​​Health News:

• The FDA is expanding a cantaloupe recall to include more brands after infections have doubled, and two people have died. (AP)
• The WHO has upgraded the highly-mutated BA.2.86 and its offspring to a “variant of interest” as it now makes up 9% of cases in the US. (CIDRAP)
• NYC is seeing an increase in Hepatitis A among men who have sex with men. (NYC.gov)
• A norovirus outbreak linked to a local restaurant deal for Northwestern University  students has sickened dozens. (CBS)
• The recalled applesauce pouches contaminated with lead are still on some store shelves, the FDA says. (CNN)
• COVID deaths ticked up in 8 states last week ahead of the holidays. (The Hill)
• Viral infections can cause long-term health problems when the immune system attacks the body instead of the virus. (NY Times)
• Only 17% of nursing home residents and just 2% of staff are up to date with COVID vaccines. (Axios)
• 1 in 3 adults are worried about respiratory viruses this winter, but 44% say they won’t get the updated vaccine, compared to 40% that say they will. (CIDRAP)
• The Omicron variant is not only very infectious, but an evolutionary marvel that could still surprise us with mutations. (NY Times)
• The respiratory virus overwhelming China’s children’s hospitals is not thought to be a novel pathogen and isn’t seen as a major threat. (Axios)
• The FL Dept. of Health settled a lawsuit and released COVID records going back to 2020. A state scientist says she was fired for refusing to “manually change data to drum up support for the plan to reopen.” (Tallahassee Democrat)
• The UK detected its first human case of a new variant of swine flu. (Fortune)
• Wilcox recalled all flavors of its ice cream due to possible Listeria contamination. (CBS)

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Mental Health & Substance Use News:

• TX is spending billions to help with mental health care gaps in rural communities. (Texas Tribune)
• An initiative in West Africa is training hairdressers to help their clients with mental health counseling. (NY Times)
• Indiana lost $4.2 billion in 2019 due to untreated mental illness, according to a new study. (IPR)

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’re opening new high-traffic locations in big cities. What should we think about as we design our new stores and offices?

We love thoughtful design to reduce harm and discourage illicit drug use. Consider brightly lit hallways with mirrors that reduce privacy and open-concept bathrooms without doors to the main bathroom area (like the kind you often see at truck stops and airports). We don’t recommend single-stall restrooms for customer use. Stall doors that open out so that first responders can get to someone unconscious inside can help prevent deaths from medical emergencies, including overdoses. Even if you’re not doing a new build, there are some quick fixes you can add if restroom drug use is an issue for your business - consider hand dryers (though less sanitary than paper towels, they also make bathrooms less inviting), medical waste (sharps) containers, and more regular bathroom checks.  

Sources: ZHH, Univ. of Victoria

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What do we know about this pneumonia outbreak in China? Should we be concerned?

There’s good news out of China this week. After a surge in respiratory infections spurred fears of another pandemic, the WHO met with health officials from China late last week and confirmed that the illnesses are not anything new or concerning on a global scale. Much like last year in the US when RSV and flu spiked higher than usual because of a pandemic-related immunity gap, the increase in respiratory illnesses in China is because it’s their first season after ending strict pandemic precautions. Many children had not been exposed in years (or ever, for younger ones) to standard respiratory viruses because all the COVID precautions basically stopped them from circulating. This cohort of kids without immune defenses can lead to large outbreaks now that flu, RSV, and other viruses are back again.

Sources: STAT, Reuters

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Why are we seeing so many foodborne illnesses linked to fruit and vegetables lately?

A current Salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupe has killed two and sickened at least 99 people and comes on the heels of a diced onion Salmonella outbreak just a few weeks ago. Just last week, peaches, plums, and nectarines contaminated with listeria were recalled after being linked to one death. Fruits and veggies can have a higher risk for foodborne illness because they may not be cooked thoroughly, so there’s no “kill step” to destroy bacteria. Washing produce thoroughly is key for preventing outbreaks, as is refrigerating it quickly after cutting or peeling. Still, it can be hard to mitigate an outbreak if you receive contaminated fruits or veggies from the farm, even if you wash them carefully.

Sources: CDC, AP

Best Read:

Unvaccinated and Vulnerable: Children Drive Surge in Deadly Outbreaks - The New York Times

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