A brand new Alzheimer’s drug, mixed COVID and flu vaccine replace, and salmonella considerations. 3 well being tales you will have missed — and why they matter

Hi there, well being and wellness fans. My title is Kaitlin, your information to the information you will have missed this week and the way it might influence your life.

Right here’s what my staff explored:

☀️ It is a salmonella summer season

Bummer information: cookie dough, cucumbers and bearded dragons (sure, the one you at all times needed for a pet) have all been linked to salmonella outbreaks this month. Salmonella is a type of bacteria that may trigger gastrointestinal sickness (like diarrhea, fever and abdomen cramps) and usually is seen in undercooked eggs, or meat and poultry. It’s significantly harmful for immunocompromised individuals, the aged and younger kids, who can endure extra extreme signs like excessive fevers, lethargy and blood within the urine or stool.

What it means for you: The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) said this week that nearly 30,000 cases of cookie dough have been recalled throughout 21 states on account of potential salmonella contamination after Rise Baking Firm initially issued the recall in early Might.

Whereas it is by no means enjoyable to throw out cookie dough, examine your fridge for the merchandise under, and toss accordingly:

• Costco Chocolate Chunk Frozen Cookie Dough

• Member’s Mark Chocolate Chunk

• Panera Chocolate Chipper Cookie

• Rise Baking Jumbo Chocolate Chunk

• Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie cookie doughs

Cucumbers contaminated with salmonella should no longer be in stores, per the CDC, however you possibly can examine the company’s web site to see in case you have any within the fridge that needs to be tossed. (In the event that they haven’t already gone fuzzy and moldy, that’s … and ensure to examine your freezer too!)

As for bearded dragons, the CDC might have some dangerous information for your loved ones as a result of the agency’s website says these reptiles “are usually not really useful as pets for kids youthful than 5, adults aged 65 or older, and other people with weakened immune methods as a result of these persons are extra prone to get a severe sickness from germs that reptiles carry.”

Need extra? Read the guide I put collectively on foodborne diseases.

⚕️ A brand new Alzheimer’s drug simply moved ahead

The brand new Alzheimer’s drug Donanemab, from Eli Lilly, has been backed by FDA advisers, indicating that it could quickly be permitted for treating delicate dementia brought on by Alzheimer’s. The panel unanimously agreed that the drug’s advantages — a 35% reduction in progress of the disease in 18 months, in individuals between 60 and 85 — outweighed the dangers, corresponding to mind swelling and bleeding.

Why it issues: To date, there’s just one drug in the marketplace — Leqembi — that’s proven to sluggish reminiscence issues and cognitive decline related to Alzheimer’s. Leqembi, from the Japanese pharmaceutical firm Eisai, acquired full approval from the FDA last summer, which implies Medicare now covers it. Nonetheless, it’s vital to notice that whereas this therapy can provide individuals extra time earlier than the illness progresses — doubtlessly permitting them to retain independence and improve time with family members for months longer than they’d have with out it — it’s not a remedy, and neither is Donanemab.

As for Donanemab, it wasn’t a straightforward approval course of: The FDA had considerations in regards to the examine design as a result of Eli Lilly grouped sufferers based mostly on their ranges of a mind protein (referred to as tau) which could require complicated mind scans earlier than prescribing the drug. Moreover, the examine’s protocol for stopping therapy when amyloid ranges (indicating plaques within the mind which are related to Alzheimer’s illness) dropped raised questions on the perfect time to cease or restart the drug.

In the end, nevertheless, there aren’t many medical choices for these affected by Alzheimer’s — and yet one more drug in the marketplace needs to be, for many individuals, a hopeful step ahead.

💉 Moderna’s combo shot wins over separate ones

Moderna’s newest medical innovation is packing a one-two punch. The pharmaceutical firm introduced that its new combination vaccine for COVID-19 and flu generated a stronger immune response in adults ages 50 and over when in comparison with taking separate photographs for every virus. The corporate goals to launch this combo vaccine by the 2025 respiratory illness season, pending FDA approval.

What it means for you: Should you skip your flu shot every year, there’s excellent news: Moderna discovered that its combo shot confirmed related negative effects (like injection web site ache and fatigue) when in comparison with present flu vaccines in the marketplace.

Whereas this double shot received’t do something to fight vaccine hesitancy, it’s attainable that the mixture might transfer the needle for individuals who solely get considered one of these photographs every year, particularly if they’ve perceived notions about poor negative effects from getting two photographs sequentially. (For instance, an FDA examine beforehand appeared into whether or not combining the two shots led to a higher risk of stroke for older adults, however specialists say there’s no definitive conclusion.)

Consultants do agree that it’s vital to get your COVID and flu vaccinations if you’d like your physique to have the perfect probability of preventing off these viruses. The World Well being Group introduced in January that it noticed “incredibly low” COVID and flu vaccination rates last year, whilst instances throughout the globe surged.