Special Report: Teen Moms In The Philippines

Why Coronavirus Is 'Superspready'; Polio Milestone In Africa Goats and Soda editor's note Hannah Reyes Morales for NPR Last week we published a story about [teen moms in the Philippines.]( The teen birth rate is so high that the government has called it a "national social emergency." It's a topic that photographer Hannah Reyes Morales began covering in 2017. Journalist Aurora Almendral reported and wrote the text. The response from our readers has been extraordinary -- hundreds of thousands came to this story and many shared their reactions. One reader wrote: "I was born in the Philippines but we moved to the United States when I was 4. I'm an engineer now but I just remember throughout my entire life my mom telling me to stay in school. We were always surrounded by her nurse friends who would ask me about my boyfriends, but to my mom's credit she always drilled it into my head that education and working toward your goals came first. This story really brought home why." Many readers wanted to know how they might help. These are some of the groups that work to prevent teenage pregnancy and to provide support for teen moms: [Likhaan]( is the organization mentioned in the story. Other groups include [Project Pearls]( [Roots of Health]( and [Vision Help International Care Foundation.]( [Read the story here.]( Marc Silver Editor, Goats and Soda --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- coronavirus questions Roy Liu/Bloomberg via Getty Images [Why Is The Coronavirus So 'Superspready']( That's the word one disease researcher uses to describe COVID-19. And now scientists are discovering the reasons that this virus is readily transmitted at "superspreader events." [What Kind Of Flu Season Can We Expect?]( The Southern Hemisphere offers hints that the U.S. may be spared flu on top of COVID-19. Their flu season has been weirdly calm this year. [Do Lots Of People Get COVID-19 From Flying?]( A new study points to two passengers who were infected on a four-hour-plus flight. But there hasn't been a lot of documentation of transmission on planes. So how risky is flying? [What Are People Drinking In Kenya To Ward Off Coronavirus?]( For a comforting drink during the pandemic, Kenyans are turning to fruity, gingery dawa. in the news Zhao Ge/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images [China Calls It A 'Wartime Mode' COVID-19 Lockdown. And Residents Are Up In Arms]( Across China, life has largely returned to normal -- except in the western region of Xinjiang. Some 22 million people have been under heavy lockdown since July -- and they're questioning its severity. [Africa Declares Wild Polio Is Wiped Out -- Yet It Persists In Vaccine-Derived Cases]( The Kick Polio Out Of Africa Campaign began in 1996. This week, the World Health Organization announced that wild polio has been eradicated on the continent -- although there is a caveat. links we like - In The New Yorker, David Quammen delves into the question: ["Did Pangolin Trafficking Cause The Coronavirus Pandemic?"]( - Photographers capture stunning [images of social injustice]( with the help of Alexia grants. The Washington Post reports. - It took the Bronx Zoo 114 years to [apologize for caging a teenager]( from what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. The BBC reports. - Are you a [banana lover?]( NPR's Throughline reports on how a ruthless entrepreneur created the modern banana industry -- and banana republics. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [goatsandsoda@npr.org](mailto:goatsandsoda@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Health, Daily News, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Goats and Soda emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy](