Hurricane Matthew crossed the island nation last week, killing at least 1,000 people. It also damaged water supply and sewage disposal systems. Now, survivors of the storm are flooding hospitals, with many suffering from cholera and other water-borne diseases. One hospital reported accepting 60 patients in a day.

“In terms of destruction - environmental and agricultural - I can tell you 2016 is worse than 2010,” the UN’s Paul Edouarzin says. "It seems to me like a nuclear bomb went off.”

Despite the risk, many Haitians say they have no choice but to drink water that may be infested with cholera.

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Sourced from: Reuters, ‘Like a nuclear bomb,’ cholera and destruction after hurricane in Haiti

For most people, the transition from summer to fall is welcome. Uncomfortable heat and humidity are replaced by cooler, crisp days, often filled with sunshine and beautiful color. But is the change in conditions making you sick?

Well, colder weather itself doesn’t make you sick. However, “Colder temperatures also force you inside, which can increase disease transmission,” Dr. Alexandra Sowa of the New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medicine tells The Washington Post.

Being stuck inside, often in close quarters with others, can increase your exposure to sickness-causing germs. And the drier air, both inside and out, can reduce the healthy mucus in your body, leaving you more open to disease.

Dr. Sowa recommends using a humidifier in the home, to keep your respiratory system from getting dried out. Also, fight germs by washing your hands and getting a flu shot. Those steps can help you enjoy fall without falling sick.

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Sourced from: The Washington Post, Dear Science: Why do I always get sick when the seasons change?

A coalition of health groups is suing the Food and Drug Administration, demanding it place more graphic warning labels on cigarette packs.

Under federal law, the FDA had until 2011 to order cigarette makers to cover their packages with more explicit warning labels. But the proposed stronger warnings have been tied up in court for years.

The suit claims: “The FDA has been in violation [of the 2009 law] for more than four years. During that time, over 3 million Americans, the vast majority of them minors, have begun to smoke on a regular basis. Half of them will die prematurely as a result of tobacco-related disease.”

Eight groups are involved in the suit, filed in Boston. The American Cancer Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics are among the groups. A Canadian study suggests graphic warnings might help reduce fatalities from smoking.

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Sourced from: CBS News, FDA sued over delay on graphic cigarette warning labels