Health News:

• There are now at least twelve measles cases in Chicago, including two public school students. (NBC)
• Cincinnati officials are warning of measles exposure at a Disney on Ice show on March 8th. (WCPO)
• Arizona has a new measles case, with five businesses and medical centers where people may have been exposed. (Coconino HD)
• A proposal for a second Trump administration from a conservative think tank would divide the CDC in two and limit its power. (Politico)
• Over 112 people developed norovirus on a Holland America cruise. (USA Today)
• Legionnaires’ cases are rising, and Legionella is the leading cause of outbreaks associated with drinking water in which people were hospitalized or died. (MMWR)
• Chicago and Miami airports were added to a CDC health surveillance program that will take nasal swabs from volunteers arriving on international flights. (AP)
• A norovirus outbreak in Minnesota has been linked to oysters from Connecticut. (FDA).
• The CDC reports that at least 18 million Americans are living with long COVID. (The Guardian)
• The Phoenix, AZ metro area had 645 heat-related deaths last year. (AP)
• The deadly morel mushroom illness outbreak in MT was likely linked to their preparation; they were served raw or very lightly cooked. (CNN)
• A Shigella outbreak at an Australian music festival sickened over 100 people. (7 News AU)

Mental Health & Substance Use News:

• The White House announced a nationwide campaign to “flood the zone” with training and access to naloxone. (CNN)
• Loved ones are pushing to use “poisoning” instead of “overdose,” which they say blames victims for their own deaths. (NY Times)
• Growing teen THC use could complicate cannabis regulation and policy. (Roll Call)
• Brain scans show playing with dogs really does help people concentrate and relax. (NBC)

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:

An employee was exposed to someone with measles. Can they work? 

If an employee is exposed to someone with measles, they can’t work until they provide proof of vaccination. They can try asking their family or caregiver, calling their childhood pediatrician, or checking to see if their vaccination records are available online through a state registry. They should call their doctor by phone for guidance if they’re not sure if they’re vaccinated. If they can’t prove that they’ve been vaccinated, they will generally need to stay out for 21 days from their date of exposure to ensure they’re not spreading the virus. In many cases, if they get a dose of MMR vaccine within 72 hours of exposure, they may be able to return to work sooner. You should always defer to the local health department in measles exposure cases. If you have an exposed employee and haven’t been contacted by your health department yet, you should be prepared for a surprise visit. 

Source: CDC

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What was the Chicago measles response, and how was it different from Florida’s?  

Less than a month after Florida’s abnormally muted response to a measles outbreak that started in an elementary school, Chicago has had a very different response to its recent measles outbreak. With the first cases identified in a migrant shelter with thousands of residents, Chicago worked quickly. They coordinated with a variety of other health departments and even called in a CDC team who flew to the city to help with the response. This past Monday, the Chicago Health Department announced that it had successfully vaccinated more than 900 shelter residents with the MMR vaccine, and identified that over 700 were already protected. The newly vaccinated shelter residents who were exposed are isolating for 21 days in a hotel provided to them by the city. This vaccination-focused approach and partnership with the CDC is quite different from the response from FL’s state Surgeon General, who didn’t encourage vaccination after the school measles outbreak and defied CDC guidance by not requiring unvaccinated kids to stay home from school for 21 days. We’ll certainly keep an eye on the spread in Chicago in the coming days, but I feel that this could have been much worse if the response hadn’t been so quick and thorough.

Sources: Ars Technica, CNN

I’m traveling abroad. Should I get a measles vaccination? 

If you aren’t already vaccinated against the measles, you should get the MMR vaccine before traveling outside the U.S. to any country with large measles outbreaks. That includes many countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The CDC lists 46 countries with a high measles risk, which you can find here. Most imported cases of the measles to the U.S. are in unvaccinated travelers who return home infected. But even beyond your travel, there are measles cases in 17 states right now here at home, so it’s a great idea to get vaccinated even if you don’t have a big trip planned!

Source: CDC, CBS

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Best Read:

Measles cases are sweeping the nation. Even a few cases can be an extreme drain on the public | Salon.com

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