Health News:

• A norovirus outbreak in San Luis Obispo county in California has sickened nearly 100 people and is linked to an unnamed restaurant. (SLO Tribune)
• A restaurant worker tested positive for Hep A after working in two Taco Bell locations in Snohomish County, Washington. (KIRO 7)
• 1 in 10 people get long COVID after Omicron, a new study found. It also identified key symptoms. (AP)

• Some great news - COVID hospitalizations reached a new record low nationwide last week! (CBS)
• The measles vaccine could be delivered via a sticker - a pain-free and cheap way to administer this lifesaving vaccine. (NPR)
• Many people living in the ‘diabetes belt’ are buried in medical debt. (KFF News)
• That CDC conference back in April led to a total of 181 COVID cases, meaning about 10% of attendees got sick. (Washington Post)
• More than 200 people in the US who had cosmetic surgery in Matamoros, Mexico are at risk for fungal meningitis linked to the anesthesia there. (ABC)
• The fall COVID boosters in the US will include XBB.1, but not the original strain that started the pandemic. (The Atlantic)
• 62% of Americans feel that the COVID pandemic is now over, and about a quarter feel that COVID is a large or moderate risk to their health. (Axios)
• Artificial intelligence has discovered a new possible antibiotic candidate to help fight drug-resistant bacteria. (CIDRAP)
• Military members are half as likely as civilians to get the HPV vaccine, which experts say will lead to preventable cancer deaths. (Washington Post)
• While a new oral polio vaccine is promising, actually vaccinating enough children worldwide is still a major hurdle standing in the way of eradication. (STAT)

Mental Health News:

• While negative feelings can impact your well-being, research suggests that your perspective on those feelings can play an even bigger role in your mental health. (NY Times)
• With psych wards full, people with mental illness who have been accused of crimes sit in jail waiting for access to the treatment that the court has ordered them to receive. (WSJ)
• Taking breaks at work can help reduce mental fatigue and increase the ability to persist when work becomes difficult. (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’s going on with mpox this summer?

You’re likely hearing more about mpox as we head into summer. While the emergency is technically over and case rates are relatively low, public health experts are concerned as we head into Pride celebrations in June and as summer travel plans kick-off. Officials are encouraging those at higher risk (including men, trans people, and nonbinary people who have sex with men) to get vaccinated if they haven’t already. A recent Chicago cluster of cases proves that the threat is not over. While even those who are vaccinated can get infected, their illness is much more mild. If you’re at higher risk for mpox, now’s the time to get vaccinated so that you can celebrate safely this summer.

Source: AP

What is fungal meningitis?

Fungal meningitis is an infection of the fluid and membranes that surround the brain or spinal cord. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, and confusion. Symptoms can be slow to develop and may be mild, but they can quickly escalate and be life-threatening. Fungal meningitis is in the news because there’s an outbreak among patients who had surgery under epidural anesthesia in Matamoros, Mexico this year. Two people have died so far, and as many as 220 may be at risk. Early treatment with antifungals is key to reducing the risk from this type of meningitis, so anyone who had epidural anesthesia in Matamoros should seek medical attention ASAP, and anyone who has surgery planned there should cancel, according to the CDC.  

Source: ABC, CDC

What exactly is fentanyl and why is it so dangerous?

Fentanyl is a drug that can be prescribed legally for extreme pain, usually as a patch, shot, or lozenge. It blocks pain signals in the brain and is 50-100x more potent than morphine. Illegally produced fentanyl isn’t regulated and comes in many forms, often mixed into other drugs like cocaine, meth, heroin, and MDMA because a small amount gets people high for cheap. Just a small amount can be deadly, and some people don’t realize they’re taking stronger opioids than they expect. When people take too much, they can overdose, causing breathing to slow or stop.

Source: Axios; NIH

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How does naloxone (Narcan) work?

Naloxone (brand name Narcan) works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, which blocks the effects of those drugs. It’s totally harmless to someone who isn’t overdosing on opioids since it only works on those receptors. When someone is overdosing, their breathing is affected and they’re unresponsive, and naloxone can work within a minute or two to restore breathing and save their life. For someone who is high on opioids, it may cause withdrawal symptoms, which can be unpleasant but not life-threatening. You should always call 911 before administering naloxone so that the person can get prompt medical attention.

Source: NIH

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Best Read:

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Human metapneumovirus: Doctors say this is the most important virus you’ve never heard of | CNN

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