- Federal officials are seizing more shipments of unauthorized electronic cigarettes at U.S. ports, but thousands of new flavored products continue pouring into the country from China, according to government and industry data reviewed by The Associated Press. The figures underscore the chaotic state of the nation’s $7 billion vaping market and raise questions about how the U.S. government can stop the flow of fruit-flavored disposable e-cigarettes used by 1 in 10 American teens and adolescents. More than 11,500 unique vaping products are being sold in U.S. stores, up 27 percent from 9,000 products in June, according to tightly held industry data from analytics firm Circana. (Article here)
- An analysis of wastewater shows that COVID levels are higher than they were at this time last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While COVID is the leading respiratory illness sending people to hospital, flu activity is also high. Studies show that more U.S. adults are up for getting flu shots than COVID or RSV ones. According to the CDC, hospital bed capacity remains “stable” nationally, including within intensive care units, but with high levels of respiratory viruses, hospitals in at least five states are returning to requiring masks. (Article here)
March 11, 2024
Public Health/Prevention | Tea Leaves