Health News:

• The FDA is investigating a new outbreak of Salmonella Anatum with 10 cases. (FDA)
• Southwest Missouri now has a measles outbreak with 7 cases so far. (Post-Dispatch)
• The FDA granted full approval to Moderna’s COVID vaccine for children, but limited eligibility to only kids at higher risk. (STAT)
• From 2004 to 2019, vaccine uptake nearly doubled in the U.S. after 4 major childhood vaccines were recommended for all kids. In that same time period, antibiotic prescriptions in the U.S. were nearly cut in half. (CIDRAP)
• Southern California is experiencing a triple-digit heat wave this week in inland communities. (CBS)
• Kissing bugs that carry the parasite for Chagas disease, which can cause heart, brain, or other organ damage if untreated, have established a base in Florida. (CIDRAP)
• Nearly 1 in 3 youth in the U.S. have prediabetes. (AP)
• Nipah virus continues to spread in India, with 2 more cases, including one fatality. (CIDRAP)
• The U.S. has reclosed its southern border to livestock imports as a flesh-eating parasite moves farther north in Mexico. (AP)

Mental Health & Substance Use News:

• It’s not just Texas flood victims who are deeply impacted, but also first responders, especially as efforts move into recovery rather than rescue. (AP)
• After quitting antidepressants, some people suffer from lingering symptoms for years. (NPR)
• Cooking therapists are helping clients unpack trauma…in their kitchens. (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:

We have employees who were affected by flooding in central Texas. What resources can we offer them? 

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Flooding in central Texas has displaced many residents and disrupted lives. If you have employees impacted, here are a few easy ways to support them:

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• Local news KXAN has compiled a fantastic list of local resources, available here, for everything from immediate shelter to insurance, legal, housing, and FEMA reporting.
  
  
• Grist has good resources about knowing your rights as an immigrant before, during, and after disasters - available in English and Spanish here.
  
  
• There are a number of mental health resources available for those affected, including first responders. Local and national programs are offering both in-person and online counseling for free, many of which are included in this list from Fox 7.
  
  
• The Health Action Alliance has some great tips specifically for employers, including things like setting up an emergency relief fund and enabling 401(k) hardship withdrawals. 

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For employers, sharing these links with your teams (via email, text, or posted flyers) is a good first step. If you have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), remind employees it can be used for disaster-related stress, too. 

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Sources: KXAN, Fox 7, Grist, Health Action Alliance

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What’s going on with COVID right now? 

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We’ve all been holding our breath, waiting to see if there’s another summer surge this year, but so far, we’re not seeing anything to indicate a major spike in cases this summer. 

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Overall, U.S. COVID cases are slowly rising, but not dramatically. Florida and Texas are seeing cases climb over the past few weeks, but emergency department visits are still quite low across the South, even though wastewater is showing a bit of an increase throughout the region. Hawaii has had higher wastewater tests all summer long, and continues to be a bit of a hotspot. 

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The latest variant, NB.1.8.1 (nicknamed “nimbus”), makes up nearly half of all U.S. cases right now, and while it does seem to spread more easily, it doesn’t cause any more severe illness than previous variants. There are some anecdotal reports that the nimbus variant causes a severe sore throat in some people, which doctors are hearing about more than with previous strains. 

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The bottom line here is that we’re keeping an eye on COVID rising in the South and Hawaii, but don’t expect to see huge summer surges like we have in the past. Fingers crossed that it stays this way throughout the summer!

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Sources: Outbreak Outlook, NBC, ABC

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Best Read:

NIOSH has led the charge in workplace mental health efforts, but after the majority of its staff were laid off and its budget is set to be slashed, workplace mental health efforts may suffer: 

Workplace Mental Health at Risk as Key Federal Agency Faces Cuts - KFF Health News

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