This week we link readers to the latest news on the spread of H5N1, a review of primary care after-hours programs, and a must-read investigation of how the United States Government undermines children’s health through its support for baby formula companies.
There’s a warm welcome for the new Governor-General, and you can also read about priorities for the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Katie Kiss, who started in the role this week.
And meet ‘Sarah’, a digital health promoter at the World Health Organization, available 24/7 in eight languages via video or text. She can provide tips to de-stress, eat right, quit tobacco and e-cigarettes, be safer on the roads as well as give information on several other areas of health.
The quotable?
Human infection with H5N1 avian flu, likely from cattle.
Quick thoughts. Not good. Not unexpected. Not something to panic about. Not something to ignore.”
H5N1 updates
Infectious diseases experts are closely watching developments in North America, where avian influenza H5N1 has been confirmed in several dairy herds and some cats, as well as a case reported in a person from Texas, according to a 3 April report from The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
The Texas Department of State Health Services has issued a health alert urging health providers to be vigilant for people with symptoms from H5N1, especially those who have had contact with potentially infected animals.
Federal health officials have said the avian flu outbreaks in dairy herds and the new infection in Texas doesn’t change its threat assessment, which is low for the public. They have also emphasised the safety of the nation’s milk supply due to safety nets including pasteurisation, while warning against drinking raw milk that can harbor pathogens.
Human Case of H5N1 Likely Linked to Cattle (1 April)
Veterinarian Professor Scott Weese writes that the infected individual developed conjunctivitis, so clearly the disease has been mild in this case. The person was told to isolate and is being treated with an antiviral drug. This is the second known infection of a person with this strain of H5N1 influenza in the US (the other case was a person in Colorado who got infected with H5N1 influenza while culling infected poultry in 2022; that person also only had mild disease – just a couple days of fatigue).
Is this the first instance or first diagnosis of H5N1 in a person associated with cattle contact? That’s always an interesting question. It could be that this is the first person that’s (likely) gotten H5N1 from a cow. It’s also possible that this has happened many times and we didn’t know because the cattle weren’t known to be infected, the person’s disease was mild and, because of that, there was no testing. That kind of context is important, but is often lacking with emerging issues. 
Read the Texas health alert (1 April)
Read Helen Branswell’s article (1 April)
She writes: Up until now, cows have not been on the ever-lengthening list of animals that have been known to be susceptible to this virus. Infections of the highly pathogenic bird flu — a term that describes how it behaves in poultry — have been detected in many other mammals, though, including big cats, bears, foxes, skunks, sea lions, and seals.
Despite the alarming increase in the past few years of the virus’s geographic range and the number of species it has been seen to infect, both the World Health Organization and the CDC currently assess its risk to people as low.
Read the Politico article (1 April)
It reports that the increasing prevalence of avian influenza in cows means that human surveillance in farmworkers and dairy workers should be bolstered, according to Association of Public Health Laboratories CEO Scott Becker.
“The bigger picture is that this virus is not cooling off,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health. “We’ve been worrying about this virus for 20 years, more than 20 years. And in the last year, it has really been remarkable in how far across the globe it has been spreading, and how many species it’s been affecting.”
Science report (1 April)
Jon Cohen reports that some evidence suggests the virus was transmitted between cows, but that remains unproven. And for now, USDA says its “initial testing has not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans.” Still, the widespread occurrence of H5N1 in mammals has renewed worries that it may evolve to become more transmissible between people. And scientists are urgently trying to answer a host of questions, including how far the virus has spread among U.S. cows and how to prevent more herds and people from becoming infected.
Global health
ProPublica: The US Government Defended the Overseas Business Interests of Baby Formula Makers. Kids Paid the Price
“Records and interviews show that the US Government repeatedly used its muscle to advance the interests of large baby formula companies while thwarting the efforts of Thailand and other developing countries to safeguard children’s health…Over 15 months, US trade officials worked closely with formula makers to wage a diplomatic and political pressure campaign to weaken Thailand’s proposed ban on formula marketing.”
UN rights expert: do not neglect prisons in pandemic plans (paywall)
Alice Edwards, a UN Special Rapporteur, has criticised the lack of consideration of people in prison in WHO’s draft pandemic accord.
Read: Climate change belief systems across political groups in the United States
“Worry about climate change is identified as the central element in American climate change belief systems. Over the past decade, the organisation of belief systems among politically disengaged individuals has increased, implying that improved climate change communication is helping people develop more coherent and cohesive belief systems on the subject.”
Meet S.A.R.A.H. – A Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health
Sarah is a digital health promoter, available 24/7 in eight languages via video or text. She can provide tips to de-stress, eat right, quit tobacco and e-cigarettes, be safer on the roads as well as give information on several other areas of health.
First Nations health
Australian Human Rights Commission statement
Australia’s new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Katie Kiss, said in the wake of the devastating outcome of last year’s Voice referendum, Australia must consider the next steps, and prioritise finding ways to heal and soothe divisions. This includes making meaningful progress in addressing the systemic and structural discrimination experienced by First Nations communities.
Commissioner Kiss, who commenced in the role on Wednesday 3 April, said her immediate focus will be to meet with First Nations communities around the country, hearing their perspectives on the most pressing matters facing their people.
“If we are going to improve the lives of First Nations Peoples, and if we are serious about reconciliation, healing, and unifying the nation, the voices of First Nations Peoples must be front and centre,” Commissioner Kiss said.
“I want to hear what communities think their priorities are, whether it be about Closing the Gap, youth justice reform, Native Title, truth-telling and treaty, or combatting racism and other structural barriers.
“There is so much work to do and conversations to continue having. We need to elevate and empower our People, and this must be done together.”
Commissioner Kiss is a proud Kaanju and Birri/Widi woman who grew up in Rockhampton, Central Queensland on the lands of the Darumbal People. She was previously the Executive Director of the Interim Truth and Treaty Body supporting Queensland’s Path to Treaty, and held senior positions in the Queensland Government, including Chief of Staff to the Minister for Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, and Senior Advisor to the Deputy Premier.
“It is a real honour to take on this role, following the legacy left by the five Social Justice Commissioners who have served over the last 30 years, since Mick Dodson was appointed in 1993 in response to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. I’m also proud to be the second woman to hold this position, following the completion of June Oscar AO’s term,” Commissioner Kiss said.
“Today also marks 15 years since Australia endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, having initially voted against it at the UN General Assembly in 2007.
“Having been part of the team at the Australian Human Rights Commission that helped facilitate this important step in building Australia’s human rights framework, a key focus of mine will be to see the Declaration fully implemented across our country to better protect and progress the rights of First Nations People.”
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner is a statutory position relating to the human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This includes undertaking research and education projects to promote respect for, and the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“I look forward to working with my fellow Commissioners at the Australian Human Rights Commission, as well as state and territory counterparts, our Elders, community organisations and advocates, business, health and media sectors, and governments, to champion the empowerment of our People,” Commissioner Kiss said.
https://www.ahmrc.org.au/resource/getting-your-household-covid-19-ready-interactive-pdf/
Public health
Science: Mandating indoor air quality for public buildings
“…the COVID-19 pandemic has made all levels of society, from community members to decision-makers, realise the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) for human health, wellbeing, productivity, and learning. We propose that IAQ standards be mandatory for public spaces. Although enforcement of IAQ performance standards in homes is not possible, homes must be designed and equipped so that they could meet the standards.”
Read the study: Long COVID in a highly vaccinated but largely unexposed Australian population following the 2022 SARS-CoV-2 Omicron wave: a cross-sectional survey
Conclusion: Ninety days after infection with the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant, 18.2% of survey respondents reported symptoms consistent with long COVID, of whom 38.7% (7.1% of all survey respondents) sought health care for related health concerns two to three months after the acute infection.
Next gen of researchers in early childhood health pave the way for cross-discipline collaboration
“Communities of Practice provide unique and valuable opportunities for fostering shared learning, capacity building and establishing new collaborations across career stages. EPOCH-Connect is a blueprint for the creation and coordination of a multidisciplinary CoP within public health research and practice.”
Health reform
“This consultation process is open to the general public, however input is sought especially from primary care providers, including practice owners and managers, general practitioners, non-vocational doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners, allied health practitioners, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, Primary Health Networks and others working in primary care. Input is sought from those who currently provide after hours services, as well as those who do not.”
Welcome
See the PM’s statement on the appointment of Samantha Mostyn AO as Australia’s next Governor-General, from 1 July. She has chaired multiple not-for-profit boards, including Beyond Blue, the Foundation of Young Australians, Australians Investing in Women, Ausfilm and the Australian National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety and Australian Volunteers International. She has been President of the Australian Council for International Development and President of Chief Executive Women as well as a National Mental Health Commissioner.
Media matters
AAP and Google launch partnership to supercharge the fight against mis and disinformation
Conference watch
#CroakeyREAD
See the reading list and curricula integration guide
Awards, appointments and opportunities
Events
See previous editions of ICYMI
