Measles News:

• Too young for MMR vaccines, babies become “sitting ducks” during measles outbreaks. (AP)
  
  
• US measles cases surpassed the milestone of 1700 cases and more than half of the new cases are in Utah. (CIDRAP)

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Health News:

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• After the noro positivity rate dropped for several consecutive weeks, it went up last week from 12.5% to 13.5%. (CDC).
• Flu vaccine may cut heart attack and stroke risk, even if you do get the flu. (CIDRAP)
  
  
• Alpha-gal syndrome from Lone Star ticks is emerging as a major public health threat in Massachusetts, where the bugs were once rare. (CBS)
  
  
• The FDA reports it’s investigating a Salmonella Newport outbreak with 68 cases and no source yet identified. (FDA)
  
  
• The shortage of estrogen patches appears to be worsening and could last for years. (NBC News)
  
  
• While flu season winds down, four states are reporting moderate levels of flu activity - MA, NY NH and WA. (Force of Infection)
  
  
• Fatal overdoses are dropping sharply, even as the illicit drug supply becomes more volatile and dangerous. (NPR)
  
  
• Researchers confirm that even mild long COVID is tied to a higher risk of heart disease. (The Lancet)
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• The war in Iran is leading to a shortage of fluoride for water systems. (AP)
  
  
• The Texas AG is investigating Lululemon following reports that its athletic clothing may contain PFAS, or “forever chemicals.” (Texas.gov)

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Best Question:

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What is botulism and how can we prevent it? 

Botulism was back in the news last week after a recall of peeled garlic from Top Market stores due to contamination with Clostridium botulinum due to storage at inappropriate temperatures. 

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C. botulinum is a bacteria that can produce botulinum toxin, which attacks the body’s nerves. Yes, it’s the same stuff people inject into their faces, known by the name Botox. But when it gets into your system, it can be deadly. Botulism happens when the toxin gets into food or a wound, or into a baby’s intestinal tract. We heard a lot about infant botulism last year due to the ByHeart formula outbreak, which sickened 48 babies.

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Symptoms can include weakness, dizziness, double vision, trouble speaking or swallowing, difficulty breathing, and other muscle and nerve-related issues. All forms of botulism can be fatal if left untreated.  

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Botulism is most common in improperly home-canned food, but we’ve also seen recalls over the past decade in everything from the peeled garlic this past month to canned tuna and herring, sausage, nacho cheese, and even herbal teas. 

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Unless you’re canning, preserving, or fermenting your own food, most foodservice operations only need to focus on time and temperature to prevent botulism. Refrigerate preserved foods and oils after opening the jar, throw them away after they’ve been open for 4 or more days, and do your usual food safety practices to keep hot things hot and cold things cold. 

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Sources: FDA, Mayo Clinic, Marler Clark, CDC

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Best Read:

April means allergy season is in full swing. This fun interactive article explains - and shows - what’s actually happening inside you.

What Seasonal Allergies Do to Your Body - NY Times (Gift Article)

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