EO for routine childhood vaccines, Covid-19, fire, heat, and more

President Biden issued an executive order this week to regulate routine childhood vaccinations, seemingly defying the administration's claim of avoiding interference in such matters before the midterms. Separately, Michigan health officials declared that iceberg lettuce is safe once again, but a new outbreak has emerged in 27 states: jalapeños. Covid-19, fire smoke, and heat risks persist as global concerns. To assess the current "disease weather report" and its implications, here's a rundown of the relevant facts.

First, the nation witnessed a staggering cyclosporiasis outbreak, with over 20,000 cases reported this year. However, this figure is likely an undercount due to many people with milder symptoms opting not to seek medical care. The outbreak appears to be winding down, particularly in Michigan where emergency department visits have dropped significantly and the number of recent infections is close to zero. This is a crucial metric as it isn't affected by delays or lab confirmation issues.

Regarding lettuce, an enforcement report from the FDA revealed that the total recalled amount of contaminated lettuce was 236,192 cases. Notably, only 2.5% of the recalled product came from Taco Bell. Almost half of the recalled items were sold at Walmart, which complicates Taylor Farms' communications as many consumers may have been exposed to the contaminated product under the impression it was just Taco Bell.

In other news, a Salmonella outbreak linked to fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico has been identified. The CDC reports 345 cases across 27 states, with 36 hospitalizations and two antibiotic-resistant strains. Major chains like Chipotle, Qdoba, and several suppliers have taken action in response to the recall. For individuals, it's advised to avoid consuming jalapeños and associated foods at various grocery stores, including Hannaford, Kroger, Stop and Shop, Target, Trader Joe's, Walmart, and Whole Foods.

Lastly, the Covid-19 summer wave continues to escalate; however, emergency visits are on the rise in 43 states. While Covid-19 levels remain low, hospitalizations have started to increase after a typical lag in testing trends, though they remain at historically low levels. The overall pattern of this disease weather report suggests a mixed landscape, with some outbreaks subsiding while others continue to escalate.