Overburdened ERs, the American Dream, and Food Labels in Mexico
January 13, 2023
Editors' Note
New York City emergency physicians Sonya Stokes and Craig Spencer write that too many U.S. ERs are buckling under staffing and space deficits, and this winter's tridemic of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19—as well as a recent surge in group A streptococcus (GAS) cases—could push many emergency departments to the brink of collapse, and cost lives.
Last summer, fifty-three adults and children from Central America suffocated in the back of an overcrowded and overheated tractor trailer while crossing the border into Texas—one of the United States' deadliest human smuggling tragedies ever. Isabella Rolz spoke with the brother of two of the tragedy's few survivors, who reflects on the trauma and hope of migrating to the United States.
Two years ago, Mexico updated its food labels, adding a black stop sign and health warnings to packaged foods. Think Global Health talked with an expert on health policy, as well as physicians, shop owners, and schoolteachers in Mexico, to find out if the new labels are having an impact on consumers.
A fourth piece reports on a serious yet treatable, injury linked to childbirth that affects millions of women—especially in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa—and the stigma surrounding the condition.
As always, thank you for reading.—Thomas J. Bollyky and Mary Brophy Marcus, Editors
