The presence of bird flu in cats is concerning due to pet cats’ proximity to people. There is a chance that cats could spread bird flu to people who are in close contact with them.

Bird flu is also dangerous for cats and can be deadly. About 67% of all cats who have had bird flu have died.

People with cats should limit their cat's unsupervised outdoor time, avoid feeding cats raw dairy products or food with uncooked meat, and take their cat to the vet if symptoms like trouble breathing appear.

Health officials are still trying to determine how the indoor-only cats got the virus and if the cats can infect humans.

To address the likely rise in rising COVID-19 cases during the fall and winter, the US government will again make free COVID-19 tests available to households in the US. In late September, each household will be given 4 free tests after ordering them on COVIDtests.gov.

COVID-19 tests are effective for longer than initially thought, so expiration dates for many brands have been extended by the FDA. Visit the FDA’s website for updated expiration dates. You will need the test kit to look up the brand, lot number, and original expiration date to see if it has an updated expiration date.

Tests are important in detecting a COVID-19 infection early, so an individual can take isolation measures and avoid spreading the infection to others.

At-home tests can be used if you have COVID-19 symptoms, have come into contact with someone who has a confirmed case, or will come into contact with someone who falls in a high-risk group such as the elderly or immunocompromised. More information on when to use a take-home COVID-19 test can be found on the FDA website linked here.

An exact date for when tests can be ordered has not yet been released, but the tests are expected to be available in late September. In the meantime, you can find a testing location at TestingLocator.CDC.gov. If you are insured, you may also be eligible for free at-home covid tests per month. See your insurance provider's website for details.

One in four people infected with dengue develop symptoms. Of these, one in twenty will develop a severe form of the illness. People should be monitored closely for 48 hours after the fever goes away for signs of severe illness. Most people recover within a week.

As of July 10^th, there have been 774 reported cases of travel-related dengue in the continental U.S. this year. Seven locally transmitted cases have been detected in Florida.

Dengue fever can cause intense bone and joint pain along with flu-like symptoms such as body aches, pain behind the eyes, nausea, fever, and rash. In severe cases, the cell platelet count becomes dangerously low and can lead to internal bleeding, shock, and death.

Severe dengue can become life-threatening within hours, and a patient should be taken to the emergency room immediately if they have: belly pain or tenderness, vomiting 3 or more times in 24 hours, bleeding from the nose or gums, vomiting blood or blood in stool, or feeling extremely tired and restless. These symptoms will appear within 24-48 hours after the fever has gone away.

Early or mild cases of dengue can be confused with many other diseases, it is important to let your doctor know if you have traveled to a region where Dengue Fever is present within three weeks of developing symptoms. It is important to know if a person has dengue fever so they can monitor for signs of severe illness and avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes to prevent local spread.

There is no specific treatment for dengue aside from getting plenty of rest, taking over the counter non-NSAID pain relievers such as Tylenol, and drinking a lot of fluids.

People with dengue fever should avoid taking NSAIDs or other blood-thinning pain relievers due to their increased risk of internal bleeding. Dengue patients who develop severe dengue may need to be admitted to the hospital for monitoring, and if resting at home should monitor themselves for signs of severe infection.

Travelers and people living in areas with increased risk of infection should take steps to protect themselves from mosquitos such as wearing long-sleeved clothing and bug spray. The mosquitos that carry dengue are common in urban areas, and precautions should be taken even on city streets.

The species of mosquito that transmits dengue fever is present in the U.S. which means the potential for local transmission is present. Currently, the risk of widespread transmission of dengue fever is low, and cases have been limited to the southernmost regions of southern states.

Scientists are working on developing adult vaccines for dengue.

Scientists are still learning how climate change is affecting the spread of dengue fever.

Shruumz products are classified as supplements and are marketed as “premium microdosing” chocolate, cones, or gummies. The Shruumz website states that they use small amounts of legal mushrooms in their products that have positive effects on health, calmness, and focus.

The FDA found the prescription drug Pregabalin in four chocolate bars. Pregabalin is used to treat nerve pain, epilepsy, and anxiety.

Four chocolate bars had Psilocin, a controlled substance that is not found in legal mushrooms. Psilocin is a hallucinogenic found in types of illegal mushrooms commonly known as “shrooms” or “magic mushrooms.”

Acetylpsilocin -- also known as “synthetic shrooms” -- was found in nine chocolate bar samples. Acetylpsilocin is broken down into psilocin in the body.

The FDA found six chocolate bars with Muscimol, a psychoactive substance found in some mushrooms that are not regulated outside of the state of Louisiana. Shruumz claims that the harmful symptoms found with their products are due to Muscimol, but according to the FDA, not all of the symptoms can be explained by Muscimol.

Three substances (Desmethoxyyangonin, dihydrokavain, and kavain) were found in 15 chocolate bars. These are from the kava plant. In 2002 the FDA placed a consumer advisory on dietary supplements with Kava for their potential to cause severe liver damage.

Dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA. Consumers of these products should be wary of claims to produce feelings of euphoria, hallucinations, or psychedelic effects. These products might have substances not listed on the packaging that could have negative effects.

An investigation is ongoing. A cause for the severe symptoms has not yet been determined. The FDA is continuing to test Schruumz products and notes that the amounts of each substance found may vary across different batches. The FDA will update its website as more information becomes available.

While the effects of each individual substance found in the chocolate bars have been well researched, there is not a lot of research available on how these substances interact with each other.

When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies serious risk to human health from a chemical or pesticide, the agency can use the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to immediately stop its use. The last time that the agency used this Act was 40 years ago.

The EPA estimates that unborn babies of pregnant individuals handling DCPA (dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate) could be exposed at a level 4 to 20 times greater than what is thought to be safe for babies. Farmworkers are the most at risk of contact with DCPA, and the residue can stay on fields or turf for 25 days.

The maker of DCPA has failed to submit safety studies on its product for over 10 years. In 2013, the EPA requested over 20 studies from AMVAC Chemical Corporation, the manufacturer of DCPA. These studies were due by 2016. All studies submitted between 2013-2021 were deemed inefficient, and a study on the pesticide’s effect on thyroid function was not submitted at all.

The EPA's recent review of DCPA is part of a routine 15-year re-evaluation process for all registered pesticides, ensuring continued safety for both humans and the environment. All use and production of DCPA has been suspended while formal cancelation of DCPA takes place.

Research studies on the long-term health effects on babies exposed to DCPA before birth are ongoing.

This study was the first to test tampons for heavy metals. The amounts of heavy metals found in tampons were low, measured in nanograms per gram (ng/g). The average amount of lead found in tampons was 173 parts per billion. Any amount of lead can be toxic, but more research is needed to determine if the lead in the tampons can be absorbed into the body.

Heavy metals may come from the cotton and rayon used in tampons to absorb menstrual blood. These materials come from plants which can absorb metals from the soil. Metals could also come from contaminated water used in the manufacturing process. Certain metals may be intentionally added to control odor, make tampons antimicrobial, or aid smooth insertion.

People with concerns about the safety of using tampons can use alternative products such as pads or menstrual cups. Menstrual cups have become more popular in recent years, and most are made from medical-grade silicone.

We do not know whether heavy metals present in tampons are absorbed by the body. Different studies are needed to know if and how much of these metals are absorbed through tampon use and whether they are causing harm.

The main symptoms of Mpox include a spotted rash that may be painful or itchy with flu-like symptoms. The virus spreads through close contact between two people and can be spread up to four days before symptoms appear. Most people recover fully from infection with clade II of Mpox, which has a survival rate of 99.9%. Those most at risk of severe illness include those with severely weakened immune systems, children younger than 1, pregnant people and people with a history of eczema.

The clade Ib of Mpox that caused the current public health emergency has higher rates of severe illness and death than clade II. Global health authorities are working to get the JYNNEOS Mpox vaccine to people in countries with the highest cases of clade Ib Mpox like the Democratic Republic of Congo. Countries that currently need the vaccine most are having challenges getting it.

In the United States, only Mpox clade II is present. While Mpox can infect anybody, people most at risk of getting Mpox are those with multiple sexual partners. The two-shot JYNNEOS vaccine is approved and available in the U.S. CDC recommends people with multiple sexual partners consider vaccination, and a complete list of guidelines can be found on the CDC’s website.

Vaccination distribution efforts are still underway, and it is still not clear when countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo will be able to administer JYNNEOS vaccines.

About 1 in 5 people infected with West Nile will develop symptoms. These symptoms are flu-like and can include body aches, joint pain, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. Of those who are infected, 1 in 150 will develop a severe form of the illness that can affect the central nervous system causing issues like neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and even death.  

Groups at higher risk of having complications from West Nile virus include people with cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, organ transplant recipients, and those over the age of 60.

Cases of West Nile are being reported earlier than usual this year both in the U.S. and globally. This may be due in part to climate change causing milder winters.

Mosquitos are infected by feeding on blood of infected birds. Mosquitos can then spread the virus to humans and other mammals. An infected person does not have a high enough level of virus in their blood to later transmit it to other uninfected, biting mosquitos.

The best way to prevent West Nile Virus is to avoid mosquito bites. Steps like using bug sprays with DEET, spraying clothing with permethrin, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants can help keep mosquitoes from biting.

The mosquito that carries West Nile is most active at dusk and dawn, and mosquitos lay eggs in standing bodies of water. Therefore, draining standing water in your yard and avoiding being outside during the early morning and evening hours can reduce your exposure to these insects.

If you have symptoms of West Nile and you have been bitten by mosquitos in an area where West Nile virus has been detected, contact your healthcare provider. There is no specific treatment for the West Nile virus, and supportive care includes getting plenty of rest and fluids while monitoring for signs of severe illness. Over the counter medications can help ease symptoms. Most people who have had West Nile once are immune to getting it again.

Most people who are infected with the West Nile virus never show symptoms, these people will fight off the virus on their own and do not need additional medical care.

Climate change has increased the range of mosquitoes that carry diseases like West Nile. Public health departments continue to test mosquitoes and monitor these diseases to help detect this expansion of range. Scientists are still learning how this will affect the number of mosquito-borne diseases in the future.

Researchers are still learning if an infected person is immune to the virus after they recover. Current science suggests that if a person is infected with West Nile once they cannot get it again.