Health and fitness

By Miriam Raftery

Image: generic cat photo, cc  via Bing

February 26, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego County Public Health officials are investigating a suspected case of bird flu (H5N1) in a house cat from East County.  Preliminary test results show the cat, which got sick and died in mid-January 2025, was positive for bird flu.  The indoor cat ate a raw pet food that is suspected to be the source of the infection.  

This is the first case of bird flu in a cat in San Diego County. Several other unconnected cases have happened in cats throughout the state, and all are suspected to be the result of eating raw food or raw milk.

Bird flu or H5N1 is a highly contagious virus that can sicken or kill birds and other animals. In 2024, there were six cases of bird flu in wild gulls in San Diego County. No wildlife cases have been confirmed so far in 2025. No local cases in humans have been reported.  
 

While rare, it can be spread to people when the virus gets in someone’s eyes, nose or mouth, or when it is inhaled.  No local cases in humans have been reported and the risk to people remains low.   

“Bird Flu has been devastating for wildlife populations around the globe, poultry and dairy cattle in our country and has infrequently affected people and cats,” said Dr. Seema Shah, Medical Director of County Epidemiology and Immunization Services Branch.  “The County is actively monitoring wild birds and expanding testing, along with keeping tabs on people exposed to those animals in case they exhibit symptoms. We are also working with veterinarians, healthcare providers, farmers and wildlife groups to provide guidance and resources.”

While cases of bird flu in people and cats are rare, there are steps you can take to lower the risk of bird flu for yourself, family and pets. 
 

•  Avoid consuming raw milk or dairy products or feeding them to your pets because raw milk is not pasteurized. Pasteurization is a heating process that kills harmful pathogens like bird flu or bacteria like salmonella, toxin producing E. coli. and listeria
• Avoid feeding raw pet food products to pets and talk to your pet’s veterinarian about safe and healthy diets
• Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water when handling raw foods like meats and poultry and cook them to recommended temperature before serving  
• Avoid touching sick or dead birds or animals and report them to animal control
• Don’t let your pets eat or touch sick or dead bird or animals
• Keep your cats indoors and supervise pets outdoors
• Get the seasonal flu vaccine. While it does not protect against bird flu, it can protect you from getting both the season flu and bird flu at the same time.  
   

On the West Coast, house cats have died from bird flu caused by consuming raw milk or food products including in Santa Barbara County, San Mateo, Los Angeles, Washington and Oregon. 

Signs of bird flu in cats include neurologic issues like lack of coordination, tremors, seizures or blindness, loss of appetite, discharge from the eyes and nose and other respiratory issues like breathing fast, sneezing or coughing. Pet owners should tell their veterinarian if their pet is sick and has eaten a raw food diet, has interacted with poultry or dairy cattle, or hunts wild birds or other wild animals.  

Those most at risk for bird flu are farmworkers, people with backyard flocks, wildlife workers and those who work around animals. Those that work with ill animals can use personal protective equipment to reduce their likelihood of exposure to the virus.  

More information about bird flu is posted on the County’s website including guidance for healthcare professionals, employers and veterinarians.  

New agency head lays off staffers overseeing epidemics, cancels flu vaccine campaign and takes aim at chemicals in food. 

By G. A. McNeeley 

Photo by Ron Logan

February 22, 2025 (Washington D.C.) - The Senate last week confirmed anti-vaccine activist Robert F.. Kennedy Jr. to head the U.S. Health and Human Services Department on a party-line vote, with Mitch McConnell the only Republican voting against the controversial appointee opposed by every Democratic Senator. 

Now at the helm of the nation’s largest public health agency, Kennedy is implementing major changes to remedy what he views as sources of chronic diseases.But healthcare professionals are raising concerns over some of Kennedy’s early actions, including ending a flu vaccine campaign and laying off employees in charge of investigating potential public health threats to ward off future epidemics. 

Kennedy implored federal health agency workers to “let go” of preconceived notions of him and start from “square one,” but also promised that “nothing is going to be off limits” in his pursuit to reduce chronic disease, Politico reported. “Some of the possible factors we will investigate were formerly taboo or insufficiently scrutinized,” he told HHS staff, in his first address to the department he now leads. “I’m willing to subject them all to the scrutiny of unbiased science.” 

What Is His Plan? 

Hours after Kennedy pledged to Senators that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would not undergo a staff purge, it did. 

The Trump administration laid off half of its Epidemic Intelligence Service. The lay off affected 1,260 staff members, NBC reported. 

Kennedy made no mention of the dismissals, but hinted towards his previous comments threatening the jobs of federal agency staff resistant to his reforms. “Those who are unwilling to embrace those kinds of ideas can retire,” he said. 

For years, Kennedy has cast doubt on the safety and efficacy of vaccines and spread misinformation linking vaccines to autism. During his Senate confirmation hearings, he refused to disavow those comments, only promising he would if “shown the data.” 

He appeared to indirectly reference his vaccine comments to HHS employees, by asking that they be open minded to his views. In return, he said he would acknowledge that he’s asked “a lot of difficult questions and come to unpopular conclusions.” 

Kennedy nevertheless signaled he would prioritize fresh efforts to question long-held health standards to reduce chronic disease, listing the nation’s childhood vaccine schedule as among the formerly “taboo” areas he planned to scrutinize. 

Among the potential contributors to chronic disease, he suggested he would direct the HHS to investigate anti-depression drugs, ultra-processed foods, electromagnetic radiation and glyphosate pesticides found in some foods. 

“We will remove conflicts of interest from the committees and research partners whenever possible or balance them with other stakeholders,” he said. “We will shut the revolving door.” 

Kennedy’s role as secretary of HHS will have him oversee a budget of nearly $2 trillion and a staff of 90,000 federal employees, and give him control of other critical health programs under the fold of the HHS, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 

Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again (MAHA),” believes chronic disease is, in part, driven by additives in food and pollution in the environment. It also hasn’t been laid out in specifics, but he has vaguely promised to tackle the nation’s rising obesity rates and SNAP benefits, and has claimed he will work with the Department of Agriculture to eradicate

ultra-processed foods from the American market. 

Flu Vaccination Campaign Halted 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is stopping a successful flu vaccination campaign that juxtaposed images of wild animals, such as a lion, with cute counterparts, like a kitten, as an analogy for how immunization can help tame the flu. This happened during Kennedy’s first week as head of the HHS. 

The news was shared with staff during a meeting, according to two CDC staffers who spoke with NPR on the condition of anonymity. 

During the meeting, leadership at the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases told CDC staff that the Department of Health and Human Services had reviewed the campaign and advised that it would not continue. 

The "Wild to Mild" flu vaccination campaign sought to encourage people to get the flu vaccine. The campaign aimed to communicate that flu vaccination can lessen symptoms and the chance of getting severely ill, even if it doesn't prevent someone from catching the flu. The website for the campaign is already offline. 

The campaign sought to "reset public expectations around what a flu vaccine can do in the event that it does not entirely prevent illness," according to the CDC's webpage describing the launch of the campaign in 2023. It was renewed for the current flu season. 

The campaign was a response to falling flu vaccination rates since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and targeted groups at higher risk, "especially pregnant women and children." 

"We found that it was very successful — people understood the message, [and] they were swayed by the message," Erin Burns, associate director for communications in the CDC's Influenza Division, told the trade website FiercePharma in October 2024. 

The Trump administration's decision to pull the campaign comes in the midst of a brutal flu season that's still raging. More than 50,000 patients were admitted to hospitals for influenza during the week that ended on Feb. 8 (the highest level in 15 years). 

It's unclear how much time was left in the campaign, but it would have at least gone through the end of this flu season and the materials would have stayed on the agency's website, one of the CDC staffers told NPR. 

What About Those Staff Cuts? 

Top-ranking officials with the CDC, the HHS sub agency that oversees the program, told CBS News that the cuts would have a devastating effect on the country’s ability to assess blooming diseases. 

They are just some of the thousands of probationary workers taking a hit as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency combs the federal government for possible programs to slash, as Washington reels from firings and funding cuts. Musk has targeted those at the HHS, leaving career officials and lawmakers worried about the impact on public health. 

“The country is less safe,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, an alumna of the disease research program said. “These are the deployable assets critical for investigating new threats, from anthrax to Zika.” 

Many staffers that go through the program serve on the frontlines of public health responses before later rising through the ranks of the CDC. 

In an interview with Fox News after he was sworn in, Kennedy pledged that employees who work in service of public health had “nothing to worry about” under his tenure fronting America’s health policy. 

“If you’ve been involved in good science, you’ve got nothing to worry about,” Kennedy said. “If you care about public health, you’ve got nothing to worry about.” 

What Are Opposers Saying? 

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor to oppose the nomination of Kennedy to lead the HHS, raising the alarm on the disastrous public health implications before he was confirmed. 

“I oppose this nomination for his wildly misinformed beliefs and his utter lack of experience. I believe he is fundamentally unfit and unprepared, and Americans will be less healthy if he is confirmed, Padilla said. 

Kennedy has repeatedly spread dangerous conspiracy theories, even going as far as to say that “there’s no vaccine that is safe and effective.” 

Padilla called him out for making false accusations that vaccines cause autism, and that COVID-19 targets specific racial and ethnic groups. Padilla also criticized Kennedy for founding his own anti-vaccine organization, authoring several books that push public health conspiracies, and making millions of dollars off of anti-vaccination lawsuits filed by Kennedy, an attorney. 

“I get the fear. I’m proud to represent California in the Senate. I’m proud to have an engineering background. But I, too, am a parent of three boys. And I remember what it was like to hold a baby in your arms, and to worry every time there was a sniffle and a cough. I’d do anything to protect my children, just as you would do anything to protect yours,” Padilla said, on the senate floor, in a video press release from his website. 

Padilla, a co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, also highlighted the dangers Kennedy poses to mental health care access and Medicaid benefits. He slammed Kennedy for his dangerous lack of knowledge regarding Medicaid funding and benefits. 

“At a time when Republicans are looking to cut funding for lifesaving services, I’d rather see a fierce defender of Medicaid at HHS. Yet, during his confirmation hearings, Mr. Kennedy failed to show even a basic understanding of Medicaid. Not the sources of funding, not the benefits, and at one point, he even seemed to conflate or confuse Medicaid and Medicare,” Padilla said. 

As Republicans threaten major cuts to Medicaid, Padilla underscored the importance of confirming a nominee with the necessary qualifications and experience to protect public health. He urged his colleagues to vote against Kennedy’s confirmation. 

What Are Supporters Saying? 

Del Bigtree, who leads a group promoting Kennedy’s MAHA movement, dismissed widely replicated studies finding no link to autism because he alleged that they were conducted by scientists who wanted to find that result. 

“Get scientists who say, ‘I think I can prove vaccines do cause autism,’” Bigtree said. “If they can’t pull that off, now you have a true safety profile.” 

Bigtree said that the HHS has long approved “poisons” produced by industry for public consumption, and urged Kennedy to root out corporate influence. 

Bigtree also said federal agencies should not be funded by industries, suggesting Kennedy’s advisers are pushing for major reforms to the current user fee system at the HHS agency that oversees food and drugs, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

“Finally we have someone at the head of HHS not owned by these corporations,” Bigtree said of Kennedy. “I think he’s looking for the right type of people.” 

Bigtree said Kennedy should review HHS employees’ histories to see whether they worked for industry and also vet their views about the causes of chronic disease. 

“Robert Kennedy Jr. has to sit down with the team and bring people and say, ‘What have you done over the last four years,’” Bigtree said. “If they’re not producing real results and good science, maybe there’s a better job for them somewhere else.” 

Bigtree said that hiring scientists who are skeptical of the industry and existing vaccine science would help restore the public’s flagging trust in the government’s health care bureaucracy, adding that he thought Kennedy could safely downsize HHS’ 80,000-person staff. 

Bigtree isn’t part of the administration, but he serves as a powerful leader of the MAHA movement. He also endorsed Kennedy’s comments to HHS staff that nothing was off limits for review. 

Sources: 

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/18/kennedy-lays-out-hhs-plan-00204675 

https://newrepublic.com/post/191579/robert-f-kennedy-jr-cdc-infectious-disease-research 

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/02/19/nx-s1-5302906/cdc-flu-vaccine-campaign-terminated 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=a_TNAPHiePM 

https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-padilla-slams-rfk-jr-nomination-to-lead-health-and-human-services/ 

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/19/rfk-jr-vaccine-scientists-00204870

By Seraphina Eberhardt, Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies East County

February 17, 2025 (San Diego) -- The start of a new year often brings the promise of new beginnings. For many, that includes resolutions focused on personal health and well-being, from hitting the gym to adopting healthier eating habits. In recent years, however, more and more of us have embraced a different kind of New Year’s resolution: abstaining from alcohol for the month of January. This annual challenge, known as Dry January, has gained popularity, particularly among the “Sober Curious” movement, which seeks to explore the impact of alcohol on mental and physical health. In San Diego County, it’s more than just a passing trend. It's a growing cultural shift.

Dry January is a public health campaign encouraging individuals to refrain from consuming alcohol for the entire month. The idea is simple yet powerful. Give your body and mind a break after the holiday season’s overindulgence, reset your habits, and reflect on how alcohol affects your life. While it began in the UK as a grassroots initiative in 2013, the concept has spread rapidly worldwide, including the United States, where the movement has grown significantly in the past decade.

According to recent surveys, millions of Americans now participate in Dry January, and the statistics show that the practice has real, tangible benefits. A study from the University of Sussex revealed that over half of participants reported improved sleep, more energy, and even weight loss after a month of sobriety. Beyond the physical benefits, many participants also reported a greater sense of clarity and an overall improvement in mental health.

While Dry January has become a cultural phenomenon, it’s also part of a larger movement quietly taking root over the past several years. This trend is not about forced abstinence or a commitment to lifelong sobriety, but rather about exploring life without alcohol and questioning its role in social settings and personal well-being. It appeals to those who are curious about the impact of alcohol on their lives but don’t necessarily identify as alcoholics or intend to quit drinking forever. For many, the goal is to embrace a more mindful relationship with alcohol, whether that means cutting back, abstaining altogether, or just becoming more aware of their drinking habits.

The Sober Curious movement has been bolstered by an increase in alcohol-free social spaces, beverages, and online communities. In San Diego, a city known for its laid-back lifestyle and vibrant nightlife, there’s been a noticeable shift in the offerings available to those seeking an alcohol-free experience. Many local bars and cafes now offer creative non-alcoholic cocktails, and businesses like “Club Soda,” a local sober social club, provide spaces for people to enjoy social activities without the pressure to drink. These innovations highlight the growing demand for options that support a sober or sober-curious lifestyle, not just for January, but year-round.

The appeal of Dry January and the Sober Curious movement is not limited to big cities like Los Angeles or New York. In fact, San Diego County is a prime example of how this trend is taking off in a community that is often associated with a heavy drinking culture thanks to beach parties, craft breweries, and a year-round vacation mindset.

Recent data from the County's Binge and Underage Drinking (BUDI) Initiative shows an increase in individuals who binge drink. The popularity of Dry January has become a gateway for those interested in taking the first steps toward more mindful drinking. It’s a low-pressure way to engage with sobriety and can be an effective tool for anyone looking to better understand their relationship with alcohol.

In San Diego, the shift toward sobriety and mindful drinking is not only about individual health but also about community connection. Local organizations, like the San Diego Sober Meetup group, host a variety of alcohol-free social events, from hikes and yoga sessions to movie nights and happy hours. This growing sober community provides a supportive environment for people who may feel isolated in their journey toward sobriety or simply curious about a different way to socialize.

So, what’s driving this shift? For one, the growing body of research on the effects of alcohol on both physical and mental health is hard to ignore. Studies have linked alcohol consumption to a wide range of health issues, from liver disease and cancer to anxiety and depression. Many people, especially those in their 20s and 30s, are opting to take a break from drinking to lower their risks and improve their overall well-being.

In addition, the rise of social media has played a significant role in amplifying the Sober Curious movement. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have given voice to individuals exploring life without alcohol, creating a sense of community and solidarity among people who might otherwise feel alienated by mainstream drinking culture.

Dry January’s effects can last well beyond the first month of the year. The rise of the Sober Curious movement is a testament to the growing interest in healthier, more mindful lifestyles. In San Diego County, where people constantly seek balance between the fun of coastal living and the realities of health and wellness, Dry January and the sober-curious culture represent an exciting new direction.

For those who took part in Dry January, the challenge may be just the beginning of a deeper, more reflective journey. Whether you decide to go alcohol-free, cut back, or simply make more mindful choices, the Sober Curious movement is here to stay. And in San Diego, it’s becoming more than just a trend. It’s a movement toward greater health, community, and awareness.

IPS works alongside communities to build power, challenge systems of inequity, protect health, and improve quality of life. IPS has a vision for safe, secure, vibrant and healthy communities where everyone can thrive. To learn more about IPS East County, follow us on our social media platforms: IPS East County Facebook, IPS East County X, and East County Youth Coalition Instagram. Our website is at IPSEast.org. Resources and services are available to assist with screening, treatment, and recovery for individuals with a substance use disorder via the Access & Crisis line, which is open year-round, 24/7 at (888) 724-7240 or dial 988.

February 13, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• How close are we to another pandemic?  (New York Times)
• USDA detects second type of bird flu in dairy cows (NBC)
• Senate confirms RFK Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary (CNN)
• Pro-RFK Jr. letter to the Senate includes names of doctors whose licenses were revoked or suspended  (AP)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• 11 Years After a Celebrated Opening, Massive Solar Plant Faces a Bleak Future in the Mojave Desert (US News)
• Exclusive: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency, sources say (Reuters)
• Solar panels in space show potential for liftoff, despite cost concerns (Christian Science Monitor)
• Google Maps blocks Gulf of America reviews after rename criticism (BBC)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

HEALTH

How close are we to another pandemic?  (New York Times)

An outbreak of bird flu has been tearing through the nation’s dairy farms and infecting more and more people. Now there are troubling signs that the United States may be closer to another pandemic, even as President Trump dismantles the country’s public health system.

USDA detects second type of bird flu in dairy cows (NBC)

Dairy cattle in Nevada have been infected with a new type of bird flu that's different from the version that has spread in U.S. herds since last year, Agriculture Department officials said Wednesday.

Senate confirms RFK Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary (CNN)

The Senate voted on Thursday to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health and Human Services secretary, a victory for President Donald Trump after Kennedy faced intense scrutiny over his controversial views on vaccines and public health policy.  The 52-48 vote was largely along party lines, though Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky once again joined with Democrats to oppose the nomination. .. Kennedy has been one of the country’s most prominent anti-vaccine activists and has for years used false and misleading claims to undermine public confidence in vaccines that are indeed safe.

Pro-RFK Jr. letter to the Senate includes names of doctors whose licenses were revoked or suspended  (AP)

A letter submitted to the U.S. Senate that states it was sent by physicians in support of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as secretary of Health and Human Services includes the names of doctors who have had their licenses revoked, suspended or faced other discipline… The AP found that in addition to the physicians who had faced disciplinary action, many of the nearly 800 signers are not doctors.

SCIENCE AND TECH

11 Years After a Celebrated Opening, Massive Solar Plant Faces a Bleak Future in the Mojave Desert (US News)

What was once the world's largest solar power plant of its type appears headed for closure just 11 years after opening, under pressure from cheaper green energy sources. Meanwhile, environmentalists continue to blame the Mojave Desert plant for killing thousands of birds and tortoises. The Ivanpah solar power plant formally opened in 2014 on roughly 5 square miles of federal land near the California-Nevada border.

Exclusive: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency, sources say (Reuters)

Aides to Elon Musk charged with running the U.S. government human resources agency have locked career civil servants out of computer systems that contain the personal data of millions of federal employees, according to two agency officials.

Solar panels in space show potential for liftoff, despite cost concerns (Christian Science Monitor)

 Picture a vast field of solar panels, ranging in an unbroken array across nearly a square mile of land. Now shift that image into outer space, with the giant structure sitting tens of thousands of miles above Earth’s surface, and you have a sense of what space-based solar power seeks to achieve…. Proponents say it can help power parts of the world that struggle to tap into more traditional forms of energy….

Google Maps blocks Gulf of America reviews after rename criticism (BBC)

It controversially updated the Gulf’s name for US users after Pres. Trump ordered it to be changed.

By Fernanda Lopez Halvorson, County of San Diego Communications Office

February 11, 2025 (San Diego) -- County public health officials are reminding everyone, particularly families with children and teenagers, that it is not too late to get the flu vaccine. 

This flu season, which is between fall and winter, three teenagers have died from the flu. None were vaccinated.  

“These recent flu deaths among our youth are tragic and concerning as we head into what historically is the peak of flu season,” said Dr. Ankita Kadakia, Interim Public Health Officer. “The flu vaccine is the best protection against getting seriously sick and preventing death. This has been a particularly long and difficult flu season compared to recent years and it’s not over yet. I highly encourage the flu vaccine, it’s not too late.” 

In San Diego County, nearly 80 percent of 5- to 17-year-olds have not received this flu season’s vaccine.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu shot yearly since the components of the vaccine change year to year to match the circulating strains.  

The influenza vaccine is available at doctors’ offices and retail pharmacies and is covered by medical insurance. People with no health care coverage can get vaccinated at one of the County’s six public health centers or a local community clinic. To find the nearest location, visit the County’s Flu Vaccine Locations page, myturn.ca.gov, or call 2-1-1 San Diego.   

In addition to getting vaccinated, people should also do the following to avoid getting sick:   

• Wash hands thoroughly and often  
• Use hand sanitizers, if unable to wash hands 
• Stay away from sick people 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth 
• Clean commonly touched surfaces 
• If you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with others  

County Health and Human Services Agency publishes the Respiratory Viruses Surveillance report, which tracks key flu, COVID-19, and RSV indicators and summarizes respiratory virus surveillance in the region.   

In total, there have been 73 people who have died from the flu this flu season. Most were people 50 years and older. 

East County News Service

February 10, 2025 (El Segundo) – Tri-Union Seafoods has recalled canned tuna products sold under the Trader Joe’s, Van Camp’s, Genova and H-E-B brands due to defective pull-top resulting in leakage and potential contamination with botulism, a deadly toxin.  The products were sold in many states, including Genova 5 oz. cans sold in California at Walmart, Kroger, H-E-B, Public, Harris Teeter and independent retailers.  Retailers in other states include Trader Joe’s and Costco.

Consumers are warned not to eat the recalled products, even the tuna does not look or smell bad. If you did consume a recalled tuna product, seek immediate medical attention if you feel unwell, since botulism is a potentially fatal form of food poisoning.  No illnesses associated with the recalled products have been reported, however, and the recall is out of an abundance of caution to protect public safety.

Recalled products include specific can codes and Best if Used By dates indicated on the bottom of the cans, and UPC numbers listed below.

If you have a recalled tuna can, please return it to the retailer for a full refund, throw it away, or contact Tri-Union Seafoods directly for a retrieval kit and a coupon for a replacement product. Consumers can contact Tri-Union Seafoods at support@thaiunionhelp.zendesk.com or 833-374-0171, if they have any questions or to request replacement product. The toll-free number hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.

This recall does not impact any other Tri-Union Seafoods products, as no other product packaging was impacted by this potential defect. Tri-Union Seafoods is committed to upholding the highest safety and quality standards.

Tri-Union Seafoods advises that consumers in possession of any product with the below Lot Codes should dispose of the product. Below is a list of specific Lots impacted:

By G. A. McNeeley

Photo: screenshot of video courtesy of Sharp Grossmont Hospital

February 6, 2025 (La Mesa) – Aiming to help patients be “discharged with dignity,” Sharp Grossmont Hospital held a clothing drive on February 1st. If you missed the event, you can still donate clothing and shoes at the hospital’s thrift store, Thrift Korral, 8693-A, La Mesa Blvd. in La Mesa.

“We collected approximately 2,000 items during the hours of the drive,” Linda Van Fulpen, the manager of Volunteer Services at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, told ECM in an interview.

Van Fulpen explained that the drive helps patients who don’t have their own clothing or shoes. This may include people who are homeless or indigent, patients who are being transferred to skilled nursing facilities, parents staying with children in Pediatrics, Behavioral Health patients attending court hearings, Endoscopy patients requiring a change of clothing, and low-income women in Prenatal Clinic.

The items that can be donated include jackets, sweatshirts, shoes, socks, undergarments, sweatpants, and pants with an elastic waistband.

Asked what items were requested and whether enough items were collected to meet the needs, Van Fulpen replied, ”We asked for adult jackets, sweatpants, shoes, socks, t-shirts, and pants. We can always use more men’s clothing and shoes as those items aren’t often donated to our thrift store. Items that cannot be used for our patients were given to our thrift store, the Thrift Korral.”

She added that socks are always appreciated, while shoes should be tennis shoes and slide-on varieties, but not dress shoes or shoes with heels.

Sharp Grossmont Hospital holds clothing drives “once or twice a year,” Van Fulpen said.

In 2024, nearly 8,500 articles of clothing and shoes were given to patients in need when leaving Sharp Grossmont Hospital. This was thanks to the generous clothing donations from the people who donated to Discharge With Dignity.

In 2019, California Senate Bill 1152 mandated that hospitals create plans for safely discharging homeless patients, including weather-appropriate clothing. Sharp Grossmont Hospital has been known to consistently exceed these requirements, stay ahead of industry standards, and show their commitment to compassionate care, according to a press release for the event.

Sharp HealthCare is recognized for clinical excellence in cardiac, cancer, multi-organ transplantation, orthopedics, rehabilitation, behavioral health, women’s health, home health, and hospice services. The Sharp HealthCare system also includes four acute-care hospitals, three specialty hospitals, two affiliated medical groups, a health plan, and numerous outpatient facilities and programs.

How To Donate:

Items can be dropped off Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Thrift Korral. The address is 8693-A, La Mesa Blvd.

Donations are accepted at the loading dock behind the shop.

The next drive will be later this year.

Source:  Covered California

Photo:  nearly 300,000 Californians have signed up during open enrollment through Jan. 26

Janaury 29, 2025 (Sacramento) - Covered California has surpassed 1.9 million enrollees, bolstering its record-high enrollment before open enrollment’s Jan. 31 deadline for California’s remaining uninsured.

January 28, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Trump funding freeze could disrupt education, housing, disaster aid (Reuters)
• Nonprofits Sue Trump Administration Over Federal Grants Freeze (Democracy Docket)
• How are H5N9 and H5N1 different? What to know after California bird flu outbreak (CBS News)
• FDA recommends pet food companies revisit safety plans amid bird flu outbreak (NBC)  
• CDC staff ordered to cut off communication with WHO  (CBS News)
• Travel, grant and funding cuts ‘stifling’ US health agencies in new Trump era (Guardian)
• Norovirus cases are surging. A doctor explains what to look for (CNN)
• Wall Street Journal labels RFK Jr. ‘dangerous to public health’ ahead of hearings (The Hill)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Meta and Amazon axe diversity initiatives joining US corporate rollback   (BBC)

U.S. probes hacking campaign that targeted climate activists  (NPR)

The internet is forever. Or is it?  (NPR)

Trump says Microsoft in talks to buy TikTok  (BBC)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

HEALTH

Trump funding freeze could disrupt education, housing, disaster aid (Reuters)

President Donald Trump's White House ordered a pause in all federal grants and loans starting on Tuesday, a sweeping decision that could disrupt education, health care and poverty programs, housing assistance, disaster relief and a host of other initiatives that depend on trillions of federal dollars. The freeze followed Trump's suspension of foreign aid last week, a move that began cutting off the supply of lifesaving medicines on Tuesday to countries around the world that depend on U.S. development assistance.

Nonprofits Sue Trump Administration Over Federal Grants Freeze (Democracy Docket)

A coalition of nonprofits, public health organizations and small businesses filed a lawsuit to block the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo instructing a pause on all agency grants and loans.

 How are H5N9 and H5N1 different? What to know after California bird flu outbreak (CBS News)

California duck farm made headlines this week after the World Organization of Animal Health published a report by U.S. authorities that a strain of bird flu that scientists call H5N9 had been found among sick birds in the flock.

FDA recommends pet food companies revisit safety plans amid bird flu outbreak (NBC)

Cats appear to be especially vulnerable to the H5N1 virus. Since the current outbreak of H5N1 began in 2022, dozens of domestic and feral cats have been infected. Some farm cats got sick from drinking raw milk. Others died after eating raw pet food contaminated with the bird flu virus.

CDC staff ordered to cut off communication with WHO  (CBS News)

The directive to the CDC to halt communications with the World Health Organization was imposed to comply with President Trump's executive order last week... Former health officials tell CBS News they worry the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO could endanger efforts to respond to diseases, both undermining the U.N. agency and also making it harder for American officials to prepare. The first way U.S. officials would sometimes hear about worrying outbreaks was through the WHO, especially in countries wary of working with American authorities.

Travel, grant and funding cuts ‘stifling’ US health agencies in new Trump era (Guardian)

Halts to external communications, publishing reports and reviewing and approving research a ‘dramatic shift’

Norovirus cases are surging. A doctor explains what to look for (CNN)

A common stomach bug is surging, according to new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the week of December 5, there were 91 outbreaks of norovirus reported...

Wall Street Journal labels RFK Jr. ‘dangerous to public health’ ahead of hearings (The Hill)

... “Most troubling is his long record of anti-vaccine advocacy,” the Journal wrote, noting the former presidential candidate has “tried to soften his vaccine skepticism since being nominated, and he now says he won’t take away anyone’s vaccines.” The Rupert Murdoch-owned outlet mentioned that Kennedy’s financial disclosures show he has “received millions of dollars from referring clients to Wisner Baum and Morgan & Morgan, law firms that have sued vaccine and drug makers. The risk is high that Mr. Kennedy will use his power and pulpit at HHS to enrich his trial-lawyer friends at the expense of public health and medical innovation,” the editorial board wrote.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Meta and Amazon axe diversity initiatives joining US corporate rollback   (BBC)

Meta and Amazon are axing their diversity programmes, joining firms across corporate America that are rolling back hiring and training initiatives criticised by conservatives, citing legal and political risks. The move comes just days after Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said it was ending a fact-checking programme criticised by President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans.

U.S. probes hacking campaign that targeted climate activists  (NPR)

A yearslong U.S. Justice Department investigation of a global hacking campaign that targeted prominent American climate activists took a turn in a London court this week amid an allegation that the hacking was ordered by a lobbying firm working for ExxonMobil.

The internet is forever. Or is it?  (NPR)

NPR - There's a concept known as digital decay, which refers to online media just kind of disappearing for a variety of reasons. Pew recently did a study showing that about 40% of websites since about 2013 have just vanished. They are inaccessible. There's a maze of dead links that go nowhere.

Trump says Microsoft in talks to buy TikTok  (BBC)

US President Donald Trump has said Microsoft is in discussions to acquire TikTok and that he would like to see a "bidding war" over the sale of the social media app. Both Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden have been trying for years to force TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US operations on national security grounds. It comes as Trump signed an executive order last week to delay a Biden Administration ban on TikTok that briefly took the app offline for its 170m users in the United States.

By Fernanda Lopez Halvorson, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo courtesy of the CDC

December 21, 2024 (San Diego) - County public health officials are warning San Diegans not to eat or drink raw milk products or give them to their pets because of the heightened risk for H5N1, or bird flu.