Health News:

• Physicians are warning that climate change is fueling the spread of infectious diseases, from West Nile to bird flu to Crypto and E. coli. (CIDRAP)

• Don’t forget to use proper eyewear to look at the April 8th eclipse, or risk permanent damage to your retina. (NPR)
• Shigella cases continue to rise to at least 37 in Santa Cruz County, CA, primarily among the homeless population there. (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
• Avian flu was detected for the first time in US livestock in Minnesota. (CIDRAP)
• The WHO is warning that yellow fever has spread in 13 different countries in Africa. (WHO)
• Stressing personal ownership may be key to vaccine uptake. (CIDRAP)
• Florida public health officials dealt with concurrent outbreaks of mpox, Hep A, and invasive Meningococcal disease all at the same time. (CDC)
• Trader Joe’s recalled cashews over Salmonella risk. (LA Times)
• Medicare approved coverage of the weight loss drug Wegovy for those with heart disease.  (NPR)
• A busy mall in Beavercreek, Ohio, is warning anyone who visited or bowled late Sunday afternoon that they may have been exposed to measles. (Ohio News)
• Allergy season has arrived early and is expected to be longer this season, in large part due to climate change.  (AP News)
• Harvard is reporting a major breakthrough in the treatment of glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer.  (Harvard Crimson)

‍

Mental Health & Substance Use News:

• Overdose deaths hit another record but show signs that it may finally be leveling off after years of steady increase. (STAT)
• Libraries in Texas are working towards bridging the gap in mental health services. (Texas Tribune)
• California voters narrowly passed a proposition to rewrite their mental health law and borrow $6.4 billion for new facilities to house and treat those with the most severe mental illness. (Politico)

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:

‍

What are some ways we can support our employees who are struggling with their mental health?

Lots of companies have EAPs, but their employees don’t know that they have access to counseling and support through them. Use rates are well under 10% for most companies. Consider an awareness campaign about your EAP and the benefits it offers. If a distressing event takes place, either locally or on the news, that’s also a great time for managers to reach out, tell their employees that it’s okay not to be okay, and reiterate the resources that are available. We love seeing companies train managers on how to talk to employees about their mental health since so much of the impact happens on a personal level between each employee and their day-to-day coworkers and managers. We like this easy-to-use postcard from Mental Health America with tips for managers on how to have conversations with their employees about mental health concerns. 

Source: Mental Health America

‍

How long does norovirus last on surfaces? 

Norovirus is notoriously hard to kill. It can actually last on surfaces for up to two weeks if they’re not properly cleaned and sanitized. If someone with noro-like symptoms vomits or has diarrhea at your workplace, it’s important to clear the area and put on proper PPE (gloves, mask, and plastic apron) before cleaning up. After carefully cleaning up any mess, you’ll need to fully disinfect the area with an EPA-approved disinfectant for norovirus.

Sources: CIDRAP, EPA

‍

Can an employee realistically develop seasonal allergies suddenly?

We certainly understand managers’ confusion and perhaps doubt when an employee claims that they have new, sudden-onset allergies as an adult. But it can actually happen, though what causes them can be complicated and hard to predict. Anything that disrupts your immune system, like pregnancy, getting sick with another virus, or chronic illness, can change your allergic responses. Your body might suddenly start to react to things that didn’t bother you before. Moving to a new area with different types of plants and trees can also change seasonal allergies. The good news is that the opposite can happen, too. While about a quarter of adults in the US deal with seasonal allergies, they tend to get milder with age. 

Source: NYT, Mayo Clinic

‍

Best Read:

Why are measles outbreaks spreading and how do vaccinations keep us safe

‍