Don't panic.

Bird Flu News:

• Over 100,000 ducks will be euthanized after an H5N1 outbreak on one of the last remaining NY duck farms, which supplied many East Coast restaurants. (USA Today)
• Vaccinating poultry against H5N1 does help prevent transmission, but also leads to a faster rate of viral evolution, which could backfire if the virus mutates to evade our immune defenses. (Newsweek)
• Egg prices are still rising, and shortages caused by bird flu are leaving shelves empty. (NY Times)

Health News:

• HHS has paused health agencies’ communications until Feb. 1st, including this week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR) from the CDC, which was expected to include three new reports about H5N1. (Washington Post)
• Several federal scientific meetings were also canceled, including a February meeting of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee. (STAT)
• RFK Jr. says he has resigned from his anti-vaccine nonprofit as he seeks confirmation for the role of HHS Secretary. (AP)
• Power outages were a major issue this week in the Southern U.S. after historic snowfall. (NY Times)
• Tanzania has a second lab-confirmed case of Marburg, with 8 probable cases and nine total deaths, for a case fatality rate of 90%. (CIDRAP)
• A positive case of Legionnaires’ disease was found at a Maryland correctional facility. (CBS)
• People with ADHD are likely to die significantly earlier than their peers (7 years for men and 9 for women), according to a new study. (NY Times)
• A study with 70,000+ respondents from 68 countries found that public trust in science is still relatively high around the world, though it can vary widely based on demographic. (CIDRAP)
• Moderna’s norovirus vaccine could have Phase 3 results this year. (NBC)

Mental Health & Substance Use News:

• Just 20% of all U.S. adults account for an estimated 90% of all alcohol sales. (WSJ)
• The FDA approved standalone use of a nasal spray antidepressant. (NPR)

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or need help, call or text 988.

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Best Questions:

Why is norovirus so bad this year?

Noro is having a banner year, unfortunately for us humans. Right now, a whopping 28% of all people tested at the hospital or urgent care for noro are testing positive. That’s much higher than it’s been at any point in the past five years - nearly double the next highest peak. The high case count is most likely due to a new strain of norovirus, GII.17[P17], which accounts for nearly 70% of noro outbreaks this season. It doesn’t seem like this novel strain is actually making anyone sicker, but it’s certainly doing a great job spreading from person to person. It’s possible that more people are getting noro this season because fewer have been exposed to, and therefore have immunity to, this new version of the virus. Remember, hand washing is your best defense against norovirus. But if it does come for you, know you’re certainly not alone.?

Sources: CBS, CDC

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We can’t seem to shake norovirus. Everyone’s kids have it from school and then staff bring it back to work. What works to stop the cycle of illness??

We’re seeing a double whammy of noro ripping through the same communities where people are getting flu and colds and COVID. When people have just taken sick days for the flu and then get the stomach bug, they’re more likely to return to work too soon while they’re still very contagious because they don’t want to take any more time off. If you have noro in your community, it’s crucial to communicate to your employees that they need to stay home a full 48 hours after vomiting and diarrhea stop. Emphasize that if they do come to work too soon, they’re probably dooming their coworkers (and patrons) to the same unpleasant experience. If an employee is caring for a child who has norovirus and they can’t avoid close contact with them, we recommend that they stay out of work since the chances of them getting the virus are incredibly high. We recommend starting with three days and then extending once their symptoms start to ensure they’re out for 48 full hours after symptoms end.? To prevent others from getting sick in the first place, do a good sanitizing with a noro-approved cleaner, focusing on bathrooms and high-touch areas like door handles and faucets. Step up handwashing, and remember that soap and water work best against noro (not hand sanitizer). Good luck out there!

Sources: CBS, Outbreak Outlook

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