Weekly Alerts

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 […]