Bird Flu News:

‍

• The H5N1 virus is poised to become endemic on U.S. dairy farms, raising the odds of an eventual outbreak among people. (NY Times)
• Scientists are hunting for answers in Iowa to how the bird flu outbreak spread to cows and how to prevent it from spreading further. (AP)
• OSHA has updated its Avian Flu Fact Sheet for employers to address recent illnesses of farm and poultry workers. (OSHA)

Mpox News:

• Thailand reported a case of clade 1b mpox in a traveler, the second outside of Africa. (Reuters)
• The EU Commission is putting pressure on member countries to donate mpox vaccines ASAP to Africa to help curb the outbreak there. (Politico)
• The WHO says partners can start talks to buy mpox vaccine before its approval. (Reuters) 

Health News:

• The FDA approved two fall mRNA COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna earlier than expected. (FDA)
• Novavax, a non-mRNA, protein-based COVID vaccine, is expected to get the green light soon. (NPR)
• Whooping cough is on the rise, with 3x more cases this year than last. (NY Times)
• A cryptosporidium outbreak in a Kentucky swimming pool has led to at least 16 cases of GI illness caused by the parasite. (Newsweek)
• People are still getting sick from mushroom edibles, but doctors still don’t know exactly why. (NPR)
• Merck’s Ebola vaccine offers substantial protection in real-world outbreaks. (STAT)
• Wildfire smoke is a risk to pregnant people - both physically and mentally. (The 19th)

Mental Health & Substance Use News:

• Mental health leaves of absence have surged 22% in 2024 and up over 300% in the last five years. (Benefit News)
• COVID is tied to higher risk of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions, with those unvaccinated at highest risk. (CNN)
• In the Weeds is a CO nonprofit working to reduce substance use and improve mental health for restaurant workers by cutting stress and building healthier habits. (Colorado Sun)

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

Best Questions:

Is mpox the new COVID?

The WHO is taking the clade I mpox outbreak very seriously, going so far as to declare it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) last week. But they want you to know that it’s definitely not the ‘new COVID,’ primarily because officials know how to stop the spread and are taking measures to do so. While it spreads via close physical contact, including sexual contact, there’s no evidence that it spreads through the air, making it a much different type of outbreak than what we saw during COVID. The WHO is hoping that international cooperation and coordinated response between governments and public health officials can mean that this is a proactive effort to control and eliminate mpox rather than “another cycle of panic and neglect.”  Despite a few recent cases of clade I mpox in travelers to Europe, the risk in the U.S. remains very low, according to the CDC, in part because there aren’t many direct flights from the DRC or its border countries.

Sources: Reuters, CDC

Which fall vaccines should I get, and when? 

With the news that the FDA approved fall COVID vaccines this week, it’s time to plan for all of your fall vaccines. Flu, COVID, and for many adults, RSV are recommended around this time of year to help protect you during the height of respiratory illness season in the winter. Flu vaccine is best to get in October, before Halloween, to get maximum protection around the winter holidays when it most often peaks. COVID timing can be trickier - our rule of thumb is to wait 4 months since your last dose or the last time you had a COVID infection. 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. RSV is recommended for older adults who can get it any time (it protects for much longer) and pregnant people, who should talk to their OB/GYN about the proper timing for this fall based on their due date. 

We love this handy (but still nuanced) guide from Katelyn Jetelina 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. 

‍

Source: YLE

Best Read:

He was in recovery and in college. Then he died of an overdose - NPR

‍