Today, listeners across the United States should note several active public health alerts and advisories. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently identified a multi-state salmonella outbreak traced to a dietary supplement containing moringa leaf powder. Eleven people in seven states, including Virginia, Kansas, Florida, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina, have become ill, with three requiring hospitalization. All lot codes and best-by dates of the Member’s Mark Super Greens supplement sold at Sam’s Club stores nationwide and online are affected. The CDC strongly advises people to not eat, return, or throw away any Member's Mark Super Greens with moringa, given the product recall was triggered by contamination from a single lot supplied by Vallon Farm Direct in India.

The Food and Drug Administration is also alerting the public about toxic yellow oleander detected in some dietary supplements as of November 3. Analytical testing by the FDA found yellow oleander, a poisonous plant known to cause severe cardiac and gastrointestinal symptoms, in multiple products. Consumers are urged to review updates at fda.gov to check if their supplements are implicated and immediately discontinue any listed product.

Listeners in Texas should take special note: the Texas Department of State Health Services has reported a significant increase in pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, for 2025. With cases on the rise, especially among children and unvaccinated individuals, vigilance and prompt health care consultation are advised, particularly for caregivers and healthcare providers working with infants and people with compromised immunity.

The CDC guidance for COVID-19 vaccination has changed this fall. Patients must now consult with a healthcare provider before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, even though a prescription is not strictly required. This joint decision-making process, known as shared clinical decision-making, could introduce new barriers for some, especially those lacking regular access to healthcare. The current CDC policy enables continued access, particularly benefiting children through the Vaccines for Children program, but advocacy groups caution that these steps may exacerbate disparities for uninsured and underinsured populations. For the COVID-19 vaccine, those ages 6 months and older are still eligible, though people over 65 and high-risk individuals remain the primary focus under updated FDA guidance. Additionally, new recommendations mean that toddlers should receive their first measles and chickenpox vaccines separately to reduce a rare risk of seizures.

Turning to federal and state policy, the government shutdown is affecting public health infrastructure and essential benefits. As of November, the federal government is only able to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits at half of the usual monthly amount due to a court-ordered funding limitation and the government shutdown. Department of Agriculture officials caution that these partial payments may face weeks or months of administrative delays. This has a direct impact on food security for millions, and further litigation is under way to restore full funding. The government shutdown has also forced the closure of many Head Start centers, disrupting childcare and critical services for low-income families, according to recent news from The Daily Record.

Listeners should also be aware of new discussions designating domestic violence as a public health crisis. Experts emphasize that health systems and emergency rooms are increasingly likely to screen for and address domestic violence as part of routine public health measures.

This week also marks the opening days of ACA Marketplace open enrollment, with higher premiums expected because of the expiration of enhanced tax credits, according to coverage from the National Law Review....