If you have employees working outdoors in the Southwest, the answer is increasingly yes. Valley Fever, a respiratory illness caused by a fungus in dry soil, is spreading into new regions and peaking in spring. California had nearly 9,000 cases last year, and public health experts are warning that this year could be worse: the West saw heavy winter rains followed by hot, dry, dusty conditions that can send fungal spores into the air. Infection happens when someone breathes in those spores—especially during outdoor work like landscaping, sweeping dusty patios, or working in windy conditions.
Most cases are mild, but Valley Fever can cause fatigue and lung symptoms that last for weeks—or longer. There’s no vaccine, so prevention is all about awareness. If you operate in a high-risk area (including Central and Southern California, Utah, and Arizona), consider training outdoor staff on symptoms and minimizing dusty conditions outdoors. N95 masks may also help on especially dusty or windy days, or if there’s nearby construction that’s stirring up soil.
Employees who have bed bugs at home can bring them into work via clothing or bags, leading to infestations in break rooms, lockers, or even guest areas. We’ve also had several issues with shared work items like ties and aprons. While bed bugs don’t transmit disease, they can cause panic—and if not handled discreetly, they can also lead to rumors and stigma.
The good news: it’s not that easy to spread bed bugs at work, and employees don’t need to be excluded. Ask employees with a known or suspected infestation to inspect clothing, shoes, and bags before work and leave personal items outside.
We’ve seen very high levels of anxiety from coworkers when there’s a bedbug issue, so if it’s already being discussed among your staff, it’s best for your managers to stay calm, share accurate information, and address it before rumors start flying.
If an actual infestation is suspected at work, call a professional exterminator—many use bed bug detection dogs and can provide quick treatment plans. At home, employees should be encouraged (but not required) to seek professional extermination, which may require multiple visits. ZHH clients can check our app for a full action plan that's easy to send to managers.
CDC’s communications teams have been gutted, and it’s not warning people about outbreaks or health threats like it was a few months ago. Their social media accounts going quiet is one thing (and a big one), but we’re most concerned about the silence of the Health Alert Network, which alerts the nation’s doctors and public health officers about emerging threats so that they know to look (and test) for them. It’s been over 2 months since the last HAN update, whereas before there were generally 1-2 per month.