New bird flu mutation found in dairy cows worries experts. The variant causes more severe human infections.

Dairy cows have contracted a new
variant of bird flu. (Unsplash photo)

Two people contracted severe bird flu infections from a new H5N1 variant known as D1.1. In one case, the man died; the other person is still in recovery. Experts are concerned about this variant emerging in cattle and what its severity might mean for livestock and humans, reports McKenzie Prillaman at ScienceNews.

“Cattle in Nevada tested positive for the H5N1 viral variant D1.1, which has been circulating in poultry and wild birds.” the Department of Agriculture announced Feb. 5. This recent discovery is the first detection of variant in dairy cattle.

Over the past year, about 1,000 cattle herds in 16 states have contracted H5N1 variant B3.13. Most people who were infected with this version of bird flu have been farmers working with livestock, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been 67 cases in humans so far, with no known transmission between people. 

The emergence of the D1.1 variant poses additional health concerns for cows and people. “Another concern I have is that when we are looking at disease related to [B3.13], this has been by and large mild. But we have seen more severe human illness with the D1.1," according to veterinarian and environmental epidemiologist Meghan Davis of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "I do worry that the clinical presentation in [dairy] workers and other people exposed to the dairy cows or their products could be different and potentially more severe,” 

Davis recommended more surveillance and biosecurity for farms to identify outbreaks among the cattle.

Ultra-processed foods cause poor health outcomes in Americans; researchers look at their link to cognitive decline

Regular servings of hot dogs drizzled with liquid cheese may
be linked to cognitive decline. (Adobe Stock photo)

A big old hot dog, fried salami and a heaping pile of bacon may sound delicious to many Americans, but emerging research shows Americans who regularly consume processed meats are more likely to develop dementia, report Dana G. Smith and Alice Callahan of The New York Times. Processed red meat, which falls under the umbrella of ultra-processed foods, is only one part of a larger dietary equation where the traditional American diet is linked to poor health outcomes and possibly cognitive decline.

The scientists who studied processed red meat consumption "tracked more than 130,000 adults in the U.S. for up to 43 years. During that period, 11,173 people developed dementia," Smith and Callahan explain. "Those who consumed about two servings of processed red meat per week had a 14% greater risk of developing dementia compared to those who ate fewer than three servings per month." Eating unprocessed meat did not "significantly increase the risk for dementia."

Ultra-processed food is often made with ingredients most Americans don't have in their kitchen cupboards. "Products like soy protein isolate, high fructose corn syrup, modified starches, flavorings or color additives," the Times reports. "Many of these foods also have high levels of sugar, fat or sodium, which have long been known to adversely affect health." Soda, breakfast cereals, flavored potato chips, white bread and energy drinks all fall are all ultra-processed, but they "account for about 58 percent of the calories consumed by both children and adults, on average."

As for ultra-processed foods causing dementia, a body of research is growing, which "shows an association between ultra-processed foods and brain health," Smith and Callahan write. "[The studies] cannot prove that the foods directly harm the brain. And not all studies have found a consistent link between ultra-processed food consumption and cognition." Dr. Dong Wang, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, told the Times, "You cannot conclude that if you eat a certain amount of processed red meat, you’ll definitely get dementia. That’s not the case.”

For most people, changing diet habits is process that takes time and patience; however, experts encourage people to move away from a diet dominated by ultra-processed foods. Dr. Karima Benameur, an associate professor at Emory University School of Medicine, told Smith and Callahan, "Even modest changes over time can have an impact, and that’s important because it means it’s achievable." The Times reports, "Rather than trying to eliminate all ultra-processed foods from your diet — what Dr. Benameur calls 'a recipe for failure' — focus on cutting back on some of the worst offenders and replacing them with healthier options."

Colon cancer is up among young adults; many don't think they're susceptible to it, and thus don't get screened for it

Cancer survivors pose for a photo at a colorectal-cancer awareness
installation. (Photo by Paul Morigi, Getty Images, via NatGeo) 

Colorectal cancer is no longer "an old people's disease;" it's hitting younger people more frequently, reports Tara Haelle of National Geographic. "One in five cases diagnosed today occurs in people younger than age 55, compared to one in 10 cases in 1995, according to a study published by the American Cancer Society. . . . There’s no clear explanation for this trend, but a new paper published in Science suggests a number of possible reasons, including environmental and genetic factors. Low screening rates and misdiagnosis in people who don’t suspect cancer likely also play a role."

The research also found more "diagnoses of advanced disease, which is particularly concerning because colonoscopies are 'a great tool for prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer in terms of screening that can actually detect and remove precancerous lesions,' says lead author Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director of cancer surveillance research at the American Cancer Society," Haelle reports. "Survival rates are 90 percent if detected early enough."

Earlier screenings are part of the solution. Haelle notes that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that screenings begin at age 45 instead of 50, but Siegel said earlier screening is needed for those with risk factors "such as genetic risk scores, dietary lifestyle, obesity and family history," Haelle reports. "The most common symptoms for colorectal cancer in younger patients are abdominal pain; unexplained weight loss; changes in the frequency, size or appearance of stools; and rectal bleeding, which occurs in 46 percent of early-onset cases compared to 26 percent of cases in adults over age 50." 

Rural schools that close because of the coronavirus must consider digital divide, lack of child care, and kids' hunger

Screenshot of Education Week's map of schools closed due to
the coronavirus; click here to view the interactive version.

Schools all over the nation are considering whether to close in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Some school districts have closed for one day to allow for deep cleaning, and some have closed for weeks or longer. Rural superintendents must weigh additional factors when making the decision, including the digital divide, the lack of childcare, and hunger.

Rural students, especially in low-income families, are less likely to have any internet access at home, let alone broadband. That makes distance learning difficult, Andrea Noble reports for Route Fifty.

Also, younger children will need childcare if school is canceled, and it can be difficult for rural parents to find affordable, decent childcare, especially at the last minute. To add to that difficulty, some childcare centers are temporarily closing because of the coronavirus, Anna North reports for Vox.

Another consideration: Rural students who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals may miss meals if schools are closed. Concern about keeping children fed has been a key factor in some high-poverty school districts' decision to stay open, Liz Crampton reports for Politico.

The Department of Agriculture said last weekend that schools forced to close can employ programs used during the summer to feed low-income children. "USDA, on a state-by-state basis, said it will waive the requirement that students must eat in group settings. The department will also allow meals to be served at off-campus sites like libraries and churches. Washington and California have already received such approvals," Crampton reports. "But that allowance only covers areas where more than 50 percent of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals." School administrators and nutrition groups are pressing the federal government to make more children eligible for free or reduced-price meals during extended school closures.

Over 850,000 children have been affected by such closures so far, some in rural areas, according to Education Week, which is updating its nationwide interactive map of closures twice a day.

March 17 teleconference to cover coronavirus prevention and treatment options

The Commonwealth Fund will host a March 17 teleconference briefing for journalists and policymakers to discuss prevention and treatment of the coronavirus. The call will last about an hour and will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET. Register here.

Experts will cover the following topics:

• What policy tools do the federal government and states have at their disposal to address the pandemic, and what actions have they taken so far? 
• How can we expand coverage and access to care through Medicaid, and how can we work with insurers so that no one is deterred from seeking needed treatment?
• What role could emergency federal powers play, and where could they fall short?

The call will be conducted by:

• Kevin Lucia, J.D., M.H.P., Research Professor, Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms
• Sara Rosenbaum, J.D., Harold and Jane Hirsh Professor of Health Law and Policy, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health
• Moderator: Rachel Nuzum, M.P.H., Vice President, Federal and State Health Policy, The Commonwealth Fund

The Commonwealth Fund is a nonprofit dedicated to improving health care and making it more affordable and accessible to all Americans.

Farm safety experts share tips for recovering from flooding

AgriSafe Network illustration highlights several health and safety risk factors that cold-weather floods can cause around the farm. Click the image to enlarge it.

Last year's record flooding devastated crops across the Midwest, and this spring is looking pretty soggy too. But damaged or prevented crops aren't the only problems cold-weather floods can cause, according to AgriSafe Network farm safety experts Linda Emanuel and Ellen Duysen, who spoke recently at the 2020 Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference, Lori Potter reports for the Kearney Hub in Nebraska.

Emanuel is a farmer and registered nurse, and Duysen is the coordinator and outreach specialist for the Central States Center of Agricultural Safety and Health in the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health.

After a flood recedes, farmers and rural residents often must contend with infections from poor sanitation, toxic mold, respiratory issues, contaminated water wells, E. Coli-related intestinal problems, and stress, they told conference attendees. It's also important to pay attention to mental health in the wake of a disaster, Emanuel said, since poor health and nutrition, lack of sleep, weather worries, finances, and isolation can all contribute to stress, Potter reports.

Duysen advised attendees not to wait for a flood to test their private wells, and said that more than 80 percent tested at any time are contaminated, She also advised attendees to make sure they had family and community response plans in place for future floods, Potter reports.

2 days after state's first covid-19 case is confirmed there, Ky. weekly sends a special edition to everyone in its county

The four-page edition was printed on thicker "bright
white" newsprint for easier handling and retention.

By Al Cross
Director, Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, University of Kentucky

A weekly newspaper in Kentucky is setting a great example for the rest of the nation of how to deliver reliable information about the new coronavirus.

After working through the weekend, The Cynthiana Democrat sent a special edition today to every postal patron in Harrison County, where the first case of covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, was confirmed Saturday. Another was announced Sunday.

The idea arose as Editor Becky Barnes traveled with Cynthiana Mayor James Smith and County Judge-Executive Alex Barnett on Saturday from a state Capitol press conference that Gov. Andy Beshear held to announce the first case.

"I said, there's just so much information that needs to get out there," Barnes recalled, "because there's so much misinformation."

Barnett said he told Barnes and Smith, "Let's get it in every mailbox in the county and we’ll come up with a way to pay for it."

Smith said, "We talked about what should be in there, and decided how it should go to every household in the county," which has 18,000 people and "probably 6,000 households."

Becky Barnes, in 44th year at the paper

Smith said he thought it was a good idea because "Not everyone, especially in a rural county like Harrison County, has internet connection; not everybody is on Facebook; not everybody listens to the local radio," and some watch TV stations based in Cincinnati, not Lexington. "Some people in the county didn't even know we had a case in the county."

Newspapers can reach everyone in their home counties quickly because postal regulations allow them mail up to 10 percent of their annual circulation in their home county to non-subscribers at subscriber rates. It's a way to build and maintain print circulation, but many papers don't take advantage of it.

Harrison County (Wikipedia map)

Barnes was familiar with the idea, because The Cynthiana Democrat published a sample-copy edition after a 1997 flood in Harrison County. Her paper is owned by Landmark Community Newspapers, which regularly uses sample copying, and has a press in Cynthiana. That made it easier to print on Sunday and mail as soon as possible.

This is an example for the whole country. Printed community newspapers have a high level of trust with their readers, and are ideal vehicles to circulate reliable information on a topic that has become the subject of false or misleading online information and political talking points.

To make sure it reached everyone in the county, Barnes said, the paper went beyond the usual sample copying, sending (at extra cost) papers to patrons of post offices that are in other counties but serve Harrison County residents. It also provided copies to Harrison Memorial Hospital, which first treated the first patient found to have the disease and draws patients from adjoining counties.

So, who's paying for the printing and mailing of the special edition? Local officials are looking into funding sources, but say they will come up with the money if they have to. "We asked the postmaster if he could bill us later," Smith said. "We told Becky that, as a city, if the money doesn't come from other sources, the county and the city would figure out how to pay."

Smith concluded, "Hopefully, we're setting some examples for other communities."

State and local governments have great power in fighting coronavirus, including allowing news media to do their jobs

"Local and state public health officials wield extraordinary powers in emergency situations such as the current coronavirus outbreak," Michael Ollove and Alex Brown report for Stateline. "They can close schools and private businesses. They can restrict or shut down mass transit systems. They can cancel concerts, sporting events and political rallies. They can call up the National Guard. They can suspend medical licensing laws and protect doctors from liability claims. And they can quarantine or isolate people who might infect others."

Laws on emergency powers vary, but most give states and municipalities wide latitude to respond to health threats such as the coronavirus variant dubbed covid-19. That generally includes the right to declare a state of emergency, which serves both practical and psychological functions. Governments can slow the spread of disease by restricting movement or quarantining the sick without having to deal with red tape. And declaring a state of emergency may reassure members of the public who are anxious to know that officials are responding, Ollove and Brown report.

Under emergency-declaration laws, authorities can also redirect health care workers to where they're most needed and help hospitals deal with the onslaught of patients. "For instance, they can decide which hospitals should have isolation wards," Ollove and Brown report. "They can order or request hospitals to release patients with lesser health needs to make room for those infected with the virus. They can take properties to create emergency medical centers if hospital space runs out. And they can transfer equipment and supplies from one hospital to another, based on the needs of the moment."

Local health officials also play a critical role in informing the public. Clear, factual information to the public can slow the spread of disease, reduce panic, and kill rumors, Ollove and Brown write.

It is important to allow the news media to do its job during an infectious disease threat. During the Spanish flu epidemic, governments all over the world forbade, discouraged, or threatened newspapers from reporting on the extent of the disease for fear that it would cause panic, Gillian Brockell reports for The Washington Post. But attempts to control information backfired and resulted in many more lives lost, said historian John M. Barry, who wrote a book about the Spanish flu epidemic.

"For example, in Philadelphia, local officials were planning the largest parade in the city’s history. Just before the scheduled event, about 300 returning soldiers started spreading the virus in the city," Brockell reports. Many doctors told reporters that the parade shouldn't happen, and reporters wrote the stories, but editors wouldn't print them, Barry told Brockell. The parade was held, and Spanish flu hit the city two days later. City officials closed schools and banned public gatherings, but claimed that it wasn't a public health measure and that there was no need for alarm. Philadelphia ended up being one of the hardest hit areas in the nation, with more than 12,500 dead.

Barry spoke to Stateline reporters too, and through the anecdote about Philadelphia emphasized that local officials shouldn't minimize or dismiss credible threats of infectious disease.

Farm Policy News roundup explores 2020 ag projections

Past and forecast meat imports to China (USDA chart)

American farmers are hoping for improved fortunes in 2020, thanks to the Phase I trade deal between the U.S. and China. But African swine fever, the coronavirus, and trade agreement loopholes that could favor Brazilian soybeans have muddied the waters.

Keith Good of the University of Illinois' Farm Policy News has an excellent—and extensive—roundup of how those issues could affect agriculture in 2020, including plenty of charts and links to reputable sources.

Current projections say meat imports to China will increase in 2020, and will eclipse soybeans as America's largest export to China. Though China is buying more U.S. soybeans, other marketers have scaled back on American soybean purchases. Forcing sales to China will likely cost the U.S. open sales to the rest of the world, according to a recent report from Agricultural Policy Review, a publication of Iowa State University's Center for Agricultural and Rural Development.