Public Health

Mandeville – September 12, 2026 -- J&J Exterminating, Louisiana's largest independently-owned pest control company, is warning Mandeville families that common household pests can carry pathogens linked to serious illnesses, urging residents to treat infestations rather than wait them out.

Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus are already circulating this season

Louisiana health officials have confirmed West Nile virus activity this season, according to the company, meaning mosquitoes in Mandeville backyards can pose a direct health threat during outdoor gatherings. Ticks in the area also carry Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Alpha-gal syndrome, illnesses that can produce lasting effects.

Fairport, N.Y. – September 12, 2026 -- Bleeding or swollen gums during brushing can be an early sign of gum disease, according to a new HelloNation article featuring Dr. Marian Burgard of Fairport Family Dental.

Bleeding gums often appear before pain does

The article notes that gum disease frequently starts with subtle symptoms, including bleeding during brushing or flossing, swelling, and mild tenderness. These signs can occur even in people with a consistent daily oral hygiene routine. Because pain is not always present in early stages, residents in Fairport and Rochester, NY, may delay seeking treatment.

Plaque buildup along the gum line triggers irritation

According to the article, bleeding gums typically result from plaque accumulating along the gum line, which allows bacteria to irritate sensitive tissue. Swollen gums develop as the body reacts to this irritation.

Scottsdale, Ariz. – September 12, 2026 -- An FDA advisory panel voted 8-6-1 in July 2026 to recommend adding BPC-157 free base and BPC-157 acetate to the Section 503A Bulks List, a move that would let pharmacies compound the peptide more broadly if finalized. The vote does not make BPC-157 FDA-approved, and the recommendation is non-binding.

FDA staff had opposed adding BPC-157 to the list

According to FDA materials reviewed by telehealth company Promise, agency review staff proposed against including either form of BPC-157 before the July 23, 2026 committee meeting. The favorable vote reflects a split between committee members and FDA staff, not an agency endorsement. FDA's briefing document notes that neither form of BPC-157 has an applicable USP/NF drug-substance monograph, and neither is a component of an already-approved drug.

North Charleston – September 12, 2026 -- Federal health officials are warning consumers about concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products sold as tablets, gummies, powders, drink mixes, shots and dissolvable strips, saying they are potent opioids that have not been proven safe or effective for any use.

The FDA has logged reports of addiction and seizures tied to 7-OH

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it has received adverse event reports linked to 7-OH products, including addiction, anxiety, depression, gastrointestinal distress, insomnia, seizures and withdrawal symptoms. No FDA-approved drugs currently contain 7-OH.

While 7-OH occurs naturally in trace amounts in the kratom plant, the concentrated and synthetic versions sold commercially can contain significantly elevated levels, according to the agency.

Virginia Beach, Va. – September 11, 2026 -- British Swim School has launched the Jump On In Sweepstakes, giving families across the U.S. and Canada a chance to win a full year of free swim lessons plus a swim gear prize package.

The sweepstakes runs from September 8 to September 30, 2026, as part of the company's "Back to Pool" campaign aimed at getting families back into the water for the fall season.

Two winners will be chosen, one child and one adult

Because British Swim School serves swimmers of all ages, organizers will select two winners: one entrant under 18 and one adult aged 18 or older.

Fairfax, Va. – September 11, 2026 -- Three in four adults believe fear of exposure stops people with substance use disorder from seeking treatment, according to a new survey from Inova Health System.

The survey polled more than 500 Northern Virginia adults

Inova's eighth annual Act on Addiction survey found stigma remains the top barrier to care in the region. Fewer than 20% of respondents knew that substance use is classified as a brain disorder, one that alters brain circuits governing reward, stress and self-control. Nearly 9 in 10 respondents said raising awareness of that fact would reduce stigma in their community.

Trust in community support varies sharply by group

Just 48% of respondents believed their community would be supportive if someone openly discussed their recovery journey. That confidence dropped among women (44%), Black respondents (45%), Hispanic respondents (47%) and rural Virginians (43%).

New York – September 11, 2026 -- Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit that administers the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, marked 988 Day on September 8 alongside the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, urging anyone struggling to call, text, or chat 988 for support.

This year's campaign, themed "988 Reasons: Your reason is reason enough," stresses that people don't need to be in an active crisis to reach out. Whether someone is overwhelmed, supporting a loved one, or just needs to talk, the Lifeline is positioned as available for any level of need.

The Lifeline has routed nearly 30 million contacts since 2022

Since transitioning to the three-digit 988 number in July 2022, the service has connected people with trained crisis counselors nearly 30 million times through calls, texts, and online chats nationwide.

Mainz – September 11, 2026 -- Constant background noise from white noise machines, audiobooks and headphones may be overwhelming children's hearing, according to Eberhard Schmidt, a certified hearing acoustician and president of Germany's Bundesinnung der Hörakustiker (biha).

Schmidt, who also specializes in pediatric hearing care, says ears are always "on" and cannot simply switch off. The real risk comes from a combination of high volume, close proximity to sound sources, and nonstop exposure -- not from sound itself.

Hearing develops before birth, around the fifth month of pregnancy

Unborn babies can perceive sound starting around the fifth month of pregnancy, Schmidt explains. While amniotic fluid and tissue reduce volume, loud repeated noise -- such as at concerts or noisy workplaces -- can still reach the fetus and should be limited during pregnancy.

Berlin – September 11, 2026 -- Diabetes can silently damage the eyes years before patients notice any change in their vision, yet new data show barely half of people with type 2 diabetes get the recommended eye exam. To close that gap, German health insurer mkk - meine krankenkasse now offers its members a free eye screening from Skleo Health at participating opticians and drugstores.

About seven million adults in Germany live with known or undiagnosed diabetes, according to the Robert Koch Institute. One serious complication is diabetic retinopathy, damage to the tiny blood vessels in the retina caused by diabetes duration, high blood sugar, and hypertension. Retinal changes can develop long before someone experiences blurred vision or other symptoms.

Berlin – September 10, 2026 -- The Deutsche Sepsis-Hilfe e. V. has released a free children's book, "Papas kleiner Gemeinling," to help families explain sepsis to kids when a parent is suddenly hospitalized.

Sepsis, commonly known as blood poisoning, is the most severe form of an infection and ranks among the leading causes of death in Germany. At least 230,000 people in the country are diagnosed with sepsis each year, and at least 85,000 die from its effects.

The book follows a girl named Hannah as her father battles sepsis

Written by children's author Saskia Heinl and illustrated by Julia Hannes, the story explains in age-appropriate terms what happens during treatment and rehabilitation. It aims to acknowledge children's fears while offering reassurance during a frightening time.