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It’s particularly tricky when there’s a lot of illness going on during the most common days that people call out. Just over 16 million people said they would not show up for work next Monday, the day after the big game. Believe it or not, that number is actually down from last year by nearly 3 million. The good news is more than half (about 10 million) say they already requested the day off, but that still leaves about 6 million people who may call out at the last minute, many of them pretending to be sick. But at the same time, norovirus levels are very high right now nationwide, and Super Bowl parties may actually spread genuine illness, not just hangovers. We highly recommend staffing up enough for a higher-than-usual number of call outs on Monday. The ZHH clinical team asks explicit questions like “Are your symptoms due to hangover?” on Super Bowl Monday and other common days for calling out, and we do find that it can help differentiate between actual illness and those who are just struggling to get moving after a party. Transparent communication, like a manager asking employees directly if they plan to take time off after the game, can help with planning and reduce day-of call-outs.
Many of us may have consumed foods that are now included in the large-scale national food recall due to Listeria contamination. It included dairy products like yogurt, sour cream, and cheeses but has expanded to a wide range of prepared foods, including dips, prepared salads and meals, and taco kits from major national retailers like Costco, Trader Joe’s, and HEB. It’s concerning but not actually new - the first known case linked to this outbreak is from way back in 2014. In that decade, there are 26 known cases and 2 deaths, though it’s possible that the actual case number is much higher, and many have gone unreported. Symptoms usually start within two weeks but can start as early as the same day someone eats contaminated food. Mild symptoms can include fever, body aches, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea. If the illness progresses it can also cause more severe neurological symptoms. If you develop any of these symptoms, seek medical attention and mention that you ate a recalled product. Pregnant people, those over 65, and immunocompromised people are at higher risk. In general, the average person’s risk is low, so try not to worry too much, throw out any recalled food you still have in your fridge, and call your doctor if symptoms develop.
Source: FDA
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