The CDC just can't catch a break this week.
They closed the E. Coli outbreak at Chipotle, opened the case on the first non-traveler in the continental United States to turn up with Zika virus, and took a lot of heat for what should have been a helpful infographic.
On Tuesday, the Atlanta-based health agency released infographics in a campaign against Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a condition which impacts about 1 in 20 US school children. One infographic showed how FAS can lead to low birth weight, organ trouble and brain damage which may manifest in a number of behavioral and intellectual difficulties resulting in lifelong issues.
It was the second infographic that caused a furor. Have a look for yourself:
The poor CDC never had a chance with this which pretty much says that any woman of childbearing age who doesn't take birth control should avoid drinking. Why? Because that could lead to a number of consequences including physical abuse, heart disease, STDs, cancer, pregnancy, and oh yeah, FAS.
There were more than a few valid questions raised about all of this on social media including why would the CDC reduce young women to bunch of baby makers in the making?
You also have to wonder why there don't seem to be any guidelines for men regarding alcohol or anything else...
The CDC has been mum on that FAS infographic, but the new Zika transmission guidelines issued early today show that they may have gotten the message.
Their latest updates on how to avoid sexual transmission of the Zika virus are directed to women (pregnant or not) ...and the men who sleep with them.
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