Health News:

• Norovirus is already high and rising quickly, and we expect to continue to see more and more cases nationwide. (CDC)
• A major recall was announced due to Listeria contamination for soft cheeses, sour creams, and yogurts from Rizo Lopez Foods, sold under many different brand names. (FDA)
• Respiratory illnesses have started to plateau at still-high levels, and it’s looking like it will be a long illness season, more like pre-pandemic. (YLE)
• Rep. Matt Rosendale (R - Montana) is spreading misinformation in a TV ad, falsely claiming that Dr. Fauci brought COVID to Montana a year before it broke out in the U.S. (KFF Health)
• The FDA was urged to move faster to fix pulse oximeters for patients with darker skin. (STAT)
• Rio de Janeiro declared a dengue fever health emergency just days before Carnival celebrations begin. (AP)
• The CDC opened an office in Tokyo, working with the Japanese government to monitor emerging diseases in Asia. (Bloomberg)
• Recent data shows that Europeans are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than people living anywhere else in the world. (Medscape)
• Unfortunately, some recent markers may indicate flu season may be having a bit of a second wind. (CIDRAP)
• A 3-person salmonella outbreak is linked to a Seattle-area restaurant. (Seattle Times)
• LA’s battle against Hep C relies largely on volunteers. (LA Times)
• The Supreme Court will weigh in on whether COVID misinformation is protected speech. (STAT)
• A fact check shows there is no evidence of any vaccine-related DNA health risks, despite the statements of the FL Surgeon General. (Reuters)
• Alternating arms for vaccines may boost your immunity. (NY Times)
  
  

Mental Health & Substance Use News:

• San Mateo County, home of Silicon Valley, declared loneliness a public health crisis. (NBC)
• With opioid deaths soaring, the Biden administration will widen access to methadone, a drug that’s proven to cut risk of fatal overdoses by 60%. (NPR)
• Some therapists are taking patients outdoors, finding that movement and connecting with nature can help patients feel more open. (NY Times)

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. 

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Best Questions:

What is going on with all the norovirus going around?

Norovirus cases are high and getting higher. Usually, they’re highest in early spring, peaking around mid-March. They’ve been higher than usual this year, staying up during the usual quiet time in late summer and fall and rising slightly sooner than expected. That said, it’s common to see noro start to rise exponentially around this time, and it’s only going to get worse before it starts getting better. 

Source: CDC

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What can we do when there’s noro in our area?

Norovirus spreads incredibly easily. People shed billions of particles in their vomit and stool when they’re sick, but it just takes 18 to infect someone else. Have your managers really emphasize the importance of staying home if you have GI symptoms, and, importantly, if any household members have noro-like symptoms. Many employees don’t know that they should stay home for 3 days if their roommate or child is sick with norovirus, so that’s a great way to move the needle on breaking the cycle of illness when noro is spreading in your community. Explain that people are actually still contagious even after they feel better, so if you have noro-like symptoms, you need to stay home for a full two days after vomiting and diarrhea stop to make sure you’re not getting coworkers and guests sick. Noro can spread through food, so food handlers should be extra cautious. Even if employees feel fine and no one at home is sick, your team should step up their hand-washing temporarily while community transmission is high. 

Source: CDC

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An employee was vaccinated for measles but recently might have been exposed at an airport. Can they work?

Yes, an employee exposed to measles who has been fully vaccinated can continue to work as long as they don’t have any symptoms. If they had two doses of the vaccine (which is standard dosage in the US), they should have less than a 3% chance of contracting the virus. They should monitor themself for symptoms, including fever, cough, runny nose, and watery, red eyes, which generally occur before the telltale rash. If symptoms occur, they should stay home and call their doctor (and we do mean call - don’t just go in and expose vulnerable people!). The risk for the general vaccinated public from the recent airport exposures in DC and Ohio is very slim. Those who are unvaccinated are at far greater risk since there’s about a 90% chance of infection after exposure for those folks. And don’t forget - measles can be very dangerous. Encourage your employees to get vaccinated for measles if they aren’t already!

Source: YLE, CDC, OH.gov

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Best Listen:

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Food Safety Mystery:  A Story of Ghost Kitchens - National Environmental Health Association via Youtube

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