Bird flu has been found in dairy cow herds in eight states: Kansas, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas. Genetic testing of the virus shows that cows got sick from wild birds, and then spread the virus both to each other and back to wild birds. Officials think that one way the virus spread between cows was through the milking process and cows coming into contact with the raw (unpasteurized) milk from infected cows.

The virus pieces that were found in pasteurized dairy milk were dead and harmless to humans.

It is now required for dairy cows to be tested for bird flu before moving across state lines. Milk from cows showing symptoms is being destroyed while milk sold in other states is being pasteurized, and officials emphasize that pasteurization of milk kills the virus. It is still safe to drink pasteurized milk that is stored properly.

It's essential to be cautious around sick or dead animals. If you encounter sick or dead birds, please report them to USDA APHIS at 1-866-536-7593.

For hunters, especially during spring turkey season precautions should be taken when handling harvested animals like wearing rubber gloves when processing the bird and fully cooking all meat. More information on hunting and bird flu can be found here.

Bird flu is different from COVID because it currently does not spread easily from human to human. There have been two reported cases of bird flu in humans in the US, both of which were in farm workers who had direct contact with infected animals. Both people recovered completely, and the most recent case was in a Texas farmer whose main symptom was pinkeye.

Researchers are still trying to determine how and when cows initially became infected and how the virus spreads between animals.

Because pasteurization doesn't make milk completely sterile, the FDA has done additional testing of milk from stores nationwide and is collaborating with other food safety agencies to continue monitoring the safety of the milk supply.

Botox injections are used to lessen the visibility of wrinkles and to treat a range of medical conditions such as neck spasms, migraines, lazy eye, and bladder problems. Botox contains the toxin called botulinum, which is the same toxin that causes Botulism.

Botulism is a serious condition that can lead to paralysis and death if left untreated. In cases where a Botox injection is given incorrectly, or if the product is not approved by the FDA the toxin from the injection could spread to other parts of the body and cause botulism symptoms.

These symptoms include muscle weakness, vision problems, trouble talking or swallowing, breathing problems, allergic reactions, or loss of bladder control. If any of these symptoms are experienced after a Botox injection the patient should contact their medical provider immediately.

The real form of Botox is a prescription medication that is approved by the FDA for use by licensed individuals. People giving Botox shots need specific training to do so. Serious reactions in this case are rare, and Botox injections are usually safe when given by a skilled and licensed professional.

If receiving a Botox shot, ensure it is given to you by a licensed professional, some states have an online tool where you can search your provider to check licensure, and ask if the product used is approved by the FDA.

The CDC continues to investigate the illnesses caused by counterfeit Botox injections and given by unlicensed individuals.

Measles is a respiratory virus that is very contagious and most commonly spreads among children through the infected individual’s mucus (through coughing or sneezing) or through breathing the same air as the infected individual.

Measles symptoms include:

1. 2-3 days of watery eyes, runny nose, and coughing
2. Then: white spots, red rashes, and fever
3. Severe cases of measles can lead to pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain)

Two main causes for measles outbreaks include international travel and the gathering of people that haven’t received the vaccine.

In 2000, measles was no longer an issue in the U.S. due to decades of increasing vaccination rates. However, due to wrong information about the safety of vaccines and the rescheduling or missing of measle vaccines during the COVID pandemic, vaccination rates declined, resulting in increased cases of measles.

Since January 1, 2024, there have been 113 cases of measles in these 17 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe, helps reduce measles cases and reduces the severity of measles symptoms.

The CDC’s guidelines for when someone should receive the MMR vaccine and how many doses they should receive (1 or 2) are based on age, travel, immunity and other factors.

If vaccination rates for measles do not increase, it is unknown how many more measles cases there will be this year and the years to come.

Long COVID is a real illness and a term used to describe a wide range of health problems and symptoms that persist after a COVID infection. It is more likely to occur in people who have had a severe COVID infection and in non-vaccinated individuals, but anyone who gets a COVID infection is at risk for developing Long COVID.

Scientists do not know what causes Long COVID, and there has been a lot of research examining the blood makeup of people who have the illness to search for a “biomarker” or something in the blood that most of these patients have in common, and is not present in people without Long COVID.

A study published in January 2024 analyzed over 7,000 protein components in the blood of 40 people who developed Long COVID for up to 1 year after initial COVID infection. The study found that compared to people who fully recovered from a COVID infection, the Long COVID patients had what is called a “dysregulation complement”.

A “complement” is a collection of immune proteins that get chopped up during an infection and send a signal to the body to fight off a disease. In the short-term, this fights off an illness and the chopped-up proteins should disappear. The presence of these proteins long-term can cause damage to the cells.

Finding these chopped-up proteins in the blood of patients with Long COVID suggests this could be a possible biomarker, but more large-scale studies are needed.

Scientists are still learning what causes Long COVID, and it is likely a combination of factors and not one specific thing. Some hypotheses include tissue damage, viral reservoirs, autoimmunity, and persistent inflammation.

Healthcare professionals are still learning how to diagnose Long COVID in patients who present with symptoms similar to many other health disorders.

Researchers hope that by finding biomarkers of Long COVID, a blood test could be used for diagnosis and scientists could be one step closer to developing potential treatment options. These possibilities are still a long way off, but the findings of this study are one step in that direction.

It is normal for viruses to mutate over time to form new subvariants, much like how the flu mutates every year requiring an updated flu vaccine. COVID-19 also mutates over time to form different variants and subvariants. By the third week of May, KP.2, a subvariant of the FLiRT lineage, accounted for 28.2% of COVID-19 cases in the US.

Unlike JN.1 (the previously dominant strain in the U.S.), the FLiRT variants have two mutations on their spike proteins. These mutations help the virus evade the body’s current vaccine-induced immunity, which means that these COVID-19 strains may be slightly more contagious than previous strains. However, there has not been an uptick in hospitalizations and COVID-19 cases and there are no new or different symptoms associated with FLiRT subvariants.

It is expected that COVID-19 vaccination still offers protection against severe disease. Last year’s COVID-19 vaccine was based on XBB.1.5 (Omicron XBB), and it has been shown that this vaccine generates some antibodies that are effective against the JN.1 subvariant of Omicron. The new FLiRT variants are subvariants of JN.1. While the vaccine is likely a little less effective against these new subvariants there it is likely to still offer some protection.

The definition of what is considered a COVID-19 wave has changed, and we are seeing lower rates of COVID-19 cases each year (CDC). While it is possible the FLiRT variants will cause an uptick in cases this summer, it would likely still be lower than what was seen in previous years with new variants.

It is still important for people at higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection to take precautions to avoid getting COVID-19. This includes staying up to date on vaccinations and masking in public or crowded indoor spaces. In February, the CDC recommended people over the age of 65 receive a COVID-19 booster.

It is still too soon to know to what extent last year’s COVID-19 vaccine protects against the FLiRT variants, and research is needed to determine this.

Public health officials in the U.S. will decide in June what strain of COVID-19 the updated fall COVID-19 vaccine will be based on. It will likely either be the JN.1 strain or the FLiRT strain depending on which variant remains more dominant.

Salmonella contamination in a third-party manufacturer has led to a recall of several spreadable cream cheese products sold at Hy-Vee, Schnuck’s, Aldi’s, and Shreiber Foods (Hornbacher’s). Hy-Vee bulk “cookies and cream mix” has also been recalled. There have been no reported illnesses as of 5/12/24. A complete list of recalled Hy-Vee products can be found here.  Recalled items are Aldi’s are listed here, and Schreiber Foods or Hornbacher’s recalled items can be found here. Schnuck’s recalled cheese spreads are listed here.

As of May 6, 2024, the products affected by the recall were sold in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Consumers should check their refrigerators for recalled items and throw them away or return them for a full refund. Anything that touches the recalled items should be washed with soap and hot water or other disinfectant.

Salmonella is a bacteria that causes diarrhea, stomach cramping, and fever and is most often spread through contaminated food. Symptoms appear within 6 hours to 6 days after infection and cases last 4-7 days. Most people can treat their symptoms at home with rest and fluids, but hospitalization may be required in severe cases.

Food that is contaminated with salmonella will both look, smell, and taste fine. It is estimated that for every reported case of salmonella illness in the US about 30 cases go unreported. Consumers should contact a healthcare provider if they believe they may have symptoms of salmonella infection.

Officials continue to monitor for reported illnesses associated with this recall.

Gibson Inc. organic whole and half walnuts have been recalled due to E. coli contamination. These walnuts are sold mostly in bulk bins at food co-ops or natural food stores such as Whole Foods. Some of these walnuts may have been packed by stores in clamshells or bags.

E. coli is a type of bacteria that can cause severe stomach cramping, diarrhea (often bloody), vomiting, sometimes a fever and kidney failure in rare cases. Symptoms usually appear 3-4 days after eating contaminated food or water. Most infections are mild and most people recover without treatment after 5 to 7 days, but some cases can be life-threatening. People who have these symptoms and think they may have eaten Gibson organic walnut halves should contact their healthcare provider.

Gibson Inc. organic whole and half walnuts that were bought from these stores should be discarded, and any containers they were stored in should be washed thoroughly with hot water and soap. The recalled walnuts are from lot codes 3325-043 and 3341-501, with expiration dates of 5/21/25, and 6/07/25.

The FDA is still working with Gibson Inc. to determine if any other lot numbers were affected and if the walnuts were shipped to any other states. Information will be updated at FDA.gov as it becomes available.

In the U.S., mosquito and tick-borne diseases are increasing. From 2004 to 2016, the number of cases per year tripled from 27,388 cases to 96,075 cases.

The most common disease from ticks in the U.S. is Lyme disease. The most common disease from mosquitoes in the U.S. is West Nile virus.

The population of mosquitoes that carry West Nile and other diseases is expected to expand. This is mainly because of changes in the environment that make places more suitable for mosquitoes like warmer temperatures, more humidity, and more sites where water can collect like discarded plastic containers.

The population of ticks that carry Lyme disease is expected to expand. This is mainly because of changes in the environment that make places more suitable for ticks like warmer temperatures and more humidity.

Using Environmental Protection Agency registered insect repellents, wearing long sleeve shirts and pants, keeping windows, doors, and screens in good condition, using air conditioning, removing outdoor containers where water collects, and sleeping under a mosquito net can help prevent mosquito bites.

Some vaccines are available for some mosquito-borne diseases like Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, and chikungunya, but there are no currently available vaccines in the United States for other diseases like Zika, dengue fever, and St. Louis encephalitis. There are some treatments for malaria, but none for Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, chikungunya, Zika, dengue, or St. Louis encephalitis.

Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas all year round. Most bites occur between April and September.

Avoiding woody and brushy areas, wearing long clothing, wearing Environmental Protection Agency registered insect repellents, checking for ticks on persons, pets, and gear, and showering soon after being outdoors can help prevent tick bites.

While there is a vaccine available for tick-borne encephalitis, there are no currently available vaccines for many other tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease.

There are some treatments for Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and babesiosis. These treatments have varying degrees of success. There are no treatments available for Powassen virus.

We are still learning how large current populations of ticks and mosquitoes are because some areas do not collect frequent data on ticks and mosquitoes.

Scientists are working to improve predictions about the risk of tick- and mosquito-borne disease. This includes looking at factors like the environment, current information on populations of ticks and mosquitoes, and human behavior.