The CDC reports that from March 31 to October 5, 2024, rates of pneumonia in kids ages 2-4 increased from 1 to 7.2 percent, and from 3.6 to 7.4 percent among kids 5-17. Among St. Louis adults surveyed, 29 percent reported hearing about the increase during the last 7 days. Is it pneumonia? Symptoms of pneumonia usually […]
[Update] On Sunday, December 15th, the authors of a study referenced in this alert issued a correction to their findings. We have updated the alert and assets to reflect this correction. Updated text is shown in bold. A new study found that black-colored plastics used in cooking utensils and toys may contain banned toxic chemicals. Over […]
Holiday gatherings often bring together people with differing perspectives, sometimes leading to sensitive conversations. We asked St. Louisans what they discussed at their Thanksgiving meals. Different viewpoints were common Among adults surveyed in St. Louis and Omaha, 74% shared a meal with family or friends from outside their household; of those, nearly two-thirds said someone at […]
This week, 16% of St. Louis adults surveyed reported that in the last 7 days they had heard that “all fluoride in water is dangerous;” of those who heard it 46% thought it was probably or definitely true. What is fluoride? Fluoride is a natural mineral found in water, soil, air, and certain foods. In the […]
On October 7, the FDA authorized another over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 and flu combo test kit. One in five (20%) St. Louis adults surveyed reported hearing about it this week, an increase from 9% who had heard about it one week prior. How does the combo test kit work? The Healgen Rapid Check COVID-19/Flu A&B Test is made […]
Asked if they trust the safety of the food they buy in stores or restaurants, 74% of St. Louis adults surveyed say they “mostly trust it,” and 9% say they “trust it completely.” About 12% said they “mostly do not trust it,” and 5% said they “don’t trust it at all.” Trust in food safety […]
If you’ve never heard of a sobering support center, you’re not alone. Only 13% of St. Louis adults surveyed had heard of it, and of those, only 1 in 4 knew the name or address of St. Louis’s center. What is a sobering support center? A sobering support center is a better community response to public intoxication. It’s a […]
As of October 12, 2024, Whooping Cough cases in St. Louis County are 25 times higher than the same period in 2023. Only one in six St. Louis adults (17%) surveyed this week said they had heard about the rise in cases during the last 7 days. More St. Louisans hearing about Whooping Cough This is the […]
Over 500 miles away from the nearest damage brought by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, adults in St. Louis still heard false claims about the storms. No, humans cannot create or steer hurricanes… Among St. Louis adults surveyed, 32% heard in the last week that humans can create hurricanes, 29% heard that humans can control the […]
We surveyed St. Louis adults for World Mental Health Day, and found that nearly half (48%) believed the mental health of people in St. Louis has become worse over the last year. Only 6% felt it was getting better; 46% said it was about the same. What do different groups believe? Among 222 adults surveyed in St. […]
Every U.S. household is eligible to receive four free COVID-19 rapid test kits this fall. When surveyed, 44% of St. Louis adults had heard about the free tests in the last week. What we know about the at-home test kits On September 27, the federal government announced the return of free COVID-19 test kits. The at-home over-the-counter […]
As weight loss drugs explode in popularity, we asked St. Louisans if they have heard about GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro in the last 2 weeks. Most (62%) said yes. This was the highest rate among five states included in the survey. Who is hearing about GLP-1 drugs? Among the 551 adults […]
Earlier this month, the CDC confirmed a unique human case of bird flu in Missouri. It was the first case to be reported in which the patient had no known contact with a sick or infected animal. It was the 14th case of bird flu in humans this year in the U.S. One in five St. […]
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 […]
Recent social media posts FALSELY claimed that a person cannot donate blood after receiving a COVID vaccine. One in five (21%) adults surveyed in MD, MO, and NE heard the claim last week, and 30% of those believed it could be true. Men were more likely to hear the claim than women (29% vs 16%). […]
On March 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its isolation guidelines for COVID and other respiratory infections. In a survey of 421 adults in three states (MD, MO and NE) conducted March 9-11, 58% had heard about the change. However, African American respondents were less likely to have heard about the […]
During the first 2 months of 2024, 41 measles cases have been reported across 16 states, including Missouri. In all of 2023, there were only 58 cases in the U.S. Nearly one in four (24%) St. Louis adults reported hearing that measles cases were on the rise last week. Because most measles cases are reported […]
A recent TikTok video claimed that long-term use of Benadryl could increase your risk of dementia. Nearly one in six (16%) St. Louis adults reported hearing the claim in the last week, a 5% increase from the prior week; 93% believed it was true. Older adults 50+ were more likely to hear the claim than […]
UPDATE (March 1, 2024): The CDC guidance on isolation with COVID & other respiratory illnesses has changed. Please use the newest resource “New CDC Guidelines”. On February 13th, The Washington Post reported that CDC would be relaxing its COVID isolation guidelines. However, CDC officials said that there are no updates to the guidelines. Despite CDC’s denial, 29% […]
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reopened an investigation into a Listeria outbreak after new illnesses were reported in December 2023. In last week’s iHeard survey only 19% of St. Louis adults had heard that “A Listeria outbreak was linked to dairy products.” Those under age 50 […]
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning Americans not to use Neptune’s Fix products, which have been linked to seizures, loss of consciousness, and two deaths. When surveyed last week, only 5% of St. Louis adults said they’d heard that Neptune’s Fix was illegal and dangerous. Neptune’s Fix products contain tianeptine (pronounced: tai·uh·nep·teen), which […]
Despite being unsupported by research, claims about COVID-19 mRNA vaccines interfering with human DNA continue to circulate. This week, one in six adults (17%) surveyed in four states said they’d heard the claim in the last 7 days; 72% of those believed it could be true. Persistence of this claim may be due to concerns […]
Respiratory infections are on the rise in St. Louis, but free face masks are harder to find. The City of St. Louis Department of Health recently issued a masking recommendation for residents due to the increased respiratory infection rates in late December: However, 1 in 7 St. Louis adults surveyed said they’ve heard that it […]
According to Red Cross, the number of people donating blood is the lowest it has been in 20 years. Among St. Louis adults surveyed, 27% had heard about the emergency blood shortage in the last 7 days. Younger adults (<40) were less likely to hear about it than those 40 and older (14% vs. 40%), […]
Help raise awareness about lead screening options in St. Louis. St. Louis County is offering walk-in lead screenings at all three clinic locations. Lead screening services are also available to children 6 years of age and under that live in the City of St. Louis: contact your primary care provider or local Federally Qualified Health […]