We're definitely getting more questions about ringworm lately. And despite the name, it has nothing to do with worms. It's actually a fungal infection that causes a circular, often itchy rash and spreads pretty easily through skin-to-skin contact, shared towels, clothing, and even pets. Warm, damp environments are particularly friendly to the fungus.
The good news is that ringworm is generally pretty easy to treat, and employees usually don't need to be out for long. Once an employee has been diagnosed by a doctor and started treatment, our general recommendation is to exclude them for at least 24 hours after starting the prescribed antifungal medication, assuming the affected areas can be completely covered. If they haven't been diagnosed yet, they should see a doctor first. If their child, spouse, or pet has ringworm, they can continue working as long as they don't have symptoms themselves.
For employers, the concern is preventing it from spreading. Make sure employees keep affected areas covered, avoid sharing personal items, and wash their hands regularly. If you've had a case in your workplace, pay extra attention to cleaning shared surfaces, locker rooms, and any potentially contaminated clothing or equipment. And remind employees to finish their treatment, even if the rash starts looking better.
We're also seeing some newer, harder-to-treat forms of ringworm emerge in the U.S. They're still uncommon, but it's another reason employees should check back with their doctor if the rash is severe or isn't getting better with treatment.
We don't often feature opinion pieces as our Best Read, but this one is an exception worth making. It offers a compelling argument for leading with empathy when tackling medical misinformation, a mindset that may help us better navigate misinformation of any kind.
Last but not least, we wanted to acknowledge Helen Branswell, the Pulitzer Prize-winning STAT News reporter who passed away this week at age 69. Helen covered infectious diseases and public health, and over the years, her reporting inspired more bullets in this briefing than just about any other source. During COVID, she was our first read every morning.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus remembered her commitment to “evidence, science, and truth” and her ability to help people understand some of the most complicated public health challenges. We couldn't agree more. She will be missed.