JANUARY 13 — AMERICA’S HEALTH DEFENSES WEAKENED BY NEW POLICIES: YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST

Posted on January 13, 2026 by John Bailey

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A brutal flu season, new dietary guidelines, and why cancer screenings are at risk

The Dose (January 13)

Jess Steier, DrPH, Megan Maisano, MS, RDN, and Hannah Totte, MPH

Jan 13

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I (Katelyn) have temporarily escaped to the Amazon jungle, where the internet cannot even reach me. So this week, I left the YLE keys with my team and our good friend—and scientific communication rockstar—Jess Steier. You’re in good hands. Jess, take it away…

Hello YLE readers! I’m Jess Steier, public health scientist and founder of Unbiased Science, stepping in while Katelyn is on a much-deserved vacation. (During brief periods of WiFi connectivity, she’s sending pics that have me very jealous.)

What a week to guest-host: flu season is brutal, the new dietary guidelines are… interesting, the policy landscape is shifting fast, and the annual reader survey needs your feedback. Let’s get into it.

Infectious disease “weather report”

Flu. Buckle up, folks. We’re in the thick of a very rough flu season. The CDC tracks “influenza-like illness” (ILI)—doctor visits for fever, cough, and sore throat—as a proxy for respiratory virus activity. Most of those cases right now are flu. ILI is the highest it has been since 1997-98 (nearly 30 years), and the highest on record since the CDC started tracking. Last season, infections peaked at the beginning of February, and we’re already seeing similar rates a month earlier this year. And infections will continue to increase, since they haven’t peaked yet.

Source: ILINet. Annotations by YLE.

Emergency department visits are highest among kids ages 5-17, with children under 5 close behind. Seventeen children have died from the flu so far this season. For context, last year set the record for pediatric flu deaths (280). Looking at this horrible season, we might see similar rates this year, unless uptake of the flu shot—which greatly reduces the risk of hospitalization and death—catches up.

Source: CDC FluView. Annotations by YLE.

Subclade K, the latest offshoot of H3N2 (type A)—basically a slightly updated version of the virus we already know—emerged over the summer and is to blame here. It’s better at evading this season’s flu shot and prior immunity. It has accounted for roughly 80% of flu samples tested so far.

What this means for you: The best thing you can do is get a flu shot, and make sure everyone in your family 6 months and older has received one. It’s not too late.

The flu shot might not fully prevent an infection, but it can greatly reduce severity and reduce spread in the community.
Despite changes to the Health and Human Services (HHS) childhood vaccination schedule, the American Academy of Pediatrics still recommends the flu shot for everyone 6 months and up. (HHS taking the flu shot off the list amidst a flu season that could break records for pediatric deaths is cruelly tone deaf.)
If you do get sick, prescription antivirals like Tamiflu or Xofluza can reduce severity, hospitalization, and even death—especially for high-risk groups. The sooner you start, the better. I’m working on a deep-dive on antivirals for you later this week—stay tuned!
Even if you’ve already gotten the flu, getting a flu shot (if you haven’t yet) can help you. Since there are multiple strains of flu floating around, and the shot protects against some of them well, it can boost your overall immunity.
Other protective measures help, too: wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces, improve ventilation when possible, and stay home if you’re sick.

Measles. The U.S. has confirmed over 2,200 cases and 3 deaths this season—the highest annual total since 1992. Two major outbreaks are driving the surge: South Carolina (313 cases, with 125 added last week alone) has now spread to North Carolina and Ohio, and the Utah-Arizona outbreak continues to grow (nearly 400 cases combined). For latest full Yale School of Public Health SITREP report, go here:

YSPH VMOC Special Report Measles The Ame…

1.45MB ∙ PDF file

Download

The big question is whether the U.S. will lose its measles elimination status, which we’ve held since 2000. Canada lost theirs in November. If ongoing outbreaks are linked to the Texas outbreak that started last January—meaning continuous transmission for 12 months—we could be next. The Pan-American Health Organization — our regional version of WHO—is set to evaluate U.S. data soon.

Some good news: Covid-19 rates remain low nationwide, and common cold viruses (like rhinoviruses and seasonal coronaviruses) are down. RSV cases are lower than this time last year but starting to rise.

New Dietary Guidelines: MyPlate is out, the inverted food pyramid is in

I’ll let Megan, YLE’s registered dietitian nutritionist, take it from here…

Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and HHS released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The DGA are updated every five years to guide nutrition policy, education, and programming for health professionals. While some federally funded programs like school meals must follow them, others use them as best-practice guidance. As an RDN, I reference the DGA often in my work.

Historically, the DGA has aligned with its Scientific Report—a public, multi-year evidence review by an independent advisory committee. This cycle, the DGA diverged from that report (released in 2024), openly criticized it, and introduced a separate Scientific Foundation developed privately by contracted scientists.

Reactions to the new DGA vary widely, including praise for its emphasis on “real” whole foods, confusion over vague or conflicting messaging, and concerns about its propaganda-like language, questionable scientific rigor, and opacity in the review process and author selection.

Notable takeaways include:

Significant reduction in length (10 pages versus the previous 164) to make it simpler and more accessible, but potentially at the expense of detail, guidance, and nuance that clinicians, schools, and policymakers rely on to translate recommendations into practice.
Continued emphasis on nutrient-dense food groups—fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein foods, and dairy—with expanded inclusion of full-fat dairy and red meat, more explicit guidance to limit highly processed foods, and stronger limits on added sugars.
A heightened focus on protein, increasing recommended intake by 50–100%, with less emphasis on plant-based sources.
Encouragement of animal fats (e.g., beef, beef tallow, whole milk, butter), while still keeping the saturated fat limits to <10% of calories (~22 grams/day).
- Note: This level is nearly reached with a glass of whole milk (4.5 grams), 1 tablespoon of butter (7 grams), and a 4-oz serving of ribeye (9 grams).
Softened alcohol guidance, removing specific daily limits (<1–2 drinks) despite growing evidence that no amount of alcohol is safe, and instead offering only a vague recommendation to consume less for better health.
Explicit removal of health equity as a consideration in reviewing evidence and shaping guidance, including factors like socioeconomic status, race, culture, research representation, and diverse population needs.
Replacement of the MyPlate graphic with an inverted food pyramid.

Source: https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf

How will these changes affect daily life for most folks? For many adults, not much. Most Americans don’t follow the guidelines anyway. Still, the DGA shapes guidance for federal nutrition programs, such as school meals and nutrition assistance programs, which serve at least 1 in 4 Americans, and informs recommendations from health professionals. That’s why its clarity and scientific integrity remain important for both individuals and public health.

Would a deeper dive into the new guidelines be useful? If so, what questions do you have for us? Let us know in the comments.

With more Medicaid eligibility requirements, more missed cancer screenings

The “Big Beautiful Bill” changed Medicaid eligibility, adding new work and renewal requirements. When they go into effect in January 2027, they will affect care in a myriad of ways, including cancer prevention.

An analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) last week predicted that, due to losing Medicaid coverage, millions of people will lose access to cancer screenings.

Their projections? More than one million missed screenings in the next two years, resulting in 155 preventable deaths. This study focused on implications for breast, colorectal, and lung cancers, all of which have shown increased survivorship after widespread screening implementation. This estimate is conservative; for example, it does not include recommended cervical cancer screening.

There will also be significant variation across states: in states that expanded Medicaid (where a larger fraction of the population is covered), more screenings will be missed.

Bottom line: This is just one direct health impact for those who will lose Medicaid coverage next year.

Will states step in? Probably, but it depends—and probably not to the full extent of the Medicaid coverage net, at least in the short run.
There may be opportunities to expand screening capacity at other points of care, such as community health centers and primary care visits, but this will require investment in already stretched systems.

HRSA endorsed an at-home HPV self-collection test

I unfortunately have had the experience of a super uncomfortable, borderline painful, hastily accomplished Pap smear. I get it: as an important cervical cancer prevention tool, we’ve needed them. But like many of the other women in my life, I dread them.

Enter the at-home human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection test. We can collect our own samples using at-home kits, and they are now FDA approved as a cancer screening tool in Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) guidelines. The at-home kits are less invasive, involve less equipment, don’t require a trip to the clinic, and are a welcome alternative for people who have experienced sexual trauma.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) first endorsed self-collection swabs for clinical use back in 2024. They were then available through prescription only in May 2025. These updated guidelines reflect additional data that vet how they can be reliably used to test for HPV, the infection that causes the majority of cervical cancers, and expands access without prescriptions.

For context, the HRSA recommends that women aged 30 to 65 at average risk of cervical cancer get screened with HPV testing—now including at-home tests—every five years, and women aged 21 to 29 at average risk get a Pap smear every three years. (The American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines recommend beginning to test for HPV at 25 years.) This at-home test aims to increase screening rates: an estimated 1 in 4 adults are not up to date with cervical cancer screenings.

This brings us to some nuance:

First, there’s a risk of people forgoing a clinician’s care, like at an annual physical, to collect samples at home.
Even though most insurance plans will have to cover them in 2027, they might not be available to everyone—especially people without insurance.
An HPV test is not a Pap smear. Pap smears also check for precancerous cells on the cervix, which might become cancerous if they are not treated properly.
Self-collection is not recommended for everyone. People with the following conditions should talk to their clinician before opting for at-home tests:
- Abnormal tests or precancers in the past
- Solid organ or stem cell transplant
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Taking medicines that suppress the immune system
- Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth

If you want to try this option:

Find FDA-approved self-collection kits through your doctor’s office, Planned Parenthood, or other clinic.
Talk to your clinician about whether you’re a good candidate for at-home testing, and how to stay on schedule, follow up in case of a positive result, and stay accountable for other appointments.
HRSA notes that clinician-collected samples are still preferred, since an abnormal result can immediately be followed up with additional testing at the clinic.

Good news

Minimum wage increased to $15 an hour in 19 states. An economic change on the surface, with real public health gains down the line. Research shows that increasing income improves self-reported health, improves social interactions, reduces overtime work, increases birthweights, and can make life just a bit more affordable, improving mental health and well-being.
You can set resolutions that stick. It’s January, and resolutions are on the brain. According to psychology research, the best type of goals are the ones that are specific and manageable:
- Specific means that you can look back on your day or week and know whether you kept your resolution. Resolutions work best when you choose them for you and your “why”—not because of external pressure.
- Manageable means it fits into your life. You can connect whatever new habit you’re trying to build to what you already want or need to do, like walking while listening to your favorite podcast. Or think about when you were able to reach your goals in the past to help you recreate those conditions.

In case you missed it

Take the reader survey! It takes about 5 minutes and makes a big impact!
15 health wins in New York, from Dr. Marisa Donnelly in New York
Health impacts of coastal floods, from Dr. Matt Willis in California
Last week, we talked about changes to the childhood vaccination schedule. Here’s
a NEW PDF of changes to vaccination schedule, translated into Spanish:

Vaccination Schedule Changes (Spanish)

68.3KB ∙ PDF file

Download

That’s it for this week!

Love,

Jess

Jess Steier, PhD, is a public health scientist and founder of Unbiased Science. Megan Maisano, MS, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist. During the day, Megan works at National Dairy Council, a non-profit dairy nutrition research and education organization. (She does not write about the dairy industry for YLE.) Hannah Totte, MPH, is an epidemiologist and YLE Community Manager.

Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) is founded and operated by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist, wife. YLE reaches more than 425,000 people in over 132 countries with one goal: “Translate” the ever-evolving public health science so that people will be well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions.

This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below:

A guest post by

Megan Maisano, MS, RDN

JANUARY 13–NEW YORK EMBRACES NUCLEAR POWER AGAIN THROUGH PROGRAMATIC DEPLOYMENT, GLOBALLY PROVEN TO DRIVE COSTS DOWN

Posted on January 13, 2026 by John Bailey

Albany, NY – Nuclear New York celebrates Governor Kathy Hochul’s unprecedented commitment to advanced nuclear energy as a cornerstone of New York’s clean energy future.

By setting a goal of five gigawatts of new nuclear, the Governor has embraced the strategic framework that positions New York to lead the nation in cost-effective, programmatic nuclear deployment.[1]

This announcement represents a fundamental evolution in New York’s approach to nuclear energy. Rather than viewing advanced nuclear as individual, standalone projects, the state is now pursuing the proven strategy that brought costs down dramatically in South Korea, France, and other successful nuclear programs: standardized, sequential deployment with committed orderbooks.[2],[3],[4]

Orderbooks of 5-10 reactors enable 20-30% cost reductions through learning curve effects.
Design standardization and elimination of rework account for approximately 65% of cost reduction potential from first-of-a-kind (FOAK) to nth-of-a-kind (NOAK) builds.
Bulk procurement of major equipment enables 10-20% cost reductions through volume orders
Construction workforce continuity between sequential builds delivers 20-30% productivity gains.

During the Economic Development breakout session of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)’s “Advanced Nuclear NY Summit” in September 2025, Nuclear New York’s Isuru Seneviratne recommended that New York commit to deploying a minimum of 5-10 advanced nuclear reactors of standardized designs by 2040, creating the orderbook certainty needed for supply chain development and workforce retention.[5] Furthermore, he emphasized that state government’s most critical role is creating the conditions for advanced nuclear development through:

Industrial customer aggregation to create committed orderbooks for specific reactor designs
Site preparation and infrastructure readiness to reduce project timelines and costs
Financial risk mitigation through state guarantee programs and public-private partnerships
Community engagement frameworks that ensure host communities benefit from long-term tax revenue and employment

This announcement fulfills a vision that Nuclear New York, working with labor partners through the Clean Energy Jobs Coalition, articulated in our 2022 policy brief, Bright Future — that half of New York’s electricity should come from firm clean generation sources.[6] That report emphasized that nuclear provides:

25,000 jobs supported by New York’s three operating plants, contributing over $3 billion annually to the state economy
The highest unionization rate and highest wages across all electricity generation sectors
Concentrated, year-round employment that builds vibrant, healthy, and prosperous host communities

The policy shift is also responsive to the growing number of communities who recognize the benefits of and want to host nuclear power plants – eight are bidding to host reactors built by New York Power Authority.[7] The five-gigawatt commitment allows all communities who want nuclear to work together on technology selection, workforce development, and policy advocacy.

New York faces aggressive electricity demand growth due to the reshoring of manufacturing capacity and the drive towards electrification. There is also a pressing need to replace aging and dirty fossil fuel plants. Nuclear energy provides what renewables alone cannot: 24/7 baseload power that complements intermittent wind and solar while using the least land and materials of any clean energy source.

Governor Hochul stated,

“Our initiative to create a nuclear reliability backbone for New York will ensure safe, around-the-clock, emission-free power to help keep the lights on and rates down.” This follows her June 2025 statement “to power New York’s future, we need three things: reliability, affordability, and sustainability, and nuclear drives all three.”[8] Furthermore, NYSERDA’s “Zero by 2040 Technoeconomic Assessment” acknowledges how advanced nuclear can also serve many non-grid applications such as high-temperature heat.[9]

NYSERDA is developing a Master Plan for Responsible Advanced Nuclear Development, building on the Blueprint for Consideration released in 2024.[10] This comprehensive planning process, informed by extensive stakeholder engagement, will establish the frameworks for licensing, siting, workforce development, and supply chain growth.

New York is co-leading the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative, a multistate consortium pursuing DOE funding and technology-sharing to build substantial nuclear orderbooks behind standardized reactor designs.

This collaboration with states across partisan lines demonstrates the bipartisan recognition that nuclear energy is essential to achieving climate goals while supporting economic competitiveness.

“This is the kind of strategic thinking about nuclear deployment that New York needs,” said Dietmar Detering, Chair of Nuclear New York. “By moving beyond one-off projects toward programmatic deployment with committed orderbooks, and working across state lines to share learning curve benefits, New York is positioning itself to lead the next generation of American nuclear deployment—just as we led the first.” Nuclear New York looks forward to continued engagement with NYPA, NYSERDA, industrial energy consumers, project developers, labor partners, and host communities to turn this vision into reality.

As NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen Harris emphasized at Nuclear New York’s Nuclear Symposium 2025, “working together, we are finding ourselves writing the future history of nuclear for ourselves, for our kids, for our colleagues and for the world. And the work you are doing is very much part of this timeline.”[11]

JANUARY 13 –BRANDON ARCHER AND LEO KENNEDY NAMED “YOUTHS OF THE YEAR”

Posted on January 13, 2026 by John Bailey

BRANDON ARCHER CONGRATULATED BY MAYOR JUSTIN BRASCH AND FRANK WILLIAMS, HEAD OF WHITE PLAINS YOUTH BUREAU

MAYOR BRASCH SHAKES LEO KENNEDY’S HAND CONGRATULATING HIM ON HIS HONOR, YOUTH OF THE YEAR

White Plains High School Senior Brandon Archer, and Iona Prep Senior Leo Kennedy, second from right, are congratulated by White Plains Youth Bureau Executive Director Frank Williams and Deputy Director Elizabeth Almonte after receiving their Youth Bureau “Youth of the Year Awards” at the White Plains Common Council meeting on January 5. The award is presented to those who elevate youth values in the City.

Both Brandon and Leo serve on the Mayor’s Youth Council. Brandon received a National Community Service Award sponsored by the United Nations Association and is a New York State My Brother’s Keeper Fellow. He interned in the White Plains Planning Department last summer and hopes to be an urban planner. Leo has been a leading participant in the White Plains Youth Court, representing White Plains in county-wide events, and raises funds for the Special Olympics. He is interested in studying data science.

JANUARY 13–COUNTY EXECUTIVE JENKINS AND BOARD OF LEGISLATORS DEMAND PSC DENY CON ED RATE HIKES

Posted on January 13, 2026 by John Bailey

WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE KEN JENKINS AND THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD OF LEGISLATORS

JOIN STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS IN CALLING ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO REJECT CON EDISON’S RATE HIKES

Watch the News Conference Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsGlE_q0FH8

(White Plains, NY) – Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins and the Westchester County Board of Legislators are again calling on the Public Service Commission (PSC) to reject Con Edison’s rate hikes. In a formal letter Jenkins, joining with leaders across the State, detailed his widespread concerns heard directly from constituents who are struggling with utility bills that have skyrocketed – often doubling or tripling in recent years.

Jenkins said:

“Con Edison, and their blatant cash grab, is creating an affordability crisis, and families, seniors, and small businesses across Westchester County have reached their breaking point. Utility bills have skyrocketed in recent years, sometimes doubling or even tripling, and people are being forced to make impossible choices between paying their rent, buying groceries, or keeping the lights on. The Joint Proposal before the Public Service Commission would only make this crisis worse, not better. We are standing shoulder to shoulder with leaders across New York State to call on the PSC to reject or significantly modify Con Ed’s proposal, and ensure that ratepayers are not asked to pay unaffordable increases to guarantee outsized returns for shareholders. Affordability must come first.”

Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Vedat Gashi said “Westchester families are at a breaking point—they cannot afford another hit to their budgets when utility bills have already doubled or tripled. Today, we stand united with leaders across the state to send an unmistakable message to the Public Service Commission: reject these rate hikes and protect our residents. The time for the PSC to act is now, before more families are forced to choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table.”

Under Con Edison’s plan, the Joint Proposal would exacerbate the lack of affordability, setting annual rate increases in the three-year proposal at +4.3%, +5.0%, and +3.3% for electricity delivery and -0.3%, +7.2% and +3.7% for gas delivery, for 2026, 2027 and 2028 respectively.

The proposed rates would exceed inflation.

JUNE 12 — Flu remains very high in the Northeast, with outpatient influenza-like illness the highest in the nation at 9.0%. FROM DR. CAITLIN RIVERS

Posted on January 11, 2026 by John Bailey

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Outbreak Outlook – Northeast – Jan 11

Flu very high, Covid high

Jan 11

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Welcome to the Northeast edition of Outbreak Outlook! It is only available to paid subscribers. If you wish to become a paid subscriber and access region-specific information, please click the Subscribe now button below. Thanks for reading! -Caitlin

Respiratory Diseases

Influenza

There were decreases this week in most states in the region, but many, many people are still ending up in the ED and hospitalized right now. It’s possible we’ve peaked, but last year we had an unusual double-peak, so I’m reluctant rest easy just yet.

Outpatient influenza-like illness (%)

% of visits to the doctor that are for fever and cough or sore throat

In New York state, outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) decreased substantially, to 10.9%. Emergency department (ED) visits also decreased from over 9% to 6.3% in one week. Hospitalizations in the state decreased slightly, to a still-very-high 19.8 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.

Decreases are also occurring in New York City, where visits to the ED have fallen by nearly half in the past two weeks, down to 5.0%, and hospitalizations are slowly coming down as well (to 3.5%).

Northeast: ED visits for influenza (%)

% of visits to the emergency department that are for influenza

Following a similar trajectory as New York, in Connecticut, ED visits dropped from around 12% to 8.4%, and hospitalizations decreased to a still-very-high 19.4.

New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts all reported decreases in ED visits to roughly 8.3%. Rhode Island dropped a bit further, down to 7.1%, and in Maine, outpatient ILI decreased slightly, to 7.6%, as did ED visits, to 6.7%.

In Pennsylvania, outpatient ILI increased slightly to 5.1%, but ED visits decreased to 6.3%. Finally, in Vermont, ED visits held roughly stable at an elevated 5.5%.

The Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics is also estimating robust declines in all states in the region.

COVID-19

In the Northeast, Covid-19 activity is high and rising. The Northeast is the second-highest region in the country in terms of emergency department (ED) visits. Activity has already surpassed the levels seen in the small late summer wave, but has not reached those of last winter’s wave, which was also on the small side. Altogether, we’re in pretty good shape considering it’s peak season, but we’ll see what unfolds in the weeks ahead.

Covid-19 Emergency Department Visits (%)

% of visits to the ED that are for Covid-19

Nearly all states in the region are reporting very high or high wastewater concentration. Connecticut has the highest wastewater activity in the region, which is continuing to rise, as are visits to the ED (to 1.3%). Hospitalizations in the state have also increased again, to a moderate 4.6 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.

Northeast: Covid-19 wastewater concentration

Wastewater concentration of SARS-CoV-2

In Massachusetts, wastewater activity is very high, but dipped slightly this week — the peak may have passed. ED visits still increased, but just a little, which also suggests spread is slowing down (1.3%). Peak also appears to have passed in New Hampshire, where wastewater activity has declined to moderate levels. However, ED visits, a bit of a lagging indicator, are still rising — up to 1.5% this week.

Activity is high and increasing in Pennsylvania, New York (incomplete data), Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine. Most of these states are reporting ED visits that are increasing and between 1.2 and 1.6%. The exception is New York, which held roughly steady at 0.7% (and at a much lower 0.3% in New York City).

New Jersey is the only state reporting low wastewater activity, though this is also on the rise, along with ED visits (0.85%).

Northeast: ED visits for Covid-19 (%)

% of visits to the emergency department that are for Covid-19

RSV

Test positivity continues to rise, reaching 4.6% nationally this past week. ED visits held roughly steady this past week at 0.5% nationally, and hospitalizations are elevated at 1.8 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.

RSV activity remains elevated, and ED visits held roughly steady this past week at about 0.4% for the region.

New Jersey has the highest activity in the region, with ED visits at 0.6%, though this decreased a bit this past week. Activity increased notably in Rhode Island, pushing ED visits to 0.6%. ED visits also increased slightly in Connecticut (0.3%), and Maine (0.1%).

ED visits held roughly steady at moderately elevated levels in Pennsylvania (0.5%), New Hampshire (0.4%), Massachusetts (0.4%), and New York (0.4%). Hospitalizations ticked up slightly in New York to 1.6 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.

RSV activity decreased by more than half in Vermont, to 0.12%.

Northeast: ED visits for RSV (%)

% of visits to the emergency department that are for RSV

Other Bugs

Adenovirus has decreased notably over the past several weeks and is back down into moderate territory.
Both human metapneumovirus and human coronaviruses continue to steadily rise and are now at moderate levels.
Parainfluenza and rhinoviruses/enteroviruses are low.

Stomach Bugs

CDC norovirus data hasn’t updated since the week of December 20. My alternative source is finding high and fairly stable levels of wastewater activity nationally.

In the Midwest, activity has decreased slightly over the past week, but remains quite high. In the South, activity is high, having rebounded after a slight decrease. In the Northeast, activity held roughly stable at high levels.

Levels remain quite a bit lower in the West, where activity is moderate and held roughly steady this past week.

Food recalls

The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items:

New:

Klong Kone Shrimp Paste, sold exclusively at Golden Land in Des Moines, Iowa and Terri Lee Oriental Groceries in Maywood, New Jersey (more info)

Previously Reported:

Primavera Nuevo tamales, various flavors (more info)
There is a big recall of hundreds of products — from Airhead candies to meat to Splenda packets — that passed through a single distributor and were sold to over 50 stores, primarily in Minnesota and Indiana. I strongly urge you to check out the list of stores (here) and if you’ve shopped at one of them recently, check out the much longer list of items that are being recalled (here)
Country Vet Biscuits & Heartland Harvest Dog Biscuits [for dogs] are being recalled for potential contamination with Salmonella. Salmonella can sicken both pets who consume the treats, and humans who handle the products (or who touch surfaces the items touched). (more info)
Forward Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef (more info)
Frozen raw shrimp sold under the Market 32 and Waterfront Bistro brand names, due to possible cesium-137 contamination (more info)
Lucky Foods cinnamon powder, due to potential lead contamination (more info)
ByHeart Infant Formula due to potential botulism contamination (more info)

JANUARY 10– 8:30 AM COFFEE WITH WHITE PLAINS WEEK THE JANUARY 9 REPORT ON FIOS 45, OPTIMUM 76 AND WWW.WPCOMMUMNITYMEDIA.ORG

Posted on January 9, 2026 by John Bailey

THE JUSTIN BRASCH INAUGURATION BECOMES THE 19TH MAYOR OF WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA

GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO THE RESCUE TO WORKING FAMILIES

MOVING ON UP! WHITE PLAINS JEN PUJA SWORN IN AS DISTRICT 5 LEGISLAT0R

FLU PEAKING IN WORST FLU SEASON BUT NYC HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR FLU SYMPTOMS GROW

WESTCHESTER 2025 COVID CASES 48% LOWER THAN 2024. COVID CASES DEC:933

CONGESTION PRICING CLEANS UP THE AIR IN MIDTOWN

NEW TONIGHT!

JOHN BAILEY INTRODUCES “PERSPECTIVES 2026” COMMENTARY

JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS

EVERY WEEK ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK

IN ITS 25TH YEAR ON THE AIR

THE NEWS YOU NEED YOU DO NOT GET ANYWHERE ELSE

FOR LIFE, LIBERTY AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

JANUARY 8– SOCIAL WORKER’S KILLER SENTENCED TO 23 YEARS TO LIFE

Posted on January 8, 2026 by John Bailey

Susan Cacace

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

D.A. CACACE STATEMENT ON 23-YEARS-TO-LIFE SENTENCE FOR MARIA COTO’S KILLER

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace provided the following statement on the sentencing of Hasseem Jenkins, who savagely beat Westchester County Department of Social Services worker Maria Coto to death in 2024. Judge George Fufidio sentenced Jenkins to 23 years to life in state prison this morning for the top count of Murder in the Second Degree.

“Justice was served today. Maria Coto was a beacon of light in Westchester County. She devoted her life to helping others in desperate circumstances, which included numerous trips into the field to meet clients where they lived. For that, she paid dearly.

“Her savage murder is a reminder of the risks our county employees face daily when they go into the community. And it must serve as a wake-up call to all of us in county government.

“We must use this moment to redouble our commitment to protecting the public servants of Westchester County. I am calling on our State Legislature to adopt new measures that would enhance penalties for those who assault social services employees, and provide funds for critical safety equipment for our frontline workers.

“The safety of our public servants is non-negotiable. Maria Coto’s death will not be in vain. Her boundless spirit will live on through her family, friends, DSS colleagues and all others who had the pleasure of knowing her. May she forever rest in peace.”

JANUARY 8 — FLASH! NY GOVERNOR HOCHUL WILL PROVIDE CHILD CARE FOR ALL CHILDREN UNDER 5 THROUGHOUT STATE AND IN NYC

Posted on January 8, 2026 by John Bailey

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced an unprecedented investment as the next step to deliver affordable, universal child care for children under five years of age across New York State. The Governor will partner with Mayor Zohran Mamdani to deliver free child care for two-year-olds in New York City, in addition to strengthening the existing 3K program to achieve universal care and ultimately, serve all families across the city.

In 2026, the State will continue to expand access to high-quality child care programs throughout the state, through a diversity of models, saving New York families billions of dollars each year.

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has already taken major steps to expand access to affordable child care for families through an investment of more than $8 billion dollars in the State’s child care infrastructure, dramatically expanding access, as part of laying the groundwork for the implementation of universal child care statewide.

“There’s one thing that every family in New York can agree on, the cost of childcare is simply too high,” Governor Hochul said.

“As New York’s first mom Governor, fighting for New York’s families has always been at the core of my agenda. Since taking office, I’ve put families front and center, fighting to make our state more affordable and laying the groundwork to deliver universal childcare. Today, I’m proud to partner with Mayor Mamdani and leaders across our state to make this a reality, turning that foundation into a concrete roadmap that will transform the lives of working parents and kids across our state.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said,

“Over the past 14 months, a movement was born to fight for a city where every New Yorker could afford a life of dignity and every family could afford to raise their kids. Today, Governor Hochul and I meet that movement as we celebrate our joint commitment to universal child care. This victory represents much more than a triumph of city and state government working in partnership — it is proof that when New Yorkers come together, we can transform the way the government serves working families.”

Governor Hochul’s State of the State investments will commit to delivering affordable childcare for nearly 100,000 more kids. Through this $1.7 billion increased investment, the total FY27 investment will be $4.5 billion for childcare and prekindergarten services statewide.

As part of Governor Hochul’s 2026 State of the State, this proposal will:

Make Pre-K truly universal statewide,
Partner with New York City to launch the new Mayor’s signature 2-Care program and finally realize the promise of universal 3K access in New York City,
Support other counties in building out new child care pilots that offer high-quality affordable care to families regardless of income, and
Expand child care subsidies to tens of thousands of additional families.

Alongside these commitments, the Governor will launch an Office of Child Care and Early Education to steer the implementation of high-quality, universal child care for New York families.

Today’s announcement builds on steps that Governor Hochul has taken to expand access to affordable child care for families, laying the groundwork for the implementation of universal child care statewide. Specifically, the State has already:

More than doubled the number of children served by child care vouchers in just four years, with an almost 25 percent increase in the past 12 months alone.
Provided more than $8.6 billion for child care, including more than doubling funding for subsidies.
Dramatically expanded the number of families who are eligible by increasing the maximum income from 200 percent of Federal poverty level (roughly $64,000 for a family of four) to the maximum allowed under Federal law — 85 percent of Statewide median income (roughly $114,000 for a family of four).
Made child care more affordable by reducing the amount those receiving subsidy pay by capping costs at $15 per week for most families.
Increased reimbursement rates for providers by nearly 50 percent, helping providers retain staff and provide quality care for children across the state.
Supported the future creation of thousands of child care seats and new centers through more than $150M in capital funding.

Achieving Truly Universal Pre-K

While four-year-olds in some parts of New York have long had access to Pre-K, there are dozens of school districts that have not yet been able to make it available. Governor Hochul is providing additional support to ensure truly universal Pre-K for all four-year-olds in the State by the start of the 2028-2029 school year.

The State will not only fund additional seats to achieve universality but will also increase funding for existing seats, bringing them up to the greater of $10,000 or the applicable school district’s current selected foundation aid per pupil, so that districts have what they need to provide high-quality Pre-K. This combination reflects a commitment of roughly a half-billion dollars and will ensure that every child in New York State enters kindergarten ready to learn.

Launching 2-Care and Reaching Universal 3k Access in NYC

New York City has already launched universal Pre-K and 3K, and Governor Hochul will partner with Mayor Zohran Mamdani to age this program down and launch an unprecedented initiative to offer entirely free child care for two-year-olds within New York City. The Governor is committing to fully fund the first two years of the city’s implementation. As envisioned by the incoming mayoral administration, the first year of the program will focus on high-need areas selected by New York City and expand to serve all interested families across the city by year 4. In addition, the Governor will partner with the Mayor to strengthen and fix the city’s 3K program and ensure it achieves its promise of universal access.

Continuing Access to Low-Cost, Affordable Child Care Assistance Programs

Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York has more than doubled investment in the state’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which provides subsidies to help low-income families access child care.

By dramatically increasing the State’s investments in the program while expanding eligibility, the program now supports 2.5 times more children — an additional 100,000 — than when Governor Hochul took office; the number of children served has increased by almost 25 percent in the past year alone. Most of the families of the 170,000 children served by the program pay no more than $15 a week for child care.

This year, Governor Hochul will continue to grow the State’s investment in child care subsidies for those that need it most with a $1.2 billion increased investment, bringing the total available for subsidies to over $3 billion. This is more than 3.5 times more than the $832 million provided prior to the Governor taking office, and a nearly 40 percent increase from what was made available in the FY 2026 Enacted Budget.

Piloting Innovative Community Care Models Across New York Counties

In 2026, Governor Hochul will launch innovative new pilot projects for children in counties outside of New York City that are also ready to launch child care in more expansive ways in their communities.

The Governor will launch a new New York State pilot, designed to support counties in working towards universal access to affordable, year-round, full-day care for thousands of families across these communities, regardless of income. Programs will be a joint collaboration between participating counties and New York State.

Office of Child Care and Early Education

A new Office of Child Care and Early Education will drive the implementation of high-quality, universal child care in New York State. The Office will oversee and support roll out of universal Pre-K, continued investment in 3K, launch of 2-Care and other innovative care options, expansion and improvement of vouchers, and ongoing support for the workforce.

Supporting the Workforce Through Early Childhood Educator Preparation

Governor Hochul’s plan to strengthen New York’s early childhood education workforce includes expanding existing workforce scholarships, seeking opportunities for new Workforce Pell grants, and directing SUNY and CUNY to take a number of steps to expand and streamline early childhood education programs.

Expanding the Child and Dependent Care Credit to Better Support Families

Governor Hochul will expand and simplify the child and dependent care tax credit to provide an additional average benefit of $575 for 230,000 tax filers. She will also undertake a thorough review of existing tax incentives for employers with the goal of helping them better serve the child care needs of their employees.

JANUARY 8 — NEW YORK DOCTORS HEALING BREAKTHROUGHS IN 2025 FOR YOU IN 15 KEY AREAS

Posted on January 8, 2026 by John Bailey

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15 health wins in NY

Much to celebrate from 2025—and an infectious disease update

Marisa Donnelly

Jan 8

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If you know someone who works in health, chances are they banged their head against a wall at least once in 2025—myself included. The past year brought the largest measles outbreak in decades and a tidal wave of false information on vaccines, including from the highest levels of government. Just days into 2026, HHS overhauled the recommended childhood vaccine schedule—not because of new science, but because of politics.

To put it simply, we’ve been through a health gauntlet.

But, despite the chaos, there’s a lot to still celebrate.

Across New York, health workers, policymakers, and supporters kept showing up, day in and day out, working toward a healthier New York, regardless of what was said on the news. That is worth celebrating.

So I’ve put together a few milestones from the past year. It’s not exhaustive (there’s always important work happening behind the scenes that doesn’t make headlines), but here’s a roundup of some of the key wins that made New York a healthier place in 2025. I’ve also got your regular infectious disease weather report at the end.

1. NYC life expectancy reached a record high.

New York City’s average life expectancy hit 83.2 years, surpassing the city’s HealthyNYC goal years ahead of schedule. This milestone reflects progress across several issues, including things like chronic disease management, overdose prevention, and Covid-19 treatment and vaccination, among others.

NYC life expectancy. Figure from the HealthyNYC Dashboard. Annotations by YLE.

2. NYC had a significant reduction in overdose deaths.

NYC had a 28 % drop in overdose deaths in 2024—the largest decline in nearly a decade. Staten Island experienced the most dramatic drop, tied to localized interventions and broader access to naloxone and treatment.

Figure from the NYC DOH Epi Data Brief on Overdose Deaths. Annotations by YLE.

3. Youth tobacco use declined in New York state.

Tobacco use among high school students across the state continued to fall to record lows, showing the effectiveness of prevention efforts.

4. New York strengthened vaccine access and regional collaboration.

In 2025, NYC and the state continued to expand vaccine access through:

Joining and helping lead the Governors Public Health Alliance, a 14-state effort to safeguard vaccine infrastructure, and the Northeast Regional Public Health Alliance.
Passing new state laws that guarantee Covid-19 vaccine access for all New Yorkers, despite changes in federal vaccination recommendations.
Continuing to recommend the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose for all newborns.

5. Investment in public health data infrastructure.

NYC launched a new Vaccination Data Explorer to help identify immunization gaps and inform outreach, and updated their respiratory illness dashboard. At the state level, New York also updated their respiratory virus reports and rolled out a new Heat Illness Risk tool to monitor extreme heat threats across the state.

6. Progress in medical debt relief and medication cost reductions.

Financial wins in 2025 included:

NYC relieved $80 million in medical debt for New Yorkers with low incomes.
New state laws eliminated cost sharing for asthma inhalers and eliminated copays for insulin under state-regulated plans.

These changes will improve access to live-saving medications and help reduce long-term health disparities tied to chronic illnesses like asthma and diabetes.

7. NYC opened a clubhouse to help New Yorkers with serious mental illness.

The Venture House clubhouse opened in Brooklyn to support people living with serious mental illness. Its goals are to provide community and social connections, supported employment and education, and recovery services through a supportive community of peers.

8. New York hospitals accomplished several medical milestones.

A patient was cured of sickle cell anemia at Cohen Children’s Medical Center using a groundbreaking new therapy.
Northwell Northshore University Hospital doctors performed a rare triple transplant—heart, kidney, and liver—on a Long Island patient that saved his life.
A pediatric heart transplant saved the lives of three kids at New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. When one child received a full heart transplant, parts of her former heart were able to be transplanted for two other children in need.

9. New state laws and research centers in New York advanced maternal and reproductive health.

Those who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant are now guaranteed 20 hours of paid leave for prenatal care.

New York state laws expanded protection for reproductive health care clinicians and patients, including privacy safeguards on prescriptions for abortion medications.
A new endometriosis research center was opened at the Cold Spring Harbor Lab on Long Island.

10. New York state surpassed the national breast cancer screening goal.

81.9% of New York women were up to date on screenings, higher than the national goal of ~80.3%.

11. Improved air quality and citywide composting in NYC.

A new study showed that air quality in Manhattan improved following the implementation of congestion pricing. In the first 6 months of the program, PM2.5 (particulate matter in the air, associated with major health issues like asthma) dropped by 22% in the Congestion Relief Zone.

Estimated weekly effects on PM2.5 over time in the congestion relief zone compared to all of the NYC metro area and the 5 boroughs. Figure from Fraser et al.

Citywide composting across all five NYC boroughs kicked off in 2025. The program helps build environmental resilience, reduce food waste sent to landfills, and reduce rats getting access to food scraps. It also provides compost back to NYC residents who can use it for gardening. Compost pick-up sites and events are located throughout the city from April to September.

12. NY SWIMS funded water safety and pool access.

Over $200 million was distributed through the NY SWIMS program to expand access to safe public swimming facilities across the state—supporting physical activity and reducing drowning risk.

13. The Wadsworth Center was recognized for national leadership in laboratory health science.

The Wadsworth Center, New York’s public health laboratory, was named a National Influenza Reference Center. Its director, Dr. Kirsten St. George, received a national award for her contributions to public health innovation, including expanding New York public health surveillance to incorporate wastewater monitoring and sequencing data to track new variants and outbreaks.

14. Albany began lead pipe replacement.

The state is funding a $129 million project to replace lead service lines in Albany, addressing a critical environmental health risk.

15. New York worked to increase temporary housing and meal access for those in need.

The construction of a new emergency shelter in Buffalo broke ground.
In Syracuse, a community-led program delivered a record-breaking number of free Thanksgiving meals to families in need. This was their 138th year serving Thanksgiving meals.

These victories are a testament to what’s possible when data, policy, and communities come together to improve health. Here’s to building on this progress in 2026 and beyond.

Quick infectious disease “weather report”

Flu: The flu has been intense this year! My partner and I got it this past weekend. But there’s some good news—data from New York show that we may be turning a corner.

In NYC, the latest data through December 27th show that influenza is actually declining, i.e. we may have passed the peak.

Percent of emergency department visits due to the flu. Figure from the NYC Department of Health Respiratory Illness Dashboard. Annotations by YLE.

New York state shows the same—positive tests for influenza are declining. But we still see very high and increasing hospitalizations for flu, meaning we are still in the thick of the season.

RSV: Potentially at the peak. In NYC and New York state, emergency department visits and hospitalizations for RSV are still increasing, but the number of cases in New York state is starting to decline.

Covid: The same is true for Covid—the number of emergency department visits in NYC and New York state are still going up, but the number of cases is going down.

To sum it all up, declining case numbers for respiratory illnesses doesn’t mean we’re out of the clear. Influenza transmission is still really high, and many people are still being hospitalized. Don’t let your guard down yet. It’s still a good idea to keep masking in crowded, indoor spaces, especially if you are at higher risk for severe illness (immunocompromised, pregnant, older, etc.).

Bottom line

Even amid major federal disruptions to health guidance and policy, New Yorkers did what New Yorkers do best—we kept moving forward. And we have a lot to show for it. So here’s to building on that progress and improving health even further in 2026. Happy New Year!

Love,

Your NY Epi

Dr. Marisa Donnelly, PhD, is an epidemiologist, science communicator, and public health expert. This newsletter exists to translate complex public health data into actionable insights, empowering New Yorkers to make informed and evidence-based health decisions.

Thanks for your financial support of Your Local Epidemiologist in New York! I couldn’t do this without you. — Marisa

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JANUARY 7 MIDNIGHT– THIS JUST IN– CLOSE UP ON THE NORTHEAST DISEASES FROM DR. CAITLIN RIVERS. NYC AREA PEAKED OR HAS IT? CDC THINKS IT HAS

Posted on January 7, 2026 by John Bailey

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Outbreak Outlook – Northeast – Jan 7

Flu is very high, Covid & RSV picking up

Jan 7

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Respiratory Diseases

Influenza

This flu season is brutal.

Flu and influenza-like illness (or ILI, which looks only at symptoms) are very high nationwide, and outpatient ILI is higher in the Northeast at 10.6% than in any other region.

More than 1 in 10 visits to the doctor in the Northeast this past week were for fever, cough, or sore throat. Every state in the region reported high or very high and increasing emergency department (ED) visits this past week.

Outpatient influenza-like illness (%)

% of visits to the doctor that are for fever and cough or sore throat

Extra precautions to reduce infection are warranted right now, including masking, washing hands regularly, running an air filtration device at home if someone is sick, and avoiding large crowds.

New York is likely at or just past peak, but it’s not entirely clear. Outpatient ILI increased again this week, to a super high 14.4%, but the increases were smaller this week, which suggests we’re nearing peak. Same for ED visits, which increased slightly to 9%. Hospitalizations are very high at 21.7 hospitalizations per 100,000 people. In addition, the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics estimates that New York state is past peak (see the map below).

In New York City, ED visits for flu actually decreased slightly, to 7.9%, suggesting we may be just past peak there. Hospitalizations have declined slightly as well. Queens and the Bronx have highest levels of activity as measured by ED visits.

Northeast: ED visits for influenza (%)

% of visits to the emergency department that are for influenza

There are sharp increases in flu elsewhere across the region.

More than 1 in 10 ED visits in New Jersey are for flu (10.9%), as are nearly 1 in 10 in Massachusetts (9.7%) and New Hampshire (9.5%).

In Connecticut, ED visits increased again to 11.8% — above last year’s peak of 9.1%. Hospitalizations, however, decreased substantially this past week, from over 20 to 6.2; it is unusual to see a swing this large in hospitalizations, so I am wondering if there was a delay in data due to the holiday. The Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics estimates that all these states (except NH, no estimate there) are past peak (see the map below).

Increases, increases, and more increases.

In Rhode Island, ED visits increased to 8.5%, while in Maine, outpatient ILI more than doubled to 8.1%, and ED visits increased to 6.5%. In Pennsylvania, outpatient ILI increased to 4.7%, and ED visits for flu jumped to 6.8%. In Vermont, flu remains at more moderate levels, but is increasingly rapidly, with ED visits more than doubling in the past week to 5.1%. The Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics estimates that all these states are still seeing increases in activity.

CFA’s Influenza Trends

Influenza trend estimates from the CDC’s Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics, as of December 30, 2025.

One other thing: I don’t love wastewater as a surveillance approach to influenza, but for what its worth, wastewater concentration of influenza is still rising across the region. I wanted to include this data this week despite my misgivings because I think it weighs against “calling” the peak.

Northeast: influenza wastewater concentration

Wastewater concentration of influenza

COVID-19

In case the flu respiratory activity was not enough, Covid-19 activity is also moderately high.

Wastewater activity is right on the border between moderate and high activity, having dipped very slightly this past week. ED visits increased in nearly all states in the region this week (except Rhode Island), with all states reporting rates between 0.6 and 1.3%.

Wastewater activity is very high and rising in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Both states also reported increases in ED visits this past week to ~1.1%. However, hospitalizations decreased a bit in Connecticut (to 1.5 hospitalizations per 100,000 people).

Northeast: Covid-19 wastewater concentration

Wastewater concentration of SARS-CoV-2

In New Hampshire, wastewater activity is high and increasing (incomplete data), and ED visits increased to 1.22%. In Maine, activity is high — about where it was during the late summer wave — but it didn’t increase much this past week. ED visits, however, did and are now the highest in the region at 1.26%.

In Rhode Island, wastewater activity held steady at moderate levels, alongside ED visits. In Pennsylvania, wastewater activity was moderate and stable, and ED visits increased to 1.24%.

In New York, ED visits are the lowest in the region, at 0.64%, but are increasing, along with wastewater activity (though data are incomplete), and hospitalizations (3.6). Wastewater activity is low in New Jersey and Vermont, and while ED visits remain relatively low in these states, they increased nonetheless.

Northeast: ED visits for Covid-19 (%)

% of visits to the emergency department that are for Covid-19

RSV

RSV is moderate and rising in the Northeast, with ED visits at a little under 0.4%. Most states in the region reported increases in ED visits this past week, with the exception of Massachusetts (which decreased to 0.35%) and Maine (where it held stead at 0.04%).

Rates are highest in New Jersey, where ED visits have risen to a moderate 0.65%. In comparison, last year’s RSV season peaked at about double that rate.

ED visits more than doubled in the past week in Rhode Island, to 0.45%. New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont all reported increases to between 0.26 and 0.41%. Despite the increase in ED visits, hospitalizations in New York, dipped slightly this week, to 1.3 hospitalizations per 100,000, and more substantively in Connecticut, to 0.5.

Northeast: ED visits for RSV (%)

% of visits to the emergency department that are for RSV

Other Bugs

Adenovirus remains very high.
Human metapneumovirus and human coronaviruses continue to slowly rise and are at moderate activity.
Parainfluenza and rhinoviruses/enteroviruses are both declining, but still at moderate activity.

Stomach Bugs

Data did not update yet, so I am repeating what I said in the national edition a few days ago:

Norovirus continues its upward climb. In the Midwest, Northeast, and South, norovirus wastewater activity is high and rising. In the West, wastewater activity remains more moderate, but is also rising.

Noro is extremely contagious — this is where hand washing regularly (with soap and water, hand sanitizer is not particularly effective), avoiding touching your face, avoiding communal bowls of food/drink, and wiping down surfaces with soap and water or a diluted bleach solution can really help with prevention.

Food recalls

The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items:

New:

Primavera Nueva tamale products, variety of flavors (more info)

Previously Reported:

There is a big recall of hundreds of products — from Airhead candies to meat to Splenda packets — that passed through a single distributor and were sold to over 50 stores, primarily in Minnesota and Indiana. I strongly urge you to check out the list of stores (here) and if you’ve shopped at one of them recently, check out the much longer list of items that are being recalled (here)
Country Vet Biscuits & Heartland Harvest Dog Biscuits [for dogs] are being recalled for potential contamination with Salmonella. Salmonella can sicken both pets who consume the treats, and humans who handle the products (or who touch surfaces the items touched). (more info)
Forward Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef (more info)
Frozen raw shrimp sold under the Market 32 and Waterfront Bistro brand names, due to possible cesium-137 contamination (more info)
Lucky Foods cinnamon powder, due to potential lead contamination (more info)
ByHeart Infant Formula due to potential botulism contamination (more info)

In other news NEWN YORK REJECTS ALL RECENT AND UNILATERAL CHANGES IN CDC IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE!

An alert went out this afternoon regarding immunization recommendations in New York:
“The New York State Department of Health and the NYC Health Department reject all recent and unilateral changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immunization schedule.
There are no changes to New York State and New York City school immunization requirements and related policies, vaccine access, insurance coverage, or the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC).” This follows the recent change to the childhood immunization schedule at the federal level that moved a number of core vaccines to a lesser category of recommendation.

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