JUNE 9– YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST REPORT– THE DOSE COAST TO COAST

Posted on June 9, 2026 by John Bailey

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more

Enjoying this newsletter? Why not share it with a friend?

Screwworm is here, World Cup starting, things heating up (literally), and more

The Dose (June 9)

Katelyn Jetelina

Jun 9

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

READ IN APP

Movement is the name of the game this week: people, animals, insects, and the health impacts that follow.

The World Cup kicks off Thursday, pulling millions together in celebration, but where crowds gather, pathogens follow. We’re debuting a new section on the health signals worth watching. Also on the move: a parasitic, flesh-eating fly eradicated in the U.S. in 1966 has found its way back (yes, it’s as terrible as it sounds). And 48 million people are facing serious heat risk. Good news is in the mix, too.

Here’s what’s going on, and most importantly, what it means for you.

Health “weather” report

Ticks are still increasing, and all respiratory diseases are declining to very low levels.

Things are heating up

This week, 48 million people will face “major” heat risk, and 100,000 will face “extreme” heat risk.

When it comes to extreme heat, it’s not just about the temperature you see on your weather app. While 120 degrees in Phoenix isn’t great, 90 degrees in New York can be worse.

This is because the risk to your health is due to heat imbalance. That’s when your body produces more heat than it can release. Normally, sweat helps cool us down. But when it’s hot and humid, sweat doesn’t evaporate as easily. The air is already packed with moisture, making it harder for your body to cool itself and raising the risk of illness quickly.

Source: CDC Heat risk index

What this means for you: The following people should take action when their area is “orange” or higher. Everyone else, start taking action in “red.”

People taking medications that impair heat regulation: Certain drugs interfere with sweating, hydration, or heart function, and can even reduce your thirst sensation. Check out the list here.
Older adults: Aging reduces the body’s ability to sweat and regulate temperature.
Infants and children: Smaller bodies heat up faster, and young children may not recognize or communicate early symptoms. Kids with asthma are at high risk.
People with chronic diseases: Underlying conditions like heart disease strain the body’s ability to cope with heat stress.
Pregnant women: Pregnancy increases metabolic heat production, making it harder to stay cool. More here.
Outdoor workers and athletes: Prolonged physical activity in hot environments increases internal heat production.
People experiencing homelessness: Continuous exposure to heat, dehydration risk, and limited access to cooling or hydration increases vulnerability.

Check the HeatRisk tool to know when to avoid strenuous activity. Stay hydrated. Watch for signs and symptoms of heat stroke. Check your urine color.

Be smart with fans: Fans can help when it’s moderately hot by circulating air and helping sweat evaporate. But once temps climb above 90°F fans may actually blow more hot air onto you, increasing heat stress.

Healthy Cup: Let the games begin!

The World Cup officially kicks off Thursday! YLE is playing a key role at the national Health Security Operations Center, and each week, we’ll share what we’re seeing in the data for those heading to the games or simply curious about what happens when millions of people mix.

While we wait for the games to start, epidemiologists are watching signals at and around base camps and practice games this past week.

The risk remains low, but three signals are garnering attention for now:

Measles continues to spread in all three host countries, with a significant ongoing outbreak in Mexico. Seven base camps and practice games are near outbreaks, and these teams and their fans will soon disperse to other locations for the tournament. Make sure you’re up to date on the MMR vaccine and protection.
Norovirus (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) is declining nationally, with one notable exception: a sharp increase in the South that’s unusual for this time of year and worth watching. This is very contagious, and hand sanitizer won’t work. Wash your hands with soap and water.

Norovirus levels in wastewater. Source: Verily

On heat… There was significant public concern about FIFA banning water bottles, which could become a big deal for heat-related illnesses. But on Friday, FIFA clarified (or walked back) its policy, saying attendees are allowed one 20-ounce (591 mL) unopened, soft-plastic disposable bottle (think: a bottle from a vending machine). Drink up.

We will be back next week for more.

Spotlight: Screwworm. The fly has landed.

Five cases of New World screwworm have been confirmed in the U.S. Texas declared an emergency, and Canada immediately restricted livestock imports. This bug could quickly turn into a big deal, and scientists have long warned about its return (I am surprised it didn’t come sooner, to be honest).

I called arbovirologist Dr. Miguel Arturo Saldaña in Texas to help break it down.

Screw… what?

New World screwworm (NWS) is a parasitic fly that was fully eradicated from the U.S. in 1966. It lays eggs in the open wounds of warm-blooded animals. When the eggs hatch, NWS larvae burrow into living flesh. It’s exactly as bad as it sounds, and is fatal if untreated.

Source: California Department of Food and Agriculture; annotated by Your Local Epidemiologist

How did we keep it out?

Starting in the late 1950s, scientists used the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT): mass-producing sterile males and releasing them to outcompete wild males, collapsing the fly population. It works because female flies mate only once.

Eradication moved down country by country from the U.S through Mexico and Central America over decades, eventually pushing NWS all the way to the Darién Gap in Panama (a remote landbridge of dense, mountainous rainforest). The U.S. and Panama maintained a binational barrier there, dropping roughly 20 million sterilized flies across six flights per week. For decades, it held.

But, for the past few years, it’s been crawling back up, and now, as predicted, to the U.S.

Figure from December 31, 2026 (so slightly out of date). Currently detected in the U.S. now. Source: Farm Journal

Why is it back?

A combination of factors:

Cattle smuggling. NWS detections in Panama spiked from 25 cases per year to more than 6,500 in 2023, driven largely by cattle movement outside sterile fly zones.
U.S. federal funding cuts. In early 2025, roughly 15,000 USDA positions were eliminated, and a USAID-funded monitoring project was terminated. Warnings passed as the pest moved north through Mexico.
Loss of expertise. In many countries, veteran veterinary entomologists have retired without replacements, taking decades of specialized knowledge with them.

Why does this matter?

NWS spreads fast. A single female lays 200 to 300 eggs per clutch every three to seven days, up to 15 clutches in her lifetime. Eggs hatch within 24 hours; larvae feed for up to 7 days.
Human cases are rare and treatable when caught early. The most recent U.S. case was a traveler who returned from El Salvador last year and recovered. Pets can also be affected.
The bigger concern is the food system. Health and the economy are tightly linked. A 1976 Texas outbreak, a spillover from Mexico, affected 1.8 million livestock. A comparable outbreak today could cost Texas alone $1.8 billion, with losses across NWS’s historic range potentially exceeding $10.6 billion per year, and over $100 billion in broader U.S. livestock economic activity is at stake.

How do we stop it?

Same as before: SIT. Mexico is refurbishing retired rearing facilities to resume sterile fly production by summer 2026. A new U.S. facility in Texas will produce up to 300 million sterile flies per week, though experts estimate 400 to 500 million will be needed for full eradication. Ramping to capacity could take 18 months to two years. Panama is sending SIT males to the U.S. in the meantime.

What this means for you

The biggest concern is livestock, particularly cattle. Here are some tips to keep them healthy. To everyone else, the beef you eat is still safe.

Stray dogs and wildlife are also at risk; pets can be exposed too, but really only in agricultural areas. Ensure pets are on flea & tick prevention from the FDA-approved list, as products containing afoxolaner (dogs) or esafoxolaner (cats) can prevent NWS infection.

For people, risk is not uniform. Agricultural workers in the Southern states, particularly those with open wounds, sores, or skin breaks, are the most vulnerable, as flies are attracted to any open wound.

For everyone else, risk remains very low.

Good news

As always, ending on a lighter note:

Melinda French Gates pledged $215 million to women’s health. Specifically, expanding contraceptive access, maternal care, and menopause research globally, pushing her total investment in women’s health past $600 million over the past two years.
An experimental personalized skin cancer vaccine cut the risk of melanoma returning or causing death by 49% after five years when used in combination with immunotherapy. The vaccine is custom-built for each patient using genetic information from their own tumor, teaching the immune system to recognize and attack it. The vaccine still has a while to go through clinical trials, but this is welcome news given the increasing skin cancer rates.
Inhaled insulin approved for kids with diabetes. The FDA approved inhaled insulin (Afrezza) for children ages 6 and older with diabetes. This is the first needle-free insulin option for pediatric patients in over 100 years. It’s a mealtime insulin delivered via a small portable inhaler, replacing the multiple daily injections kids currently need at meals. Pediatric patients and parents of younger children reported greater treatment satisfaction.

Bottom line

Lots of people and animals are moving, and with them, diseases. We’re keeping an eye on it all and will keep you informed.

Love, YLE

Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) comprises a team of experts, ranging from physicians to immunologists to epidemiologists to nutritionists, working together with one goal: to “Translate” ever-evolving public health science so that people are well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. YLE suite of newsletters reaches over 475,000 people across more than 132 countries. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below:

JUNE 6– THIS IS D-DAY, 1944

Posted on June 6, 2026 by John Bailey

82 Years Ago Today, the Thousands, the Brave, the Strong, the Good Died Turned Back Tyranny and Evil: D-DAY 1944

WPCNR MILESTONES. June 6, 2026:

It has been 82 years since allied troops died and lived on Normandy’s beaches in France in the largest military operation in history to turn the tide against Nazi Germany, the ultimate evil Third Reich.

It is a day to remember, reflect. Examine ourselves. Would we have the courage those men and women had?

I thought in preparing my simple news program yesterday, what kind of a visual should I put up to remember those brave who faced massive, withering fire hitting them and dying instantly on those beaches? Should it be the sobering pictures of the wounded? The sobering lineups of corpses in the sand? The overhead awe-inspiring photographs of the landing?

I chose this: thousands of crosses to remember who died together fighting tyranny and evil because you must always fight tyranny and evil and hate together. You cannot negotiate with it.

The crosses are all the same. There are thousands of them in graveyards like the one shown here. The legacy of spent humanity, all the same in death, united in death no matter their nationality, creed, religion.

Next time you hear the speeches of hate and prejudice and superiority, please remember this picture and this day.

Eightytwo years ago this morning, thousands of troops stormed the beaches in Normandy, France in the largest invasion in history.

The bloody assault against a heavily defended coastline, requiring incredible courage and sacrifice by allied troops, landing craft, paratroops, signaled the beginning of the end of the Third Reich and the regime of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany.

The quiet beaches of Normandy today. The hundreds of rows of white crosses in cemeteries around the little town bear silent eternal vigil to the sacrifice of those brave men and women who fought, died, and triumphed this day 72 years ago today.

We can in no way, or through any motion picture know what any veteran experienced that day. The veterans who still are with us do not like to talk about their combat experiences. And they do not.

One veteran of D-Day, asked what he thought of Saving Private Ryan, the movie of a few years ago depicting the landing and the realism of it, said the real D-Day was worse. However, veterans we have interviewed remark that they think of their combat experience every day. It is always with them.

It is inconceivable to me that I could ever be able to do what these men and women did. I would like to hope I could have. However, the veterans have.

They left ordinary lives as teenagers office workers, factory workers, farmers, accountants, and what have you and were able to go to war and “rise to the occasion,” or as they say today, “step it up to the next level.” The highest level.

Few of them are left now. But today their sacrifice should be remembered.

JUNE 6— LETTER FROM WASHINGTON

Posted on June 6, 2026 by John Bailey

Neighbor,
The month of June is here! Although time passes quickly, we are working to find meaningful solutions to problems facing you and your community.

The affordability crisis, being the center of soaring consumer prices, is impacting households across the country. The plan ahead is clear – relieve the pressure on Americans’ paychecks and restore trust in elected officials to put our country on a prosperous path forward.

I will be in D.C. for four voting weeks in June and look forward to discussing with my House colleagues a number of specific actions for us to combat these issues. The times we are living in are increasingly formidable and issues are arising every day. If there is any way my team and I could be of assistance, please let us know.

In the minority of the House, we deal with a steady set of proposed legislation which may be structured to ‘sound good’ but contains poison pills of policy that advance extreme ideology over practical governance.

I have served in the minority of three other legislative bodies, City Council, County Board of Legislators, NY State Senate – never before have I seen such a willingness of conservatives to ignore the advice and input of our conference. This has prompted a multitude of ‘NO’ votes, and results in having to explain how these bills were structured to be ideological, but carry with them ill advised policies.

IN WASHINGTON

The airways highlight the major stains of the moment. Here’s a quick rundown:

$1 Billion for the White House Ballroom

I oppose President Trump’s plan to build an ornate, unnecessary ballroom in the White House. The ballroom was promised to be fully funded by private donations – but now public money is being requested by the President to complete it.

Status: Bipartisan opposition and a legal challenge have stalled ballroom completion. Congress never approved this expenditure, and it must cease immediately.

Renaming the Kennedy Center to include President Trump’s name
President Trump’s appointees to the Kennedy Center Board rubber-stamped placing his name on the building. But the naming authority belongs to Congress alone. I opposed this move.
Status: A lawsuit has been adjudicated: the Judge ruled that Trump’s name must be taken off the building.

$1.8 Billion Slush Fund for Insurrectionists
I oppose this proposal by the Trump Administration to settle a lawsuit launched when a private citizen claimed he was wrongly prosecuted for political purposes. This fund could be used for January 6 insurrectionists pardoned by Trump. However, James Comey and Tish James, truly prosecuted by Trump’s DOJ, would not be eligible. Another piece of legislation I oppose.
Status: Bi-Partisan opposition has grown against this and I co-sponsored H.R. 8914, No Taxpayer-Funded Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2026. This legislation was introduced by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and aims to outlaw collusive settlements and partisan handouts of taxpayer dollars.

This week’s edition of Bad Bills:

You should read what the majority is advancing – I’m voting NO or have voted NO on all of them.

H.R.1329 – Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act
A good idea, I sponsored the original bill. But this is amended to give President Trump the power to determine who is honored in the museum and who isn’t. I voted NO on the amended version. It failed 216-214 with bi-partisan opposition.

H.R. 2616 – Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act
Censuring discretion of gender topics in books and other venues. I voted NO – and it passed on a party line vote 217 – 198.

H.R. 6047 – Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026
Doing a good thing – more aid to disabled veterans by increasing fees for veterans seeking home loan refinancing assistance. There’s a better way to do this, and this isn’t it. This passed on party lines 216-201. I voted NO.

H.R. 1041 – Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act
Background checks are a small price to pay to ensure those who buy guns are free of mental and emotional crisis. This prevents the VA from reporting certain information about an individual to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for use in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) – a system used by licensed firearms dealers to determine whether a person can legally purchase a firearm. Passed 216-201 along party lines. I voted NO.

BACK HOME IN WESTCHESTER AND THE BRONX:

Memorial Day festivities have been held, and I participated in events around the district in White Plains, Yonkers, Rye City, Port Chester, New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Co-Op City, and Greenburgh. I enjoyed being able to see so many members of the service and their family members at these events and being able to thank them for their sacrifice to our country. I am proud to represent such brave men and women and will continue to support our service members to the fullest extent possible.

As the month draws to a close, we enter graduation season, a momentous period for students across Westchester and the Bronx. Commencement ceremonies mark the transition of a new generation of leaders, and I look forward to seeing what the bright individuals from our community do in the future. Congratulations to all graduates on this remarkable achievement!

Watch some of my recent House of Representatives floor speeches:

Outrage Over Trump’s Billion Dollar Ballroom

Inflation Crisis Strains Families Across America

The Cost of Trump’s Defense Spending Spree

SURVEY

According to public disclosures that Donald Trump has filed with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, Trump made over 3,700 trades in the first quarter of 2026. Trump has allegedly made millions of dollars through these stock trades, often from corporations that he has publicly supported like Meta, Oracle, and Nvidia.

I want to hear from you:

Should the President be able to trade individual stocks while Americans struggle with the high cost of living?

Yes

Taking this survey will sign you up for future news and updates from our office.

In Congress, I’m fighting for accountability and to make sure your taxpayer dollars are used to make your life better and more affordable, not to make the rich even richer. I fully support a ban of stock trading by Members of Congress and senior administration officials. We cannot tolerate insider trading.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT

Last week, I joined Rivertown’s police chiefs to address rising antisemitic attacks and the increasing use of hate symbols and speech locally, statewide, and nationally. The event was organized by Hastings-On-Hudson Mayor Tom Drake and included thoughtful presentations by Steve Goldberg of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center and Andrew Grascia, Chief Criminal Investigator for the Westchester County DA. I am eager to work with these partners to ensure we foster a community of acceptance, regardless of religion.

IN THE NEWS

I was able to sit down with Mimi Geerges on CSPAN’s Washington Journal to discuss the state of our foreign affairs and congressional news of the week.

Watch the full clip here:

Rep. George Latimer on the Iran War and Congressional News of the Week

TEXTING SIGN UP

In case you missed it, my office sends text messages to residents in the 16th District. We hope this is another way to keep you informed of what I am working on in DC and at home. If you would like to join our texting list, you can sign up here: https://latimer.house.gov/services/subscribe-texting

STAY IN TOUCH

Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Twitter/X and YouTube to stay up-to-date on what I am working on. If this newsletter was sent to you by someone else, you can sign up for it here: https://latimer.house.gov/contact/newsletter-subscribe

As always, reach out to my offices with concerns or questions. We are here to serve you!

Sincerely,

Rep. George Latimer

Member of Congress

Washington D.C. Office

1507 Longworth

House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Bronx Office

177 Dreiser Loop

Room 3

Bronx, NY 10475

White Plains Office

222 Mamaroneck Ave.

Suite 312

White Plains, NY 10605

Unsubscribe from future messages.

JUNE 5–WHITE PLAINS WEEK THE JUNE 5 REPORT FIOS CH 45 OPTIMUM CH 76 AND WORLDWIDE ANYTIME ON WW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

Posted on June 5, 2026 by John Bailey

KENNETH HODAP APPOINTED COMMISSIONER OF BUILDING

REAL ESTATE REPORT IN WESTCHESTER TODAY

WITH WESTCHESTER’S NUMBER 1 REAL ESTATE SALES LEADER

REMEMBERING D-DAY

STROLLING THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS ART SHOW

REMEMBERING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION FROM EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS

AT MILLER HOUSE SUNDAY AT 2

MOUNT HOPE AWARDED BALANCE OF FUNDS NEEDED

TO COMPLETE CHURCH’S SENIOR CITIZEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED FOR FORMER WALMART BUILDING —

STORAGE FACILITY ZONING CHANGE SOUGHT, 2 RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND

HEALTH CLUB POSSIBLE

NEW SQUARE FOR CITY CENTER COMING.

JUNE 7– SUNDAY! SURVIVORS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION TELL WHAT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WAS LIKE WAS LIKE

Posted on June 2, 2026 by John Bailey

REPORTER NOTES OF AN INTERVIEW BY HISTORIAN JAMES B. McDONALD WITH A SURVIVOR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

THE ABOVE PICTURE THIS IS ONE OF MR. MCDONALD’S NOTES OF ONE OF HIS INTERVIEWS WITH PERSONS WHO LIVED WITH THE WAR FOR 8 YEARS 1776 TO 1783. HEAR MR RAFTERY PUT THE FIGHT FOR AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE IN HUMAN PERSPECTIVE. HE WEAVES A COHESIVE SWEEPING VIEW OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION FROM EYEWITNESSES WHO LIVED IT PRESERVED BY MR. MCDONALD’S INTERVIEWS WITH SURVIVORS

MILLER HOUSE 140 VIRGINIA ROAD, NORTH WHITE PLAINS

ON SUNDAYJUNE 7 PRESENTS HISTORIAN PATRICK RAFTERY AT HISTORIC MILLER HOUSE 140 VIRGINIA ROAD IN NORTH WHITE PLAINS PRESENTING EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF SURVIVORS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION COLLECTED BY THE HISTORIAN JOHN M MCDONALD WHEN HE COLLECTED INTERVIEWS OF WESTCHESTER RESIDENTS ON THEIR EYEWITNESS RECOLLECTIONS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY. THERE WERE MO MEDIA AT THAT TIME, PRESS ACCOUNTS WERE SKETCHY BUT MR. MCDONALD SOUGHT OUT THE EVERYDAY PEOPLE FROM SOLDIERS TO FARMERS TO FAMILIES OF WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED AND YOU ARE THERE!

SUNDAY JUNE 7 2 PM SEATS ARE LIMITED

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT 914-484-6218

OR CONTACT CYNTHIA@DOLL1776.COM

JUNE 2–YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST THE DOSE–NATIONAL OUTLOOK

Posted on June 2, 2026 by John Bailey

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more

Enjoying this newsletter? Why not share it with a friend?

Covid-19 update, common cold, ticks, and lotssss of good news

The Dose (June 2)

Katelyn Jetelina

Jun 2

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

READ IN APP

Happy June! This week felt notably lighter to write about (knock on wood).

The Ebola outbreak continues overseas, but domestically, the common cold and ticks are commanding most of the attention. We’ll also check in on Covid-19 and the vaccine rollout, where the dominoes of the federal process are starting to wobble.

This left plenty of room today for good news and a time to celebrate (quite literally, as you will see below) scientific advancements, which have become my favorite section of the newsletter.

Let’s dive in.

Disease weather report

Ticks are… increasing again

After a few unusually eventful weeks, ticks are still keeping us on a rollercoaster. Emergency room visits for tick bites dipped briefly, then rose significantly again. We haven’t hit a record-breaking peak, but the season is running earlier than usual, so the cumulative burden is mounting. If this pace continues, it’s shaping up to be a rough tick season overall.

Those in the Northeast are feeling the brunt of it, followed by the Midwest. Although ticks are really everywhere.

Data: CDC; Annotated by Your Local Epidemiologist.

What this means for you: Enjoy the outdoors! But if you’re in a tick-prone area, take that extra minute to do a tick check. The most important thing is removing the tick properly (use fine-tipped tweezers, grab close to the skin, pull upward, no twisting, no Vaseline, no matches).

Then watch for symptoms: fever, rash, fatigue, joint aches. If you find an attached tick and are in a high-risk area for Lyme disease, it’s worth calling your doctor if it was attached for more than 36 hours. Here is a YLE deep dive on ticks.

Common colds peaked

We are finally reaching a point where almost all respiratory viruses are on the decline. Common cold viruses appear to have peaked after a higher season than last year.

PIV (parainfluenza virus) is also nearing its peak, which is worth noting for a slightly different reason. Unlike the common cold, PIV is particularly significant for babies, as it is a leading cause of croup and bronchiolitis. As you can see in the graph below, it is less common, though.

Data: CDC; Annotated by Hannah at Your Local Epidemiologist.

What this means for you: If you’re sick, it’s likely the common cold. Rest and fluids really do help boost your immune system.

Measles keeps on ticking along

I haven’t given an update in a while. While the acceleration has slowed down, measles is still spreading. It’s basically endemic at this point: jumping from unvaccinated pocket to unvaccinated pocket.

In the U.S., there are three active outbreaks public health officials are paying attention to:

Utah is in its eleventh month with active community transmission.
Virginia is where my eyes are right now. The outbreak is still small (64 cases) but growing quickly, with 21 cases in the past week. The vaccination rate in the community (Buckingham County) is low (84.9%).
Pennsylvania outbreak with 38 cases (six new cases in the past week).

Source: PopHIVE; Annotated by Your Local Epidemiologist.

What this means for you: If you’re up to date on vaccines, you remain very well protected. If you have a child under 12 months old and are in/around these areas, they can get vaccinated early. Here are the top 10 questions on measles protection answered.

Spotlight: Covid-19 virus and vaccines

Every summer since Covid-19 arrived, we have had a wave. And lately, summer waves are larger than winter ones (but continue to decline in severity due to immunity). Here’s where things stand.

What’s the current Covid situation? Levels remain very, very low. There may be a slight increase in some areas if you squint closely at the data (like in Texas and Florida, and maybe the Midwest), but it’s not showing up across all metrics. In other words, we’re not in a wave yet.

The Cicada variant (BA.3.2) received some attention a few weeks ago but has been circulating for some time without making much of an impact. The growing variant is XFG, which is still a descendant of Omicron.

Should I get a spring vaccine? The recommendation stands: vulnerable individuals, particularly those over 65, should still get both a fall and spring vaccine. Year over year, vaccination continues to provide 50–60% additional protection for high-risk individuals compared to those who skip it. If you’ve been trying to time a shot before the next wave, that window may be approaching.

Will we have a Covid-19 vaccine this fall? Yes, I think so, but the path to get there will be bumpy.

Think of our annual respiratory vaccine rollout as a giant domino setup. When the first domino falls—usually in February—the rest follow in a smooth, synchronized sequence, ending with shots in arms by early fall.

Last week, external advisors to FDA met to recommend an updated strain for this fall’s vaccine and voted to use the XFG strain. This differs from the WHO’s recommendation (LP.8.1). Strain differences between the U.S. and WHO aren’t entirely unusual—the U.S. typically targets the closest-matching strain for precision, while the WHO prioritizes broader coverage to accommodate countries with less flexibility to update quickly. Immunologically, the U.S. approach makes more sense.

But now the subsequent dominoes in the process of getting a vaccine may start wobbling.

The next step would normally be an ACIP meeting, but there is currently no ACIP, which is unprecedented. Two possible pathways are now in play, and both may end up being used:

The standard federal pathway (blue below). Either an ACIP is chartered (a long shot), or the ACIP step is bypassed entirely, and the CDC director signs off on the vaccine independently.
An alternative pathway (purple below) was developed last year by external organizations in response to federal disarray. Many states have already decoupled from ACIP and are instead following guidance from professional bodies like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP). VIP will be meeting soon to review the evidence, enabling professional organizations to issue their own recommendations, which will then prompt health systems and physicians to begin ordering vaccines.
Key limitation: This pathway doesn’t resolve the issue of ordering and distributing vaccines purchased through federal programs, most notably Vaccines for Children.

Vaccine approval process with possible alternative pathways. Figure by Your Local Epidemiologist.

What this means for you: If you’ve been trying to time your Covid-19 spring vaccine before a wave, that moment may be getting close, though it’s still unclear. As for fall, I’m confident vaccines will be available, but expect some confusion and uncertainty in the run-up. But they will be there.

Good news, and lots of it

Standing ovation for pancreatic cancer survival study. During a national cancer convention (ASCO) over the weekend, results from a Phase III clinical trial of a pancreatic cancer drug were announced, and the room erupted in applause. This is really rare, but it also signals the beauty of the discovery. What did scientists find? Patients taking a new, experimental drug lived nearly twice as long as patients offered standard chemotherapy. Daraxonrasib reduced the risk of death by 60% compared with chemotherapy. Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease, with a low survival rate, and is really hard to target with drugs. While this isn’t on the market yet, there seems to be major hope on the horizon.

Source: Scott Morgan/ASCO; STAT news

Major health insurers announced they will cover all vaccines at no cost through 2027, regardless of what ACIP, federal disarray, and ideological preferences say. This is incredibly abnormal, as they usually wait for federal guidance, but great news and, quite frankly, just the right thing to do.
Americans are increasingly treating mental health like physical health. This news is a little older, but worth celebrating as we close out mental health awareness month: More than one in three Americans said they planned to make a mental health-related resolution this year, with younger adults ages 18–34 leading the trend at 58%. Growing cultural normalization of mental health care is itself a public health win, as stigma has historically been a major barrier to treatment.
An obesity drug may not just “melt fat,” but also decrease inflammation that drives heart disease, joint pain, and diabetes. Lilly is testing a new drug called retatrutide, a weekly injection that targets three hormones for weight loss. In its latest clinical trial results, released this month, participants lost an average of 71 pounds over about a year and a half and also made significant improvements in markers of heart disease and overall inflammation. The addition of glucagon targeting helps the body to burn fuel, enabling greater weight loss and likely accounting for the additional benefits over earlier GLP-1 drugs. The drug isn’t approved yet, and more safety and effectiveness data are coming, but the early results are strong. If future trials hold up, this could become a single-shot treatment for obesity, diabetes, inflammation, and their related health problems all at once.
Global teamwork (without the U.S.) towards health. The 79th World Health Assembly—whose theme was “Reshaping global health: a shared responsibility”—ended with 193 member states (notably the U.S. is no longer a member) agreeing on 20 decisions and passing 13 resolutions on a variety of health issues, including stroke, liver disease, tuberculosis, antimicrobial resistance, diagnostic imaging, emergency care, precision medicine, and radiation.
Ebola patients were discharged from the hospital. Five patients were cured of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus: four left the treatment center today, and another had already returned home. As Helen Branswell, from STAT, noted, “communities can distrust treatment centers, because loved ones go in & often don’t come out alive. Hopefully, word of survivals will encourage people to seek care rather than staying home. Improves their survival chances & lowers risk to family members.” Ebola can be defeated.

Bottom line

While ticks and common colds are brewing, the quieter week allows us to recognize the quiet science marching forward. This week brought results targeting the two leading killers of Americans, heart disease and cancer. That is always worth celebrating.

Love, YLE

MAY 30–COASTER’S PLAYLAND INDEX: IT’S 3:15 56 DEGREES PARTLY SUNNY WINDY PLAYLAND DEGREES AND THE PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK TO PLAYLAND

Posted on May 30, 2026 by John Bailey

COASTER’S PLAYLAND INDEX & WEATHERRRRRR

2:30 PM SATURDAY PLAYLAND PARKING LOT TO THIS REPORTER THE PARKING LOT WAS HALF FULL AND A LINE OF PATRONS LINED UP AT THE ADMISSIONS GATE. COASTER THANKS YOU FOR COMING ON DOWN.

FIREWORKS TONIGHT FOR INFORMATION ON PLAYLAND TODAY GO TO PLAYLANDPARK.ORG

TOMMORROW THE WEATHER CHANNEL PLAYLAND FORECAST IS 55 TO 75 DEGREES WINDY AND PARTLY SUNNY

MAY 30–PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY

Posted on May 30, 2026 by John Bailey

DID YOU CELEBRATE NATIONAL HAMBURGHER DAY MAY 28?

I DID AT CITY LIMITS WITH THE ULTIMATE THE ONE THE ONLY “CITY LIMITS BURGER” MEDIUM RARE WITH BARBEQUE SAUCE LETTUCE CHEESE BACON LEAN, DEVELOPED THROUGH 32 YEARS OF RESEARCH BY CITY LIMITS HAMBURGER RESEARCH LAB

IT’S NOT TOO LATE! YOU CAN STILL FIT IN A SALUTE TO THE HAMBURGER TODAY!

A hamburger is therapy that works! Juicy, rich meaty taste creamy tangy cheese, the hot western twang of barbeque, the melt-in your-mouth lean fatty bacon it lifts your mouth’s spirit, stampedes that remuda of problems, worries right out of your head. The City Limits Burger does that to you. It’s a game-changer. Top it off with an Egg Creme and you’re a-rarin’ to go. French Fries on the side a must not to avoid.

I had not had one in a long time when I stopped in at “The Limits” in White Plains New York USA, Friday, when it arrived like James Brown on stage Friday afternoon, all that was missing was the cloak.

I mean the very sight of it lifted my spirits.

And the first big bite with catsup– MAN Oh MAN! making a comeback in my mouth, the juiciness the meaty spirited authority of burgerness KABBURGER! YIPPEE-I-OH-KI-YEA!

Saunter in to the welcome hub-bub of City Limits with your burgher face on if you want some burger therapy it works! You know you need it! Always!

WHITE PLAINS WEEK SATURDAY 8:30 AM THE MAY 29TH REPORT ON FOOT PATROLS BIKING ENFORCEMENT, HOCHUL HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW CHANGES. PLAYLAND OPENING CH 45 FIOS CH 76 OPTIMUM AND www.wpcommunitymedia.org

Posted on May 29, 2026 by John Bailey

COMMISSIONER WADE HARDY ON NEW FOOT PATROLS AND DELIVERY BIKE SAFETY INITIATIVE

PLAYLAND OPENS — WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS

HOW TO KEEP THE FAITH WITH AMERICA’S WAR DEAD

COMMON COUNCIL PASSES CITY BUDGET — PROPERTY TAX INCREASE IMPACT EXPLAINED

GOVERNOR HOCHUL’S ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW REFORM BILL

ON WHAT PLAYLAND NEEDS TO BUILD BACK ITS APPEAL

THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW EVERY WEEK ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK

FOR 25 YEARS

WITH JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS

MAY 29 — WHITE PLAINS FOOT PATROLS BY POLICE RETURN. ADDRESS BIKE AND DELIVERY ISSUES IN MAYOR’S INITIATIVE

Posted on May 29, 2026 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. May 29, 2026:

White Plains Police have resumed “foot patrols” in Downtown White Plains, Commissioner of Pubwhlic Safety announced at Tuesday evening’s work session. Mayor Justin brashed introduced the new Commissioner to report on the results of the city’s “Love May” effort to address bike and delivery issues in the downtown by acquainting delivery personal with city regulations.

Mayor Brasch who asked the Commissioner to devise the foot patrol initiative, commended Hardy and the Deputy Police Commissioner for devising the first foot patrols in the city in 27 years.

Hardy cited statistics on the number of delivery personnel addressed in public meetings and on the street by foot patrol officers.