Study: Extreme heat will drive up health care costs by $1 billion each summer
July 21st, 20230 Extreme heat will generate about $1 billion in health care costs every summer as more people get rushed to the emergency room or admitted to the hospital to treat temperature-related conditions, a recent study found. Searing heat will be responsible for nearly 235,000 emergency room visits and more than 56,000 additional hospital...
Two mosquito-borne viruses detected in Michigan
July 8th, 20230 On Monday, July 3, Bay County Mosquito Control issued an advisory stating that routine surveillance detected evidence of the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus, or EEE, in a mosquito in Hampton Township. “Surveillance undertaken by Mosquito Control is used as an early warning system,” said Rebecca Brandt, Bay County Mosquito Control...
New study finds PFAS “forever chemicals” in half of the tap water across the U.S.
July 8th, 20230 Almost half of the United States' tap water is estimated to have one or more PFAS, known as "forever chemicals", according to a new study. The U.S. Geological Survey tested tap water from 716 locations, including 269 private wells and 447 public supply sites, in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of...
The Arab American News launches “vaccinating children against COVID-19” educational campaign in cooperation with the MDHHS
July 8th, 20230 In June, the Arab American News launched an educational campaign in the Arab American community about the importance of vaccinating children against COVID-19 in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The health campaign, which started at the beginning of June, intends to educate Arab American families...
Building trust when cultural differences and society biases impact healthcare for minority groups
June 16th, 20230 By Linda Perkins Health disparities continue to disproportionately affect minority populations despite improvements in overall health for most Americans. In Michigan, minority groups have a higher rate of chronic disease than average, so improving healthcare for these groups is critical. Unfortunately, cultural differences and...
Local Arab American actor Mike Batayeh’s cause of death revealed
June 16th, 20230 PLYMOUTH — The New York Post reported that the cause of death for Breaking Bad and Detroit Unleaded Arab American actor Mike Batayeh, who died June 1 at his Michigan home, has been confirmed. The Post reported that it received an email from a representative of the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner’s Office, who revealed that the...
Vaccinate your children to protect them from COVID-19
June 16th, 20230 Everything you need to know about COVID-19 vaccination for your children When children are left unvaccinated, they are vulnerable to potentially deadly diseases like COVID-19. Overwhelming consensus exists within the medical community that vaccination is the best thing you can do to protect them from serious illness. Although...
AG Nessel announces $338 million Walgreens opioid settlement
June 16th, 20230 LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a settlement with Walgreens Pharmacy worth $338 million for its role in Michigan’s opioid epidemic. “The opioid epidemic was born, in part, out of a concert of action by many large corporations who reaped incredible profits as a result,” Nessel said in a press...
Mental Health Youth Ambassador Scholarships now available
June 16th, 20230 DETROIT – The Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) is offering Mental Health Youth Ambassador scholarships to high school students. “This is a wonderful opportunity to get students involved in the mental health conversation while they are in high school,” said DWIHN President and CEO Eric Doeh. “We know that young...
What health experts say wildfire smoke novices need to know
June 9th, 20230 Wildfires are increasingly causing destruction and illness around the world, but the smoke drifting southward from eastern Canada this week is a new experience for the tens of millions who live in the U.S. Northeast. Many in those states are wondering what they need to know about a first-time wildfire smoke event. Are health risks...
Wayne County Public Health Division confirms three cases of rabies in skunks
May 26th, 20230 DETROIT – The Wayne County Public Health Division (WCPHD) is notifying the public of three confirmed cases of rabies in skunks in Livonia. No people or pets are known to have been exposed at this time and human exposure to the skunks is uncommon. However, out of caution, the WCPHD strongly urges all residents to avoid unfamiliar...
Five indicted by the Feds in $11M health care fraud scheme
May 16th, 20230 DETROIT – An Oakland County doctor and a certified social worker are among five people facing federal charges in connection with an $11 million health care fraud scheme through a Farmington Hills psychotherapy agency, officials said. Two of the five charged, Mohamed Kazkaz, 54, of Farmington Hills and Ziad Khalel, 52, of Rochester...
Michigan Senate passes Filter First legislation to ensure safe drinking water at schools, child care centers
May 1st, 20230 LANSING — On Thursday, April 20, the Michigan Senate voted to pass Senate Bills 88 and 89, the Filter First legislation, which would protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and child care centers. The bills are sponsored by Sens. John Cherry (D-Flint) and Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit). The bills will require all...
DWIHN announces $227M plan to expand behavioral health treatment capacity
May 1st, 20230 DETROIT — The Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) has announced a comprehensive plan to ameliorate the treatment care capacity for behavioral health in Metro Detroit. The DWIHN has sought the state’s assistance to invest $227 million in both crisis care and residential housing. This investment would address the mental...
Dearborn sues trucking company Pro-V over air pollution concerns
April 21st, 20230 DEARBORN – The city of Dearborn has filed a lawsuit against Pro-V Enterprises, LLC for excessive track-out and fugitive dust that it says endangers the health of residents in the area. Track-out refers to the dirt, dust and sediment attached to vehicles traveling to and from an industrial or construction site. According to the U.S.......
Evans declares public health emergency in Wayne County during State of the County address
March 24th, 20231 During his State of the County address Tuesday night at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans called for a Public Health State of Emergency at the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility. “The situation has become untenable for nearly 140 youths that are currently residing...
Local hospitals saw 50 percent spike in alcohol-related liver disease during COVID pandemic
March 12th, 20230 So many new patients, and they seem so young, Dr. Humberto Gonzalez kept thinking as he made his rounds at Henry Ford Health System in Metro Detroit. It was the summer of 2020, just a few months into the COVID-19 lockdown. And Gonzalez, a transplant hepatologist, was struck by the onslaught of incoming patients who were suddenly being......
Dingell, colleagues introduce legislation to make home care coverage mandatory under Medicaid
March 12th, 20230 WASHINGTON – On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D- Ann Arbor), Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman Ed.D. (D-NY) introduced the HCBS Access Act to make HCBS a mandatory benefit within Medicaid and ensure eligible older adults and people with disabilities have the option to choose between home care and institutional...
Gov. Whitmer appoints Angela Khater to Michigan Board of Behavior Analysts
February 24th, 20230 LANSING – Gov. Whitmer appointed Angela Khater, of Dearborn, to the Michigan Board of Behavior Analysts. Khater is a licensed behavior analyst and clinical director for autism services for IOA Behavioral Health. She received her Bachelor of Arts in marketing from Davenport University and her Master of Arts in behavior analysis...
Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter names Madiha Tariq as deputy executive to oversee health, housing and criminal justice
January 21st, 20230 PONTIAC — Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter announced that he is appointing Madiha Tariq as a deputy county executive. In that role, she will oversee the Health and Human Services and Public Services departments, two of the biggest departments in Oakland County, with more than 1,000 employees. Tariq will be the first Muslim...
When battling multiple infections, infants and toddlers at higher risk of severe outcomes, study suggests
January 15th, 20230 SOUTHFIELD – With COVID, flu and RSV creating what many are calling a tripledemic, new research is shedding light on the effect the different COVID-19 variants have had on the youngest of patients throughout the pandemic and the role co-infections have played on pediatric outcomes. Results of the 18-month study, published in Lancet......
Hamtramck City Council maintains the practice of animal sacrifice for religious purposes in the city
January 15th, 20232 HAMTRAMCK – After months of debate, the City Council didn't change the rules on practice of animal sacrifice, for religious purposes, in the city. The decision ultimately came down to a more than 30-year-old U.S. Supreme Court ruling that says cities cannot infringe on religious freedom under the First Amendment. The act of...
Study: Vitamin D is the most searched supplement by Michiganders
January 15th, 20230 Michiganders are overwhelmingly deficient in vitamin D, according to a comprehensive study carried out by the drug and medication information site, DrugGenius.com. They analyzed Google search trends data over 2022 to identify which supplements people have searched for the most over the year, which revealed some interesting......
Mental health specialists share ways to combat illness struggles
January 6th, 20230 Mental health specialists Dr. Hoda Amine and Dr. Shama Faheem share resources, treatments and other effective ways to prevent and combat mental health struggles. Faheem is a board certified adult and child psychiatrist and the chief medical officer for the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN). She shared that mental...
How to protect yourself from winter weather hazards as a snow storm targets the Midwest
December 20th, 20220 How to protect yourself from winter weather hazards...
