Health News:

• Another Maine restaurant is in the news for a worker with Hepatitis A. (Maine.gov)
• The FDA approved Pfizer’s new inflammatory bowel disease drug, which can help alleviate symptoms of ulcerative colitis. (Reuters)
• Long COVID may be linked to viral particles in the gut, with serotonin levels playing a possible role in brain fog and other symptoms. (NY Times)
• 6% of workers comp cases are for long COVID, but many can’t collect. (Medscape)
• The price of Paxlovid is expected to rise next year. The current price paid by the government is over $500 per dose. (CNN)
• Healthcare professionals are leaving the industry in droves. (Modern Healthcare)
• Wisconsin and Illinois both have confirmed measles cases. (CIDRAP)
• Novavax’s updated COVID shot (which is protein-based versus mRNA-based) is now available in pharmacies. (Reuters)
• Flu and RSV are still low but starting to rise. (NBC)
• More cruises have had noro issues recently, with at least 60 sick on a recent Virgin cruise. (USA Today)
• Lyme disease is a growing issue, particularly for those 50-65 years old. (CIDRAP)
  
  

Mental Health & Substance Use News: 

• 16% of US workers say they have an invisible disability, including mental and physical health issues. (SHRM)
• Harvard’s public health team is going on TikTok to reach a new audience. (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 an employee who has bad fall allergies. Can he work? 

Fall allergies are real and quite common. Certain allergens are more prevalent in the fall, when people are still spending time outdoors and exposed to molds and pollen there. But it’s also the respiratory virus season, so telling the difference can be challenging. Itchy, watery eyes are unique to allergies, so if someone has those, it’s generally allergy-related. If an employee normally has allergy symptoms, and there’s nothing new or different about their symptoms this year, it’s safe to assume they’re seasonal allergies and they can continue to work. Here’s a chart to help you quickly assess which symptoms are common:

Source: Washington Post, AAAAI

What should employers know about measles? 

Measles is a very contagious respiratory illness that’s caused by a virus. It can be dangerous, especially for babies and young kids. The CDC recommends that all children in the US are vaccinated against measles, but as childhood vaccinations decline, there are more outbreaks happening. Right now, there are multiple confirmed cases in the Midwest. Most cases are in those who are unvaccinated. If you have an employee who was exposed to measles, they can’t work until they provide proof of vaccination, or else stay out of work for two weeks. For those diagnosed with measles, they’ll need a doctor’s note to return to work. 

Source: CDC

Best Read: 

Scientists Offer a New Explanation for Long Covid - The New York Times

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