Bird Flu News:

• The US now has 121 infected dairy herds in 12 states, with 59 confirmed cases in the last month and a hotspot in Idaho right now. (USDA)
• Bird flu may have spread to Michigan when an infected cow herd was moved from Texas in the spring - and then spread from dairy farms to poultry farms. (Toledo Blade)
• The federal government has face shields, gloves, N95s, and other respirators and goggles available for farm workers. (CIDRAP)

Health News:

• COVID is rising, especially in the West, though still relatively low, except for Hawaii, which has “very high” levels right now. (CDC)
• Noro is also rising, which is slightly unusual for this time of year. (CDC)
• Grand Rapids, MN, began chlorinating its water supply to combat an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease linked to the city’s water. (MPR)
• CalOSHA announced new rules Thursday that would require protective action for indoor workers after interior temps pass 87°F (and 82°F in some cases near ovens), including water, cool-down areas, and rest breaks. (RBO)
• In year one of the CDC’s new HIV self-test program, 440,000 people ordered kits; 24% had never been tested before, and nearly 2% tested positive.  (MMWR)
• A record-breaking number of mosquitos in the Las Vegas area are carrying West Nile virus. (NBC)
• South Africa has run out of insulin injector pens after the global supply shifted to weight-loss drugs. (NY Times)
• Ice cream from Totally Cool, Inc. was recalled due to possible Listeria contamination. (FDA)
• Paper test strips can identify flu subtypes, including avian and swine strains, a new study shows. (CIDRAP)

Mental Health & Substance Use News:

• Construction workers are dying by suicide at an alarming rate, one of the highest among professions. (NBC)
• Therapists are learning how to connect with struggling farmers who have a high suicide rate. (USA Today)
• The U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a ‘public health crisis’ this week. (KFF Health News)

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or need help, call 988 or message the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

Best Questions:

Why are we seeing an uptick in noro during the summer?

Norovirus outbreaks happen year-round but tend to peak in early spring, so it’s a bit unusual to see the levels that the CDC is reporting during the summer months, but not totally unheard of. There’s some research that shows that noro transmission might increase in summer months, though it’s unclear whether that’s due to anything biological about the virus or just human behavior (heading indoors together to air conditioning when the weather gets hot). Norovirus can spread through water; we’ve seen outbreaks linked to lakes and under-chlorinated swimming pools. There’s also the possibility that our data is skewed - more doctors test for noro at the height of noro season. If fewer people are testing now, but more of them are testing positive, it can look like a bigger spike than it actually is. Last but not least, new strains can emerge, which has happened in past summers. Like COVID and other viruses, noro can mutate to spread more easily, causing cases to spike. No matter the reason behind the spike, don’t forget to keep employees sick with severe vomiting and diarrhea out of work for two full days after their symptoms end, and to wash hands well with soap and water to prevent noro from spreading.

Sources: YLE, CDC

What symptoms should we look out for with heat exhaustion or heat stroke?

Much of the country is facing extreme temperatures, which are more dangerous at the start of summer before people become acclimated to higher temperatures. Know the symptoms and keep an eye out for your employees, especially those working outside or in hot kitchens. Symptoms of heat exhaustion can include muscle cramps, heavy sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, thirst, weakness, and nausea. Move someone with those symptoms to a cooler area, give them cold water, and seek medical help if symptoms don’t improve. If someone seems confused, slurs their speech, or becomes unconscious, they might be experiencing heat stroke, which is an emergency. Call 911, move them to a cooler area, and cool them immediately with water or ice.

Source: NIOSH

Best Read:

Masks are going from mandated to criminalized in some states - Washington Post

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