There’s a lot going on as Halloween approaches and the Dodgers’ World Series approaches. But public health continues to evolve, and this week I’ll follow three important stories. Mpox is making headlines again. A new, potentially more serious variant is starting to spread locally. Additionally, payments to Calfresh were tied up by the federal shutdown, delaying food assistance for about 5.5 million Californians. And seasonal respiratory viruses remain at low levels. Let’s jump in!
Last week, Los Angeles County confirmed three cases of Clade 1 Mpox, a historically more severe variant of the virus common in Africa. The patients (1 in Long Beach, 2 in Los Angeles) were hospitalized and are currently recovering at home. This is the first time this variant has spread locally in the United States. So what does this mean?
Understanding the Two Lineages
The Mpox clade is like branches of the same family tree that are genetically related but differ in behavior. Let’s take a look.
Clade 1:
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Historically, it has been limited to central and eastern Africa. The last U.S. case so far was a San Mateo resident who traveled to East Africa last year.
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Typically causes more severe disease than Clade 2. Of the 32 Clade 1 cases reported in the United States and Europe since 2023, 10 (31%) were hospitalized.
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Clade 1 has caused tens of thousands of infections and hundreds of deaths in affected areas of sub-Saharan Africa.
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Clade 1 has “a” and “b” subtypes. We’re looking at Clade 1b in California. Clade 1a, which is more common in children, has never been reported in the United States.
Clade 2:
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It was widely distributed in the United States during 2022-2023, causing approximately 30,000 infections.
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It will be distributed in California starting in 2022, and some A city on the rise This summer: 118 cases reported this year In LA County.
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Typically, this causes less serious illness. that hospitalization rate The rate during the 2022-2023 outbreak period was around 8%.
Who is at risk?
The three confirmed Clade 1b cases include gay and bisexual men, and health officials have found no link between them. Mpox transmission for both clades occurs primarily through close physical contact. This is not meant to stigmatize anyone. Recognizing that transmission usually requires close, prolonged physical contact. For the general population outside this specific risk range, the likelihood of exposure is very low.
What should I look out for?
Mpox follows the following characteristic pattern:
The CDC recommends two doses. Zynneos Vaccine It is very effective in preventing serious diseases. Only 1% of cases received at least one vaccine dose during the 2022-2023 U.S. outbreak. be hospitalized.
You can find updates and resources at: LA County Department of Public Health and California Department of Public Health M Fox site. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
The government shutdown is threatening essential food assistance for millions of people across the country, including Californians. CalFresh, known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), provides food funding to approximately 5.5 million low-income Californians. But the program, which distributes about $1.1 billion in food each month, could run out of money as early as Saturday, November 1.
But California and other states are fighting back. On Tuesday, California joined 24 other states. in lawsuit Oppose the federal government’s refusal to fund SNAP. These states are asking their governments to access emergency funding to keep their programs running. A decision could come as early as tomorrow.
What’s at stake?
The federal government has never cut off food assistance before. Even through previous interruptions, low-income families continued to receive payments.
Some of our most vulnerable residents rely on CalFresh to meet their basic food needs. Among the recipients:
Working as a primary care provider in a community health clinic, I have seen firsthand what CalFresh means to patients. It feels unfair to advise someone who can’t afford to pay rent to buy fresher produce for their family. CalFresh provides healthier diets to those who need it most. If the federal administration is truly focused on improving nutrition and fighting chronic diseases like diabetes, making healthy food affordable is a good starting point.
wider impact
The disruption goes beyond food access. Every part of the food ecosystem will be affected: grocery stores, food vendors, food producers, and those who drive delivery trucks. 2019 USDA study estimates Every $1.00 in CalFresh benefits paid generates $1.54 in local economic activity.
Food banks, which provide free food to those in need, are bracing for a surge in demand. Currently, two-thirds of CalFresh recipients visit food banks infrequently. Their monthly benefits are used to make purchases at the grocery store. Without help, many more people would turn to food banks for meals for the first time. And it comes as food banks are still struggling due to cuts to federal food programs earlier this year.
How is California responding?
In addition to joining the multi-state lawsuit, Governor Newsom $80 million fast track State funding to support food banks before closures delay funding.
Newsom too activated National Guard supports food banks. You may remember that Guard members helped provide food early in the pandemic, delivering more than 800 million meals.
In the first batch last week, 32 California Guard members It was helpful Sorting and packaging 25,000 pounds of fresh produce for LA Area Food Bank. The photos of uniformed troops fighting hunger are amazing.
In addition to the National Guard, California State Volunteers (a state office that mobilizes civilian volunteers like you) will be deployed to support food banks across the state. Managed by California volunteers. AmeriCorps The program offers more than 80 initiatives that provide critical services across the state.
what you can do
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If you are a CalFresh recipient: This delay does not end your benefits. You can continue to use any unused CalFresh benefits on your Electronic Benefits (EBT) card. Check your balance here.
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If you need food assistance now: Contact your local food bank. They are strengthening their operations to meet growing demand. visit www.cafoodbanks.org To find food assistance near you
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Support your local food bank. donation Go a long way in keeping food on the table.
Now let’s take a look at this week’s respiratory virus situation. COVID-19, flu, RSV levels Levels remain low across the state. This is usually a long period of silence. In the past, Halloween gatherings have helped drive fall virus transmission, so we will be watching wastewater virus levels closely.
RSV, which usually originates in the east and moves west, showed its first fall activity in the Southeast.
Starting this year, none of my kids have the ability to trick or treat. Even though it’s a new era without little goblins running around, it’s still one of our favorite holidays. YLE’s nutritionist Megan provided her usual balanced guidance in yesterday’s post. “Halloween Candy: A Smart Guide for Parents.”
Remember that traffic accidents, including those involving pedestrians, are a leading cause of Halloween-related damage. Carrying glow sticks or flashlights and driving extra cautiously can help us all celebrate safely. Happy Halloween!
Food Allergy Bill Signed: Governor Newsom signed it. Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences (ADDE) ActCalifornia restaurants with more than 20 locations are required to disclose the “top nine” food allergens (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy and sesame seeds) on their menus. law, It was in my newsletter. As of last month, it will take effect on July 1, 2026.
Healthcare Town Hall. November 7th, health issues forum Four leading candidates will host a “Conversation with the Next Governor” where they will answer questions about health and wellness policy in California. You can watch the event. here.
That’s it for this week! Next week, we’ll cover the health impacts of microplastics, the impact of the ICE crackdown on access to care, and new issues affecting our health.
love,
mat
PS: Go Dodgers! It’s hard to say as a Giants fan, but I’m committed to serving all Californians.
Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. The California native has led the pandemic response working as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health director for Marin County. He lives in Marin with his wife, children, and their dogs Teddy and Ramona.
