Measles News:

• The CDC stepped up its travel warning after last week’s Colorado airplane measles cluster, now recommending vaccination for all international travel. (CBS)
• South Dakota has its first measles case of the year. (ABC)
  

Health News:

• COVID is increasing in Hawaii, but still low across the rest of the U.S. (Outbreak Outlook)
• The multistate Salmonella outbreak tied to backyard poultry has ballooned over the last few weeks from just 7 to 104 cases and one death. (CIDRAP)
• Meanwhile, the outbreak linked to cucumbers has also nearly doubled to 45 cases in 18 states. (CDC)
• A recent pre-print (not yet peer-reviewed) study found that H5N1 virus in raw milk lived for more than 1 day at room temperature and 1 week in the fridge. (CIDRAP)
• The Pan-American Health Organization issued an alert warning of increased cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in the Americas. The U.S. has the most cases of any country in the region with over 10,000. (PAHO)
• Norovirus has decreased to 10.3% test positivity across the U.S. – still very high for this time of year, but moving in the right direction. The Midwest is still a hotspot. (Outbreak Outlook)
• The CDC shared an update keeping the COVID shot available as an option for healthy kids, in contradiction to an earlier video statement by RFK Jr. (NY Times)
• The FDA approved Moderna’s newest COVID vaccine, though based on its new policy, it’s only recommended for those 65+ and people at higher risk. (CIDRAP)
• A Texas woman died from a “brain-eating” amoeba after using tap water from an RV for nasal irrigation. (MMWR)

‍Best Questions:

Why are Texas measles cases slowing down all of a sudden? I thought it was insanely contagious—was that all hype?

No, it was not all hype—but there’s good news. Measles cases in the West Texas outbreak are finally starting to taper off after a few intense months. That doesn’t mean the virus has lost its punch (it’s still one of the most contagious diseases out there), but a few key factors have helped slow the spread there.

1. More people are getting vaccinated, especially infants in high-risk areas. 
2. Public health messaging has led to behavior changes, like encouraging families to keep sick kids home and avoid large gatherings. 
3. In the West Texas Mennonite community where the outbreak began, a large percentage of the population has now been infected - meaning they’re immune for life, which helps slow the spread. 

Measles is still one of the most contagious of all infectious diseases. If 10 unvaccinated people get exposed, we expect up to 9 of them to get measles. So no, it wasn’t all hype, and we’re not out of the woods yet. We’re seeing cases more linked to international travel; there are at least 6 cases tied to a flight from Istanbul to Denver, including 4 passengers on the plane. And in Texas and the surrounding areas, we’ll be watching with bated breath to see if these numbers hold in the fall when kids return to school and seasonal respiratory viruses return.

This slowdown goes to show that vaccination, behavior change, and herd immunity can still turn the tide of an outbreak. A huge shout to the boots on the ground public health officials in West Texas who helped to bring these numbers down. 

Sources: ABC, NBC, CDC

Could at-home medical tests create new workplace challenges?

More and more at-home tests are being approved for people to do in the comfort of their own homes. From cervical cancer tests to colonoscopies, these tests can make a big difference, especially for workers who don’t have regular access to a doctor. But for employers, there’s a potential downside. Federal rules now require that lab and imaging results be released to patients immediately—no waiting for a doctor’s interpretation. That means employees might open a positive test result with no guidance, no support, and no clear next steps.

And while at-home tests can be a win for access, they also create the opportunity for confusion and panic, especially for those without a regular doctor. They may turn to their manager, HR, or even coworkers with questions—or call out from shifts while they try to figure out what it all means. 

Employers who offer health coverage or telehealth services should consider preemptively sharing info on how to interpret results or get follow-up care. A quick reminder that “you can always call your provider” may seem small, but it could be key to getting employees from panic to plan.

Sources: AP, FDA

‍

Best Read:

There’s a lot of rhetoric lately about the rise in chronic diseases. But the reality is a bit more complicated.

Is There Really a Chronic Disease Epidemic? It’s Complicated. - The New York Times (Gift Article)