WORLD NEWS FLASH
UNITED STATES
New CDC population data from 2023 show that in 23 states more than one in three adults (35%) is obese. Before 2013, no state had an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35%. Currently, at least one in five adults (20%) in each U.S. state is living with obesity.
“This new data highlight the need for obesity prevention and treatment options, which start with building healthier communities where people of all ages have safe places for physical activity, and where health care and healthy food options are accessible and affordable for all,” said Karen Hacker, MD, MPH, director of CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. “Obesity prevention at young ages is critical, because we know that children with obesity often become adults with obesity. This is one of the reasons why we prioritize state and community investments in effective child care and family healthy weight programs.”
The 23 states with the highest adult obesity rates (35% or higher) include: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Guam and Puerto Rico also had an obesity rate of at least 35%. State-based adult obesity prevalence by race, ethnicity, and location uses self-reported height and weight data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
Obesity impacts some groups more than others. There are notable differences by race and ethnicity, as shown by combined BRFSS data from 2021-2023.
- Asian adults do not have an obesity prevalence at or above 35% in any state (among 37 states, 1 territory, and DC).
- In 16 states, White adults have an obesity prevalence at or above 35% (among 47 states, 2 territories, and DC).
- In 30 states, American Indian or Alaska Native adults have an obesity prevalence at or above 35% (among 44 states).
- In 34 states, Hispanic adults have an obesity prevalence at or above 35% (among 47 states, 3 territories, and DC).
- In 38 states, Black adults have an obesity prevalence at or above 35% (among 46 states, 1 territory, and DC).
“Obesity is a complex disease. There’s a common misconception that obesity is a result of lack of willpower and individual failings to eat well and exercise,” said Ruth Petersen, MD, director of CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. “Many factors contribute to obesity like genes, certain medications, poor sleep, gut microbiome, stress, access to affordable food, safe places to be active, and access to health care. Understanding these factors helps us identify potential prevention and treatment strategies.”
CDC partners with communities, states, and tribes to help improve health and reduce obesity among populations with the highest risk, or burden, of chronic diseases across the country. CDC invests in programs like SPAN, HOP, and REACH to help increase access to healthy food options, establish safe and accessible places for physical activity, and promote stigma-free obesity prevention and treatment programs. These programs fund 17 states, 50 community and tribal organizations, and 16 land grant universities.
Obesity treatment can also include obesity medications, such as GLP-1s recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, combined with health behavior and lifestyle interventions.
An adult with obesity has a body mass index of 30 or higher. Obesity is a disease that can cause many health conditions such as asthma, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and severe outcomes from respiratory illnesses. In addition, the stigma and bias about a person’s weight can cause social and mental health consequences, such as anxiety and poor body image.
MASS SHOOTING UPDATE
Information recent as of 9-17-2024 at 12 p.m.
2024 Mass Shooting Stats: (Source: Mass Shooting Tracker – https://www.massshootingtracker.site/data/?year=2024)
- Total Mass Shootings: 457
- Total Dead: 543
- Total Wounded: 1882
- Shootings Per Day: 1.75
- Days Reached in Year 2024 as of September 17: 261
AFRICA
MPOX VACCINE APPROVED
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the MVA-BN vaccine as the first vaccine against mpox to be added to its prequalification list.
The prequalification approval is expected to facilitate timely and increased access to this vital product in communities with urgent need, to reduce transmission and help contain the outbreak. WHO’s assessment for prequalification is based on information submitted by the manufacturer, Bavarian Nordic A/S, and review by the European Medicines Agency, the regulatory agency of record for this vaccine.
“This first prequalification of a vaccine against mpox is an important step in our fight against the disease, both in the context of the current outbreaks in Africa, and in future,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We now need urgent scale up in procurement, donations and rollout to ensure equitable access to vaccines where they are needed most, alongside other public health tools, to prevent infections, stop transmission and save lives.”
The MVA-BN vaccine can be administered in people over 18-years of age as a 2-dose injection given 4 weeks apart. After prior cold storage, the vaccine can be kept at 2–8°C for up to 8 weeks.
“The WHO prequalification of the MVA-BN vaccine will help accelerate ongoing procurement of the mpox vaccines by governments and international agencies such as Gavi and Unicef to help communities on the frontlines of the ongoing emergency in Africa and beyond,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products. “The decision can also help national regulatory authorities to fast-track approvals, ultimately increasing access to quality-assured mpox vaccine products.”
The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization reviewed all available evidence and recommended the use of MVA-BN vaccine in the context of an mpox outbreak for persons at high risk of exposure. While MVA-BN is currently not licensed for persons under 18 years of age, this vaccine may be used “off-label” in infants, children and adolescents, and in pregnant and immunocompromised people. This means vaccine use is recommended in outbreak settings where the benefits of vaccination outweigh the potential risks.
WHO also recommends single-dose use in supply-constrained outbreak situations. WHO emphasizes the need to collect further data on vaccine safety and effectiveness in these circumstances.
Available data shows that a single-dose MVA-BN vaccine given before exposure has an estimated 76% effectiveness in protecting people against mpox, with the 2-dose schedule achieving an estimated 82% effectiveness. Vaccination after exposure is less effective than pre-exposure vaccination.
Good safety profile and vaccine performance has been consistently demonstrated in clinical studies, as well as in real-world use during the ongoing global outbreak since 2022. In light of the changing epidemiology and emergence of new virus strains, it remains important to collect as much data as possible on vaccine safety and effectiveness in different contexts.
Since the triggering of the emergency use listing for mpox vaccines by WHO Director-General on August 7, 2024, WHO has conducted product and programmatic suitability assessments of MVA-BN vaccine.
“The findings of the assessments are particularly relevant in the context of the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) related to the upsurge of mpox in Africa,” said Dr Rogerio Gaspar, WHO Director for Regulation and Prequalification. “We are progressing with prequalification and emergency use listing procedures with manufacturers of two other mpox vaccines: LC-16 and ACAM2000. We have also received 6 expressions of interest for mpox diagnostic products for emergency use listing so far.”
The escalating mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries was declared a PHEIC by the WHO Director-General on August 14, 2024.
Over 120 countries have confirmed more than 103,000 cases of mpox since the onset of the global outbreak in 2022. In 2024 alone, there were 25,237 suspected and confirmed cases and 723 deaths from different outbreaks in 14 countries of the African Region (based on data from September 8, 2024).
WORLD
THE WORD ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Left unchecked, artificial intelligence (AI) could destabilize democratic systems by spreading disinformation, fueling hate speech and distorting public opinion through deepfakes, the UN Secretary-General has warned.
These risks are particularly critical this year, as over 50 countries – representing half the world’s population – hold elections.
In a message for the International Day of Democracy, Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated the importance of upholding free speech, civil liberties and the rule of law, as well as ensuring accountable institutions and protecting human rights.
“Yet, these rights and values are under attack around the world. Freedoms are being eroded. Civic space is diminishing. Polarization is intensifying. And mistrust is growing,” he said.
Despite the dangers, artificial intelligence has the potential to play a positive role in strengthening democratic systems, he continued, noting that AI can promote full and active public participation, enhance equality and contribute to human development.
“AI can boost education on democratic processes, and shape more inclusive civic spaces where people have a say in decisions and can hold decision-makers to account,” Mr. Guterres said.
By utilizing AI for good governance, countries can create more transparent and accountable systems, that allow citizens to engage more effectively. However, this will require effective governance of AI at all levels, including internationally.
Mr. Guterres also highlighted the recent report of the UN’s High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence with recommendations on harnessing the benefits of AI while mitigating the risks.
“The message is clear: AI must serve humanity equitably and safely,” he stressed, adding that the upcoming Summit of the Future will be a critical platform for nations to discuss ways to strengthen international cooperation on AI.
“On this International Day of Democracy, let us keep working to build a more inclusive, just, and equal world.”
It is equally crucial to address another fundamental aspect of democracy: the equal political participation of women, as emphasized by UN-Women, the lead agency for gender equality.
“Their inclusion is a matter of justice and a key factor in creating more effective governance,” the agency said, noting that women’s representation is vital for advancing issues such as health, education, and gender-based violence.
Despite this, women’s voices remain underrepresented in decision-making globally.
Only 27 countries are led by women – an increase from 18 a decade ago – while women hold just 23 percent of cabinet positions worldwide, and only 15 countries have achieved gender parity in their cabinets.
Commemorated annually on September 15th, the International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. This year, the focus is on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool for good governance.
It was established in 2007 by the UN General Assembly, which reaffirmed that democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems, and their full participation in all aspects of life.
