Bird Flu News:
- The US is up to 133 total livestock cases in 12 states, with ID, CO, MI, and TX, each with at least 20 infected dairy cow herds. (USDA)
- The FDA will expand H5N1 testing in over 155 dairy products to ensure that pasteurization inactivates the virus. (Reuters)
- Michigan is launching a groundbreaking effort to detect asymptomatic bird flu infections in farmworkers through voluntary blood samples. (STAT)
- A new CDC study confirms that H5N1 remains infectious in unpasteurized milk and on milking surfaces for several hours. (CDC)
- The USDA shared details of financial assistance for H5N1-related milk losses. (USDA)
Health News:
- New COVID shots are recommended for Americans 6 months and older this fall. (NY Times)
- CDC issued a health advisory alert about an increased risk of dengue fever in the U.S. amid a record surge in the Americas and locally-acquired cases in Florida. (CDC)
- Once-rare Powassan virus, spread by ticks, is drastically increasing in the U.S, with 270 cases in the past decade compared to just 64 in the decade prior. (CIDRAP)
- There’s no evidence that the latest COVID variant, LB.1, causes more severe disease, even as it’s spreading to make up over 17% of new cases. (CBS)
- The WHO urged greater attention to mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a deadlier strain is circulating. Kids are disproportionately affected. (USA Today)
- Walmart is closing all 51 health clinics after its attempt to build a primary care network was not successful, but pharmacies remain unaffected. (Modern Healthcare)
- Heat-related ER visits spiked in New England last week. (Boston Globe)
- Smoked salmon sold at Kroger and Pay Less Super Market was recalled over Listeria risk. (CBS)
- Hand injuries from cutting avocados are rapidly increasing each year, with most injuries occurring between April and July. (Washington Post)
- The FDA warned Bimbo Bakeries, owners of Entenmann’s and Sara Lee, not to say its products contain dangerous allergens (like sesame) when they don’t. (AP)
Mental Health & Substance Use News:
- A new startup is testing a fentanyl vaccine that would prevent people from getting high or overdosing from the drug. (Bloomberg)
- The LGBTQI+ youth crisis hotline launched last year and calls have increased with alarming speed. (USA Today)
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or need help, call or text 988.
LGBTQI+ people under 25 can access 24/7 LGBTQI+ support by dialing 988 and then pressing 3, or text the word PRIDE to 988.
Best Questions:
I know cats are dying of bird flu. Are dogs at risk, too?
Yes, dogs can get bird flu, but they’re at lower risk than cats. There are a variety of reasons that cats are more susceptible, but their behavior (hunting and eating wild birds) and biology both play a part. Ultimately, scientists tested a group of hunting dogs that are trained to retrieve waterfowl, and found that very few had antibodies, none had ever had symptoms, and there didn’t seem to be any spread between dogs.
Hunting dogs who bite or eat wild fowl are more likely to become infected. Overall, dogs are getting sick at lower rates, and when they do get sick, their illness tends to be less severe. This virus is constantly changing, though, so there’s always a chance it could mutate and become more of a threat to dogs (or humans, for that matter). The best way to protect your pets is to ensure they don’t drink raw milk or eat wild birds.
Source: NYT
How long does a COVID shot actually protect you these days?
With the currently circulating virus, an updated COVID shot (which we used to call booster doses) generally provides strong protection for about four months, and better-than-nothing protection for the rest of the year. For those four months, it drastically reduces your chances of being hospitalized or ending up with serious illness, which is why they’re timed for the fall, when respiratory illnesses peak each year. Even beyond the first four months, additional doses do help a little bit to increase your overall immunity for the rest of the year, but our baseline at this point is so high since we’ve all been exposed that the benefits aren’t anything drastic after the first four months. The fall vaccines are specifically formulated to target the recently dominant variants, so staying up to date can help ensure that if (or when) you get COVID again, your immune system is better prepared to fight it.
Sources: YLE, JAMA
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