Bird Flu News:

• Louisiana announced its first probable human H5N1 case in a person who had contact with sick and dead birds; California reported 2 more for a total of 34. (CIDRAP)
• Bird flu reportedly prompted another raw milk recall in California.  (LA Times)
• Mega-farms, each with thousands of cattle in the same facility, are driving the threat of bird flu. (WIRED)

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Health News:

• Noro test positivity is at the highest rate in seven years. Hotspots are in the West and Midwest, with a whopping 1 in 5 tests coming back positive, but it’s high all over the country. (Force of Infection)
• RSV is on the rise, with more ER visits this week and still rising. Flu and COVID are low but increasing, as well. (CDC)
• The USDA announced several new steps to prevent Listeria contamination, including more testing, training, and inspections. (USDA)
• Even after 7 recalls, the FDA hasn’t stopped the import of pills from, or sent inspectors to, an Indian factory that produces a common heart drug for the U.S. (Propublica)
• Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor, criticized efforts to undermine the polio vaccine. (Washington Post)
• RFK Jr. says he’s “all for” the polio vaccine after GOP senators have raised questions about his (and his close associates’) views on vaccines. (CNN)
• Obesity dipped in U.S. adults for the first time in decades in 2023, possibly due to weight loss drugs that have become widely popular. (NBC)
• OSHA released data from nearly 9 million workplace injuries and illnesses from 2023…. (OSHA)
• …and OSHA will soon require employers to provide PPE that fits a worker’s body size, including hats, gloves, footwear, and other protective equipment. (Fisher Phillips)

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Mental Health & Substance Use News:

• Just 1,000 more steps per day is associated with fewer symptoms of depression. (CNN)
• Seattle is offering free virtual text-based therapy for young people ages 13-24. (Seattle Times)
• States have begun spending billions in opioid settlements, but until a new report and database, there’s been very little accountability for where that money goes. (KFF Health News)

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

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Best Questions:

Why is noro so bad this season? Anything we can do?

If test positivity rate is any indication, norovirus is having a record-breaking year. Right now, one in every five tests in the West and Midwest are coming back positive, which is the highest it’s been at any point in the past seven years. Now, it’s possible that something about patient or hospital behavior has changed, like more people with noro symptoms are actually seeking medical attention and testing, or hospitals are only testing people if they are pretty sure they have norovirus. While overall numbers of reported PCR tests conducted are down a bit over the past few weeks, that may just be a lag in reporting, and it’s still true that we’re seeing an unusually busy norovirus season, especially for this time of year. Hotspots are in the West and Midwest, but the national average is a whopping 18.4% right now, so it’s definitely affecting all regions. 

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This would be a great time to do a norovirus refresher for your teams, renew your focus on handwashing, and remind people to stay home for a full two days after their symptoms end because that’s when they’re most contagious. Below, we've attached a flyer in both English and Spanish that you can have managers print and put up in the back to educate employees about preventing norovirus. Email us for a PDF copy if you’d prefer. 

Sources: ZHH, Force of Infection, NREVSS

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Best Read:

West Virginia gave obesity drugs to teachers and state employees - and then took them away due to rising costs. As employers consider whether and how to cover weight loss drugs like Zepbound and Wegovy, it’s an interesting, if cautionary, tale:

The Ozempic Flip-Flop - The Atlantic

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