Health News:

• The US isn’t ready for either intentional or accidental smallpox outbreaks, a new report finds. (CIDRAP)
• This could be the worst year yet for dengue in the Americas. (Axios)
• TB cases in the US have risen to their highest level in a decade. (CDC)
• Moderna announced a new phase 3 trial for a norovirus vaccine (Quartz)
• Disease doctors are worried that a major mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo may spread more widely. (NPR)
• Mpox cases are 2x higher in the US than they were t last year. (CNN)
• Rowers in England’s University boat race were given a health warning over high E. coli levels in the Thames. (AP)
• Doctors in the US were warned to be on the lookout for meningitis after cases increased, particularly in younger people and African Americans. (CDC)
• Breakups between health insurance companies and hospital groups are causing headaches for patients, but some options exist. (KFF Health News)
• 5 people died, and over 100 were hospitalized after taking recalled supplements in Japan. (AP)
• The Biden administration is advancing first-ever limits on PFAs (“forever chemicals”) in drinking water. (Politico)
• Kansas is still monitoring an ongoing Hep A outbreak in Shawnee county with 26 cases this year and 112 total since 2022. (KSNT)

Mental Health & Substance Use News:

• More women are drinking themselves sick. The Biden administration is concerned. (KFF Health News)
• All Minnesota public school kids can access free mental health care. (MPR)
• Texas churches are stepping in to support their communities’ mental health. (Texas Tribune)

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:

I have an employee who says they’re vomiting because they’re fasting for Ramadan. Can they come to work?

It’s not uncommon to hear of people having nausea, heartburn, or vomiting when they fast for an extended period of time like millions of Muslim people are doing right now for Ramadan. Without any food in their stomachs, people can experience rising stomach acid, especially if they have preexisting conditions like GERD or heartburn. Dehydration is also a relatively common issue with fasting that can lead to nausea. Ultimately, we think the question of whether this person can work should be answered on a case-by-case basis. If it was just vomiting once or twice, and it’s been at least four hours without any further vomiting, we would recommend allowing that person to work. If it’s more than twice in a day or very recently before a scheduled shift, we’d generally recommend that they stay home and can usually work the following day if symptoms resolve. If vomiting multiple times or throughout the day is happening every day during Ramadan, work with your HR team to determine whether you can ask for a doctor’s note clearing that person to work with recurrent vomiting. Once you have a note clearing them and can be confident it’s not another issue (like a stomach virus), they should be okay to continue working even if their symptoms continue.

Source: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, ZHH Exclusion Chart

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What are the signs of an opioid overdose?

Opioid overdoses are caused when the drugs basically silence the “alarm bells” that tell your body that you’ve stopped breathing. Essentially, it’s a slow suffocation. Overdoses are often preceded by heavy or uncontrollable nodding - which isn’t an overdose because they’re still able to be woken up. If someone is unresponsive and can’t be woken up (even with shouting and then shaking them), it might be a sign of an overdose. Other things to look out for are blue or gray coloring around the lips, face, or nails, and breathing issues including a gurgling sound (or not breathing at all). While most opioid overdoses evolve slowly over one to three hours, fentanyl overdoses can be fatal within minutes. If you notice the signs of an overdose, call 911 immediately, and if someone nearby has naloxone (Narcan), they should administer it without delay.

Source: NYS Dept. of Health

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What should we know about dengue after the emergency declared in Puerto Rico?

Dengue is spread when someone is bitten by an infected mosquito. Only about one in four people infected will actually get sick, and many will have mild illness, but for the few that have severe dengue, it can be deadly. Symptoms include mild cold symptoms usually, but more severe cases can include vomiting, rash, pain behind the eyes, or body aches. Severe life-threatening symptoms might include belly pain, bloody gums or nose, bloody vomit, severe fatigue, restlessness or irritability, or multiple instances of vomiting. There is a dengue vaccine approved for those living in places where it’s endemic, including Puerto Rico, where dengue vaccine is part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule. Right now, the dengue vaccine is not approved for those just visiting those areas. If you operate in Puerto Rico, take precautions to protect yourself and your employees from mosquito bites and consider encouraging dengue vaccination for anyone who didn’t get it as a child.

Source: CDC

Best Read:

How Climate Change Is Making Allergy Season Worse - The Atlantic

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