Measles News:

• As measles takes hold in the U.S., enough previously hesitant parents are quietly embracing the MMR vaccine that it’s helping to slow outbreaks. (Bloomberg)
  
  
• Rhode Island confirmed its first measles case of the year. (Boston Globe)
  
  
• An SF infant got measles, highlighting the risk for infants who are too young to be vaccinated. (SF Chronicle)

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Health News:

• A second meningitis outbreak in the UK has sickened 3 school-age kids in Dorset. Vaccinations are being offered to local children. (Guardian)
  
  
• The entire Jackson County school district in the Florida Panhandle shut down for a deep cleaning after norovirus spread through multiple schools. (WTVY)
  
  
• Hazelnut spread contaminated with Salmonella Bochum, an extremely rare strain, sickened 40 people in Germany, including one death. (Food Safety)
  
  
• There are at least 5 people dead and 35 sick in Burundi with a mystery illness that tested negative for 200+ pathogens, including Ebola and common hemorrhagic fevers. (CIDRAP)
  
  
• A CDC report chronicled tetanus in 4 U.S. kids who were unvaccinated, including 2 whose parents refused prophylactic treatment. Only 1 of the 4 completed their tetanus vax series later, despite an average of 25 days in the hospital. (MMWR)
  
  
• 4 more children died from the flu, even though the season is now over, making it a particularly severe season for pediatric deaths. (FluView)
  
  
• California is urging mpox vaccination after San Francisco ID’d its first clade 1 case in a traveler. (CDPH)
  
  
• Legionnaires’ disease increased dramatically across the state of North Carolina last year, from 201 cases in 2024 to 310 in 2025. (NCDHHS)
  
  
• Weapons-grade chemical carfentanil, 100x stronger than fentanyl, is seeing a major resurgence in the U.S. (AP)
  
  
• The latest trend in skincare? Beef tallow and salmon sperm. Yes, really. (AP)
  
  

Best Question:

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Should we be worried about pesticides in produce? 

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A new study from the University of Southern California (USC) has some bad implications. Particularly for younger, non-smokers, those who ate lots of fruits, veggies, and whole grains seemed to have a higher risk of early‑onset lung cancer. It’s counterintuitive, and some experts think it may point to pesticides that we use in farming. 

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This study doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be eating our 5-a-day (the health benefits of a diet rich in fruit and veg overwhelmingly outweigh any risks), but it does call into question how we grow, process, and wash our produce. In particular, leafy greens and berries are often at the top of the “dirty dozen” list of products that have the most pesticide residue on them when they get to our homes or restaurants. 

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Washing all produce thoroughly before consuming it is key. In most cases, rinsing and gently rubbing them under cold water is all that’s recommended. Specifically leafy produce is challenging and requires extra attention, proper training and patience when prepping. Some restaurants use a no-rinse chemical fruit and veggie wash, like EcoLab’s Victory Wash or Diversey’s Suma Eden. It is not a universal practice, though, in part because the FDA doesn’t recommend chemical washes — but only because they don’t test washes or cleaners for safety and effectiveness. EcoLab, however, states that their version, Victory Wash, kills 99.9% of the pathogens E. coli O157:H7, Listeria, and Salmonella enterica in wash water. 

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Whether or not you use a commercial produce wash, one thing is very clear: don’t use bleach, soap, or any other chemical that isn’t specifically designed to wash veggies. Wash your fruits and veg immediately before use to prevent bacterial growth, and store prepped produce at proper cold holding temperatures. And rest assured - this news isn’t nearly enough to keep us away from our apple-a-day. 

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Sources: Newsweek, USDA, FDA, EcoLab

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Best Listen:

One of our favorite listens for everything from peptides to VO2maxxing, whatever it is you’re hearing about, they’ll cover it, with medical pros weighing in. 

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Health vs. Hype Podcast | American Medical Association

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