Bird Flu News:
- A new study suggests that bird flu cases are going undetected in humans; at least two TX farmworkers had antibodies indicating prior infection. (KFF Health News)
- CDC is urging livestock workers to get the seasonal flu vaccine to help cut the pandemic risk. (CIDRAP)
- A new USDA challenge study is infecting cows in a lab with H5N1 to study the virus and help develop vaccines. (QA)
- Flies that live and breed near dead animals and feces have been linked to the spread of avian flu in Japan. (NewsMedical.net)
Health News:
- Boar’s Head expanded their deli meats recall to include a whopping 7 million additional pounds of product potentially contaminated with Listeria. (UDSA)
- Two unique outbreaks of Cyclospora cayetanensis are being investigated by the FDA, with 16 and 26 cases, respectively. (FDA)
- Wildfires are causing smoky, unhealthy conditions in much of Colorado. (CBS)
- Multiple swimmers at the Paris Olympics, including 2 Americans, have tested positive for COVID but aren’t being sent home. (Yahoo)
- As Ozempic runs in short supply, compounded semaglutide overdoses are leading to hospitalizations. (Medscape)
- COVID vaccines are hard to find amid a major case spike in the San Francisco Bay Area. (SF Chronicle)
- RSV season has started in Florida, where it usually begins in the U.S., but vaccinations are down. (KFF Health News)
- FL leads the country in heat-related hospital visits. (CBS)
- Most Americans don’t use a food thermometer when cooking, a new survey shows. (CIDRAP)
- Getting a shingles vaccine can lower your risk of dementia. (Washington Post)
- 3 New Jersey residents have tested positive for West Nile virus. (CBS)
Mental Health & Substance Use News:
- Suicide rates in children have continued to climb over the past 15 years. (Washington Post)
- Nearly one-third of U.S. teens got mental health treatment last year. (The Hill)
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or need help, call or text 988.
Best Questions:
Why would farmworkers getting the seasonal flu vaccine cut pandemic risk?
Right now, the pandemic risk of H5N1 bird flu in humans is actually very low because there is no evidence that it is spreading from one person to another, only from sick animals to humans (and between animal species). The real risk is that some major mutation will happen to the current virus that allows it to spread more easily between humans. One way that can happen is if a person, cow, or pig gets infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus when they’re already infected with another human flu virus. If that happens, the two types of virus can co-mingle and swap pieces, creating a whole new virus that might be better at spreading between humans. Right now, farmworkers who are near sick animals are most at risk, so targeting them to get the seasonal flu vaccine makes good sense. If they don’t get sick with the “regular” flu, they can’t become mixing vessels themselves or spread the human flu to cows (which we’ve now learned is possible). CDC just committed $5 million to help vaccinate farm workers; hopefully, businesses and public health can work together to communicate this clearly to livestock workers and make getting a seasonal flu shot as convenient as possible, for all our sakes.
Sources: CIDRAP
When, if ever, would you recommend masking?
There are a few times we’d recommend wearing a mask today:
- When you’re COVID+:some text
- If you test positive but have no symptoms, you can leave home, but wear a mask for 5 days to protect those around you.
- When you just can’t afford to get sick:some text
- We’ve seen Olympians head to Paris masked because they have a big event that they just don’t want to risk being sick for! The same applies to weddings, vacations, and other things you really wouldn’t want to miss.
- When you’re at high risk yourself:some text
- If you’re older, immunocompromised, or in poor health and are in a high-risk situation, like a crowded airport, masking can protect you from getting sick.
- When you want to protect babies or grandparents:some text
- If you’re on the way to visit grandma or a newborn, you can mask to reduce your chances of sharing any bugs (COVID or otherwise).
Sources: MedPage Today, CDC
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