl markets in all, to close for a week, and to be cleaned and disinfected.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Two house cats infected with bird flu in New York City: health officials
Two cats in different households in New York City were infected with bird flu, the city's Health Department announced Friday. Officials did not disclose the cats' conditions and are still investigating how they contracted the virus, but urged pet owners not to let their felines roam outdoors or feed them raw food or raw milk — common ways avian influenza can be transmitted. 'The current risk to New Yorkers of bird flu remains low,' Michelle Morse, acting commissioner of the New York City Health Department, said in a statement. 'Bird flu viruses present a wider risk to the general public only if the virus develops the ability to transmit between people — which we have not seen.' It's possible for people to catch bird flu from animals, however, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since the start of the current outbreak in 2022, 70 people have been infected with bird flu, one of whom died, according to the CDC. On Feb. 7, after detection of avian flu at seven live poultry markets in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens, Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered all live bird markets in New York City, plus Westchester, Suffolk and Nassau counties, 82 fowl markets in all, to close for a week, and to be cleaned and disinfected.
