Health News:

• Diphtheria is so rare in the U.S. that most doctors have never seen a case, but now Erie County, NY, is investigating potential exposures at four schools after a confirmed travel-related infection. (WIVB)
  
  
• Dozens of employees at a Walmart distribution center in TN got sick with nausea and vomiting; 19 were hospitalized. (The Independent)
   
• Blue light may be a new way to reduce Campylobacter contamination in poultry processing. (QA Mag)
  
  
• The CDC is sending $100 million to states to help with measles vaccinations, testing, and tracking outbreaks. (NY Times)
  
  
• Scientists are wondering why the flu is starting in the West when it typically moves east to west around the world. (Seattle Times)
  
  
• Measles crossed the 4,000 case threshold and continues to surge... (AP News)
  
  
• …and PA’s measles outbreak has now topped 1,100 cases, and a sixth person has died. (Washington Post)
  
  
• It's been one of the worst mosquito seasons in years in LA, which pushed West Nile virus cases to a 10-year high. (The Guardian)
  
  
• Some good news…shingles cases are dropping significantly among young adults who got the chickenpox vaccine as kids. (NBC News)
  
  
  

Best Question:

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With all the news about dengue fever spreading in Florida, what do we need to know about protecting employees who work outdoors?
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We’ve talked quite a bit about dengue lately, and more people in Florida are getting infected without ever leaving the state. Unlike the mosquitoes that spread West Nile or EEE, the mosquitoes responsible for dengue are more active during the day, specifically in the early morning and late afternoon, which makes this a real concern for employees working on patios, in drive-throughs, on construction sites, or anywhere else outdoors.

The good news is that there are some pretty simple things employers can do to help protect their teams.

First, get rid of standing water. Mosquitoes don't need much to breed, and we're talking anything from buckets and tarps to discarded cups and even bottle caps. Take a look around your outdoor work areas, especially after it rains.

For employees spending a lot of time outside, lightweight, loose-fitting, long-sleeved clothing can help prevent bites. You can also consider uniforms or gear treated with 0.5% permethrin, which repels mosquitoes and ticks. Just remember that permethrin should never be applied directly to skin. And in Florida's heat, breathable clothing is important, so make sure you're not creating another health risk while trying to prevent one.

We also recommend making EPA-registered insect repellents available to employees working outdoors. Look for products containing DEET (10–30%), picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or para-menthane-diol (PMD). Don’t forget to remind employees to reapply according to the label, and if they're using sunscreen (which they should be!), it goes on first, followed by repellent.

And while we're talking about mosquito protection, it's worth remembering that repellents and treated clothing can help protect against ticks, too. With longer, warmer seasons, dengue isn't the only insect-related health concern employers need to think about.

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Sources: CDC, FRLA, Florida Mosquito Control Association

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Best Read:
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Imagine being one of the scientists who first saw the Ebola virus under a microscope, having no idea what it was or how it spread. Fifty years later, Dr. Peter Piot has spent much of his life fighting Ebola and HIV/AIDS. We loved this interview with Dr. Piot, looking back at his career, the diseases that shaped it, and why he’s still worried.
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He Helped Discover Ebola 50 Years Ago. He’s Still Worried. 

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