Health News:

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• A new strain of mpox, a mix of the more common clade II and the more severe clade I, has been detected in a person in England. (BBC)
  
  
• California officials warned against wild mushroom foraging after at least 21 cases of poisoning and one death from deathcap mushrooms. (AP)
  
  
• Hepatitis B vaccines will still be covered by insurance and free for kids through 2026. (CNN)
  
  
• The common cold is the dominating respiratory illness in the U.S. right now. COVID is still relatively low, but flu rates are rising. (CDC)
  
  
• Flu vaccination rates are lagging 21-39% behind this time last year with only 14.75% of adults compared to 18.6% last year. (YLE)
  
  
• Cannabis hyperemesis, or extreme vomiting due to habitual marijuana use, is on the rise. It’s been dubbed “scromiting” (screaming and vomiting) on social media. (The Hill)
  
  
• 84% of doctors and healthcare clinicians reported moderate or significant decreases in patient visits since the January 2025 executive orders on immigration. (MCN)
  
  
• Faulty glucose monitors, now recalled, may be tied to 7 deaths. (NY Times)
  
  
• NYC saw an increase in life expectancy, reaching goals set for 2030 nearly five years early. (NYC.gov)
  
  
• The CDC reported the 21st cruise ship noro outbreak this year, this time nearly 100 passengers and crew on a round-the-world cruise. (Fox News)
  
  
• Researchers found that semaglutides didn’t slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s, as some hoped it might. (Medpage Today)
  
  

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Best Question:

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Are we seeing health departments’ response to measles change over time?

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We’re seeing two main responses to measles from health departments: general disinterest (which is a change from a year ago) or large-scale quarantine for non-vaccinated people, usually kids. 

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Most measles cases we have seen that affect our clients’ businesses are one-offs. They’re international travelers who just returned home, or people who are part of small outbreak pockets. They’re either our clients’ employees or guests who have visited their businesses while infectious. For most of these, we’re seeing health departments go public quickly, but only with a list of places the sick person was during their infectious period. It often includes multiple businesses they’ve shopped at, community organizations like churches or synagogues they’ve visited, and healthcare facilities where they sought medical attention. In most of these, the health department isn’t requiring vaccination or quarantine for exposed employees, even if they worked with the sick person. 

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The situations we’re seeing them react more strongly to are school exposures – when a child or staff member went to school sick, and there are dozens or even hundreds of unvaccinated children who were exposed. In these cases, we are seeing health departments require quarantine for those who aren’t vaccinated, in part because children are extra vulnerable to measles. It’s a good thing, too – in South Carolina last month, over 150 kids had to stay home from school for 21 days after exposure, and at least 8 of them later developed measles symptoms. The quarantines there and at the Utah-Arizona border keep coming, especially for unvaccinated school children. 

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It’s important to keep in mind that we’re seeing really varied responses from health departments. Some see themselves as key players in the absence of federal leadership, while others are understaffed and overworked, just trying to stay afloat. If you have measles in the area, you should be prepared for either end of the spectrum. 

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Sources: WACH, BBC, SC DPH

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Best Listen: 

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We haven’t linked to our friend Dr. Mike Osterholm in some time, but his analysis of the Hep B vax decision is worth your time. 

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The Osterholm Update Special Episode: A Deep Dive into the ACIP Decision and Hep B

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