Health News:
- 6 in 10 foodborne illnesses in the U.S. in 2024 were linked to contaminated produce. (CIDRAP)
- The meningitis B outbreak at University of Kent in the UK is rising quickly with 20 cases since just last weekend. (Guardian)
- While flu is declining overall across the country, Virginia is seeing a late-season uptick. (WAVY)
- March is too early for record-shattering heat in the Southwest, but it’s here anyway, reaching 110 degrees in Arizona on Thursday. (AP)
- Florida is in the midst of a measles outbreak, with at least 130 cases this year, but the state health department has been mostly silent. (Atlantic)
- A new blood test is better than imaging at detecting the painful uterine disorder endometriosis. (Reuters)
- As we approach the 6 year anniversary of the COVID pandemic, a new study finds that there were 150,000+ more uncounted deaths in 2020-2021. (AP)
- A new bipartisan bill would exempt health care workers from the $100,000 fee for H-1B visas. (Fierce Healthcare)
- For the first time ever, the cigarette smoking rate in US adults fell below 10%, but the data was released without analysis or fanfare due to CDC cuts. (STAT)
- Nine more elephant seals, a sea lion and an otter have died from confirmed avian flu at Ano Nuevo State Park in California; the real count is likely much higher. (CIDRAP)
- New blood tests may help identify Alzheimer’s early, but there are still a lot of unknowns. (NY Times)
- Some good news for your weekend: a new Lego MRI scanner set was designed to reduce anxiety for kids who need to undergo medical treatment. (NBC)
Best Question:
What can we learn about the new Korean study on working while sick?
We read a very interesting study recently that looked long-term at Korean workers. While there are important cultural differences between the U.S. and Korea in terms of working conditions and sick leave, we still learned a lot that we think can apply in the U.S. and other countries.
It’s useful to know that, much like the U.S., Korea doesn’t have universal paid sick leave, and it’s actually very common in Korea to go to work no matter what, even if you’re sick.
- Presenteeism was much more common than absenteeism. Nearly double the number of people reported going to work while sick than reported staying home due to illness.
- Coming to work sick is an early sign of declining health. They’re more likely to use more sick days later.
- Actions can be taken to get people resources. Just because someone worked sick doesn’t mean you should write them off - sharing resources like available health benefits can be a useful intervention to prevent future absences and support employee health.
Sources: CIDRAP, Springer
Best Read:
TikTok influencers are suggesting that burned out employees take extended FMLA leave for mental health reasons – or even just to search for a new job. How many workers are actually taking that advice remains to be seen…