3 Health Questions I've Been Asked
Three Things Thursday
Three Things Thursday highlights three things I am paying attention to as an epidemiologist each week. Usually, these weekly posts focus on three stories/updates that I want you to be paying attention to or know something about. Today we will mix things up a little bit (trying to keep it fresh!) and I will answer three health questions I’ve been asked this week.
Hoping this post helps to educate and empower you
to be healthy and create healthy communities.
Back-to-School Vaccines
I recently discussed the need to start thinking about back-to-school vaccines on Erie News Now. Several vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, diphtheria, and pertussis, are spreading around the world. Before sending your kid back to school, they need to be up-to-date on all of their vaccines, especially the MMR (measles, mumps, & rubella) and DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, & pertussis). If you are sending a kid to college — here is your vaccine checklist.
All children and adults should plan to get their influenza and COVID-19 vaccines in the fall.
If you want to hear a little bit more about back-to-school vaccines — watch this:
Heavy Metals in Tampons
Yesterday a small study (n=30 tampons) reported that measurable concentrations of 16 metals, including lead and arsenic, were found in tampons.
This study is another example of information and NOT an alarm.
The study authors note —
“Future research is needed to replicate our findings and determine whether metals can leach out of tampons and cross the vaginal epithelium into systemic circulation.”
The research showed that the metals have been detected, but detection does NOT translate to exposure, absorption, or a health hazard.
This study is a spark — it has generated more questions than answers.
Menstrual health and the safety of menstrual products, including tampons have been understudied. My hope is the attention this new study is attracting will bring to light the fact that these topics are understudied.
At this point, there is NO cause for alarm.
But if you are looking for a tampon alternative, I highly recommend a menstrual cup.
I will be on Erie News Now tonight (or early tomorrow morning) discussing this study and the reasons there is no cause for alarm. I’ll share the link as soon as it is available.
What Is Keeping Me Up at Night?
County Fairs.
If you were like me a decade or so ago, you may not know what county fairs are. They are major events — usually held annually at a set location in a county to exhibit local agricultural products and livestock. Here in northwestern Pennsylvania county fairs include amusement park rides, fried foods, ice cream, and concerts.
They are a big deal.
The Crawford County Fair takes place in my backyard — we can hear the concerts and see the fireworks from our home.
And while I like the ice cream that is served at the fair and am looking forward to trying a fried pickle, the thought of pigs, goats, cows, and rabbits all coming together this summer is keeping me up at night.
What is causing me nightmares?
The thought of children snuggling up to the cows and goats and pigs at the fair is the stuff made of nightmares. Seriously, this is how a horror film could begin (or the start of a major disease outbreak).
Individuals working with cows are currently asked/encouraged to use personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves and slow the spread of H5N1. I do not anticipate fair-goers being asked to wear PPE at the fair while visiting with the animals. Instead, animals will be together (potentially sharing their germs, including H5N1) and people will be cuddling up with them for their “selfie with a cow” or “picture with a pig!”
While I am NOT advocating for shutting down the fairs nor am I telling you not to attend a county fair — I do think that we need to think about preventing the spread of disease at county fairs. Maybe we need to limit close contact between animals and humans. Or maybe we need to require animals to be screened for H5N1 before and during the fair. Maybe there are other things we can do to reduce the spread of disease.
I need to think more — but I do need to acknowledge that the thought of the county fair is keeping me up at night.
As we get closer to the Fair here (August 17-24) — I will provide more updates and thoughts about how to safely attend the fair. Be sure you are subscribed so you do not miss a single update.
And if you have thoughts or questions about safety at county fairs or tampons, please leave a comment. Happy to answer any and all of your questions.
And please — share this post with your friends and family. Only together — with accurate and up-to-date information — can we create healthy communities for all.
Fairs require health certification and vaccines for livestock. In cases of extreme health risk, certain classes of animals are not shown. Most people and kids who display livestock are aware of the health risks.
My advice for people visiting livestock fairs or any large gathering is to use hand sanitizer. Pet a cow but sanitize your hands. Most petting zoos now require visitors to to sanitize their hands. And I always asked visitors to our farm to wash or sanitize hands. This is especially important for young children who touch their face or place their hands in the mouth!