Epidemiology

Hands holding a mask

Racism: The Root Cause of COVID-19 Disparities in Washtenaw County

Jeremiah Simon

Black residents of Washtenaw County, like elsewhere in Michigan, have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. In the fight to gain racial justice in the US, it is critical that we examine how racism contributes to health inequities right here in our backyard.

People wearing masks

What Makes a "Wave" of Disease? An Epidemiologist Explains

Abram L. Wagner

With daily deaths from COVID-19 in the US rarely going below 600 for months, the US is not yet in a second wave. Instead, we seem to be sustaining an ongoing first wave that just continues to crest. What will it take to get the US to a much-needed trough?

A pharmacist in India displays hydroxychloroquine tablets

Understanding Lupus, the Disease Treated by Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine

Ekemini Hogan, Akpabio Akpabio, and Utibe Effiong

Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are important therapies for those suffering from lupus, a complex auto-immune disease. As the world battles to overcome COVID-19, we must ensure continued availability of antimalarials to patients whose lives literally depend on them.

Photo of a vaccine.

Why Are Ethical Concerns Blocking the Progress of COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts?

Akpabio Akpabio and Utibe Effiong

Ultimately, vaccines are beneficial, and human trials are essential in determining the safety of any vaccine. But how do we select candidates for vaccine tests? Fallout from unethical experiments is persistent, and we must insist on the most ethical and medically accurate appraisals of the vaccine landscape.