Weber-Morgan Health Department

As part of the first federal campaign to address healthcare worker burnout, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) today released an evidence-informed and actionable guide for the nation’s hospital leaders to improve healthcare worker wellbeing.

CDC’s Risk Assessment for the General Public Remains Low. A person in the United States has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus (“H5N1 bird flu”), as reported by Texas and confirmed by CDC. This person had exposure to dairy cattle in Texas presumed to be infected with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses.

Today, CDC Director Mandy Cohen endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for adults ages 65 years and older to receive an additional updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine dose. The recommendation acknowledges the increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults, along with the currently available data on vaccine effectiveness.

New data released today in CDC’s MMWR show that nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody product, was highly effective in protecting infants from hospitalizations associated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants in the United States, and this finding supports CDC’s recommendation to protect infants in their first RSV season by giving the infant nirsevimab if the mother did not receive the maternal RSV vaccine during pregnancy.

Through product testing, the FDA has determined that the ground cinnamon products listed in the table below contain elevated levels of lead and that prolonged exposure to these products may be unsafe. The FDA is advising consumers to throw away and not to buy these ground cinnamon products.  The FDA has recommended that the firms voluntarily recall these products, with the exception of the MTCI cinnamon.

Ten people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from four states. Four people have been hospitalized and one person developed hemolytic uretic syndrome. This is a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. No deaths have been reported. Of the 6 people who remembered the details of the raw milk cheese they ate, all reported eating RAW FARM brand raw cheddar cheese. CDC advises people not to eat, sell, or serve RAW FARM brand raw cheddar cheese while the investigation is ongoing.

Food Safety Alert

Food That May Be Contaminated:
– Busseto brand Charcuterie Sampler
– Fratelli Beretta brand Antipasto Gran Beretta
– Investigators are working to determine if any additional products may be contaminated.

In a given year, more measles cases can occur for any of the following reasons:

– an increase in the number of travelers who get measles abroad and bring it into the U.S.,
and/or
– further spread of measles in U.S. communities with pockets of unvaccinated people.

A flu vaccine is needed every year for two reasons. First, a person’s immune protection from vaccination declines over time, so an annual flu vaccine is needed for optimal protection. Second, because flu viruses are constantly changing, the composition of flu vaccines is reviewed annually, and vaccines are updated to protect against the viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming flu season. For the best protection, everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated annually.

Eliminating HIV as a Global Public Health Threat: Building on Tremendous Progress Will Save Lives and Make the World Safe. The percent of people with HIV on PEPFAR-supported treatment worldwide with a viral load test that were virally suppressed* increased from 80% in 2015 to 95% in 2022.