Author: iHeard STL

Although 61% of adults surveyed across five states think the benefits of COVID vaccines outweigh the risks, only 36% say they are very likely to take the updated COVID vaccine. Who is likely to take the updated COVID vaccine?   Among 585 adults surveyed, 36% reported it was “very likely” and 28% “somewhat likely” that they […]

According to the CDC, 377 human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) have been detected in 38 states in 2024, including St. Louis County. Last week, nearly 1 in 4 St. Louis adults surveyed (23%) heard about WNV cases occurring earlier this year. That’s up from 10% the week prior. Most St. Louisans heard it from […]

Due to severe health risks, the FDA is investigating the recall of all Diamond Shruumz products. These include chocolate bars, cones, and gummies that contain psychoactive (brain affecting) ingredients. This week, 12% of St. Louisans surveyed heard about the recall, up from 8% last week.   About Diamond Shruumz products  “Edibles” containing psychoactive compounds, such as cannabis or […]

Has COVID-19 become “endemic” in the United States?  CDC says yes, but others disagree. What does endemic mean, and why does it matter? It’s new to most St. Louis adults In a survey of St. Louis adults, only 17% had heard in the past week that some scientists believe COVID-19 is now “endemic” in the […]

According to CDC, 32 states are likely seeing an increase in COVID-19 infections in August. Levels of the virus in sewage water – a marker of COVID spreading in communities identified by using wastewater monitoring – are three times higher in August 2024 than one year prior. Growing awareness in St. Louis Among St. Louis […]

Since July 26, more than 7 million pounds of popular Boar’s Head deli meats have been recalled due to their link to a listeria outbreak. So far, 43 people in 13 states – including Missouri – have been hospitalized, and three have died. Among St. Louis adults surveyed, 37% heard about the outbreak this week, up from […]

The survey St. Louis adults (n=141) were asked, “Many things affect the lives of people living in St. Louis. If you could address one of the challenges below, which do you think would have the greatest benefit for St. Louis?” They chose from 9 options, each of which is known to be a social determinant of […]

For the second year in a row, gun violence and mental health are the top health concerns of St. Louis adults. Healthcare access and costs and drug abuse/addiction/overdose were 3rd and 4th. The survey St. Louis adults (n=141) were asked, “What is the biggest health problem facing St. Louis?” After choosing from 14 options, they […]

COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. have increased steadily since May 4, and COVID cases are growing or likely growing in 45 states and territories. One-third of St. Louis adults surveyed (34%) had heard about the summer wave of COVID in the last week, up from 32% the prior week. Why a summer surge? COVID infections […]

Last month, the U.S. Surgeon General called for warning labels on social media and declared gun violence a national health crisis. Only 24% of St. Louis adults surveyed had heard about the social media warning, down from 37% one week prior. Even fewer (23%) had heard about the gun violence declaration, which was also lower […]

Protecting your skin from the sun isn’t complicated. But it’s easy to get lost in all the letters and numbers like “SPF-30” and “UPF” or terms like “broad-spectrum” and “mineral-based.” Among St. Louis adults surveyed, just 7% to 32% felt they understood these terms well, and many didn’t know which sunscreen types worked best. Here’s […]

Although one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70, sunscreen use and knowledge remain low. Among St. Louis adults surveyed, only 17% reported using sunscreen when outside for 15 minutes or more during daylight hours. Just 32% felt that they understood the term SPF “very well.”  Nearly half of adults rarely or never used […]

From 2021 to 2023, heat-related deaths in the U.S. increased by 44%. Only 19% of St. Louis adults surveyed heard about the increase in the last week. Of 542 adults surveyed in five states, those ages 50 and older were more likely than those under 50 (39% vs. 24%) to hear that heat-related deaths are increasing, […]

According to CDC, syphilis cases in the US have surged 80% higher since 2018. Congenital syphilis, which is passed from mother to fetus, is up 31% since 2018, with rates 10 times higher than they were in 2012. Only 17% of St. Louis adults surveyed reported hearing about it in the last week.  A top priority in […]

Missouri and 34 other states will be launching SUN Bucks, a summer nutrition program to help feed kids. Only 12% of St. Louis adults surveyed (and 11% of those with children under 18 in their home) had heard about SUN Bucks in the last week.  What is SUN Bucks?  When approved in Missouri, SUN Bucks, also […]

A survey of 565 adults from five states found that most (58%) were aware that public health officials tested sewer water, but less that 10% said they knew a lot about it. In contrast, 61% said they knew little or nothing about it. What is wastewater monitoring? Wastewater monitoring helps communities detect and respond promptly […]

For World Hypertension Day, we surveyed adult residents of St. Louis and four other states (CO, MD, NE, and TX) to see what they know about blood pressure. Do Americans monitor their blood pressure? Of 587 respondents, two-thirds (68%) reported having their blood pressure checked by a health professional in the last 12 months. Older […]

Cleaning up after wind damage or flooding from spring storms can increase a person’s risk of exposure to tetanus. Moving storm debris like trees, wood or carpeting can result in scrapes, cuts and puncture wounds. If dust, dirt, soil or flood water comes in contact with broken skin, tetanus spores and other contaminants can enter […]

Tick and mosquito season is upon us, and scientists predict that changes in climate could make future seasons worse. Many adults reported hearing about it last week.   Who is hearing about tick and mosquito diseases?  Of 515 adults surveyed in MO, NE, CO, MD, and TX, 31% reported hearing in the last 7 days that tick- and mosquito-borne diseases were […]

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that fragments of inactive bird flu virus were found in some pasteurized milk sold in grocery stores. Less than 5 days later, 37% of adults surveyed in CO, MD, MO and NE had heard the news.   In the sample of 506 adults, 64% reported that they […]

What happened? On April 23, the FDA and multiple news organizations reported that particles of the H5N1 bird flu virus have been detected in some cow’s milk samples taken from U.S. grocery stores. Is the U.S. milk supply safe? FDA and CDC say yes, based on what is known today. When the milk samples were […]

The bird flu virus is spreading among birds and, most recently, cattle in the U.S. In early April, a Texas farmer tested positive for bird flu. Among St. Louis adults surveyed, 19% had heard about the case. Respondents ages 50+ were more likely to hear it than those under 50 (29% vs 14%).  Bird flu, […]

It was a slow week for conversations about health, according to a national dashboard that tracks online and offline narratives about multiple health topics. Here in St. Louis, iHeard’s weekly survey found the same was true locally. National tracking data showed that the spread of health information declined almost 20% from the previous week. Vaccine […]

In 2023, Walgreens announced it will close 150 stores by August 2024 to cut costs. On April 9th, the next of those stores to close will be in St. Louis’ Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood at Grand Boulevard and Martin Luther King Avenue. More than a quarter (28%) of St. Louis adults heard about this closure in the […]

Although two-thirds of adults surveyed had heard about newly approved weight-loss drugs, knowledge about weight-loss drugs in general was low:  In contrast, only 24% thought weight-loss drugs were safe, 38% thought they were effective and 16% thought they helped people sustain weight loss over time. Respondents were 422 adults in MD, MO and NE. “The […]

According to the CDC’s March 18 alert, there have been 58 confirmed cases of measles infection in the U.S. this year, the same number recorded for the entire year in 2023. Over one in four (28%) St. Louis adults reported hearing that “Measles cases are on the rise” in the last week.  Of the 58 […]