Bird Flu News:

• A household contact of the Missouri (MO) bird flu patient had symptoms but wasn’t tested. Timing hints at a common exposure. (CIDRAP)
• The MO patient’s strain closely resembles what’s circulating in dairy cows, despite that MO doesn’t have any reported herd outbreaks. It also shows mutations that may affect how well vaccinations work.   (CNN)
• Bird flu outbreaks are rising among California dairy herds, now up to eight. The strain is similar to other dairy cow outbreaks, indicating that it’s not a new crossover from wild birds. (LA Times)
• The U.S. “can do more” to contain H5N1, a top WHO pandemic prep official said on Saturday. (STAT)
• Massachusetts tested all 95 dairy farms in the state and confirmed that there is no bird flu in what’s being touted as a potential national model for testing. (Boston Globe)

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Health News: 

• The newest COVID variant, XEC, is the latest to keep an eye on, as some experts think it’s likely to become dominant this winter. (SF Chronicle)
• Tennessee reported its first measles case in 5 years in an international traveler. (CIDRAP)
• Boar’s Head shut down the Virginia plant linked to the deadly Listeria outbreak. (NY Times)
• The WHO prequalified Bavarian Nordic's mpox vaccine, Jynneos, to make access easier for African countries dealing with major outbreaks. (CIDRAP)
• An Austrian woman was found guilty of fatally infecting her neighbor with COVID. (AP)
• Gas stoves may soon have tobacco-like health warnings in California. (NPR)
• The government pays for heating but not cooling, even as thousands die from extreme heat. (Politico)
• Nearly 40 million people could die from antibiotic-resistant superbug infections by 2050, a new study estimates. (CNN)
• Despite some claims circulating on social media, the jury is still out about whether drinking alcohol prevents food poisoning. (NY Times)

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Mental Health & Substance Use News:

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• Medicaid covers addiction treatment for over a million Americans, but as states update, some may lose coverage - and even a short gap can be life-threatening. (NPR)
• 988 calls have “involuntary” emergency rescue just 1% of the time. (CBS)
• Decades of national suicide prevention policies haven’t worked to lower the rate of suicides. Experts say that they’re not being adopted at state and local levels. (KFF Health News)
• Instagram, facing pressure over child safety online, announced new settings for privacy, sleep and reducing inappropriate content for kids. (NY Times)

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or need help, call or text 988.

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Best Questions:

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Florida is discouraging mRNA shots. Why? Are they safe? 

This week, Florida’s state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo advised against mRNA vaccines for COVID without offering strong evidence or acknowledging the risks of being infected with COVID instead. This is the latest in a string of public health decisions by Ladapo that are major breaks from generally agreed-upon advice from other states, federal health agencies, doctors, and health experts. 

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First, Ladapo calls into question whether the updated vaccines work against the currently circulating variants. In fact, the two mRNA vaccines are more closely matched to the current variants than Novavax’s more traditional protein-based shot, though both offer significant protection. The press release also includes a number of concerns over the effectiveness and health risks of mRNA vaccines - all of which are either fully disproven (like “DNA integration”) or misleading (like myocarditis - there’s a small but increased risk after vaccination, but a much higher one after actually having COVID). The FDA responded to Ladapo after he made similar claims last year, debunking the DNA myth and warning that vaccine "misinformation and disinformation" would mean fewer people get vaccinated, leading to more deaths and serious illness from COVID. 

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So, let us be very clear: mRNA vaccines are much safer than getting COVID. They are effective at preventing serious illness and death, and right now, they offer around three months of increased protection against getting the virus, which can be crucial during winter surges. Especially if you’re at high risk, you should get an updated shot this fall. 

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Sources: NBC, Tallahassee Democrat, FDA, FL Health

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When should I get my flu and COVID shots?  

It’s time to plan for your fall vaccines, including flu, COVID, and, for many adults, RSV. Flu vaccine is best to get in October, before Halloween, to get maximum protection around the winter holidays when it usually peaks. COVID timing can be trickier - the latest CDC guidelines say you can get a dose just 2 months after your most recent shot, which is great news for anyone who got last year’s dose this summer and wants the updated vaccine to protect themselves during this current surge or for the winter holidays. If you’re at high risk, immediate coverage is generally recommended. For those with an average risk, it’s reasonable to wait and get your COVID and flu shots at the same time, especially if that increases your chances of getting both (here’s looking at you, procrastinators!). RSV is recommended for older adults and pregnant people. 

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Once again, we’ll share this great guide from Your Local Epidemiologist to help make sense of the options for fall vaccines, and highly recommend that you check it out and speak with your doctor about fall vaccines to prevent severe disease from respiratory illnesses this winter. 

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Sources: YLE, CDC

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Best Read:

​​From Louisville, a Push to Plant Trees for Public Health - Bloomberg

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