Unexplained Illnesses Associated With a Subscription Meal Service, 2022.

In recent years, shifting consumer demands have led to changes in the types of foods produced and how consumers obtain them. A growing demand for non-meat-based proteins has led to the development of new plant-based protein products. Simultaneously, there has been an increase in subscription-based meal services.

Surveillance for Unexplained Deaths of Possible Infectious Etiologies During the COVID-19 Pandemic-Minnesota, 2020-2021.

Objectives: Surveillance systems for unexplained deaths that might have an infectious etiology are rare. We examined the Minnesota Department of Health Unexplained Deaths and Critical Illnesses of Possible Infectious Etiology and Medical Examiner Infectious Deaths (UNEX/MED-X) surveillance system,-a system that expanded postmortem surveillance for infectious diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic by leveraging standard (medical examiner [ME]) and expanded (mortuary) surveillance to identify COVID-19-related deaths.

Methods: MEs, coroners, or morticians collected postmortem swabs from decedents with an infectious prodrome or with SARS-CoV-2 exposure before death but with no known recent infectious disease testing.

Patient Characteristics During Early Transmission of SARS-CoV-2, Palau, January 13-February 24, 2022.

Palau had no reported evidence of COVID-19 community spread until January 2022. We chart reviewed hospitalized patients who had a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result during early community transmission. Booster vaccinations and early outpatient treatment decreased hospitalizations.

Travel history among persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in the United States, December 2020-February 2021.

The first three SARS-CoV-2 phylogenetic lineages classified as variants of concern (VOCs) in the United States (U.S.) from December 15, 2020 to February 28, 2021, Alpha (B.

Rapid onset of functional tic-like behaviors among adolescent girls-Minnesota, September-November 2021.

Background: On October 15, 2021, the Minnesota Department of Health began investigating a school cluster of students experiencing tic-like behaviors thought to be related to recent COVID-19. The objective of this report is to describe the investigation, key findings, and public health recommendations.

Methods: Affected students and proxies were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire including validated depression and anxiety screens.

Multistate Outbreak of Melioidosis Associated with Imported Aromatherapy Spray.

Melioidosis, caused by the bacterium is an uncommon infection that is typically associated with exposure to soil and water in tropical and subtropical environments. It is rarely diagnosed in the continental United States. Patients with melioidosis in the United States commonly report travel to regions where melioidosis is endemic.

Use of serial testing to interrupt a severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak on a hospital medical floor-Minnesota, October-December 2020.

Objective: Describe a severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) hospital outbreak and the role of serial testing of patients and healthcare personnel (HCP) in interrupting SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Design: Outbreak investigation.

Setting: Medical floor of a tertiary-care center in Minnesota.

Foodborne Outbreak Rates Associated with Restaurant Inspection Grading and Posting at the Point of Service: Evaluation Using National Foodborne Outbreak Surveillance Data.

Abstract: A previously conducted national survey of restaurant inspection programs associated the practice of disclosing inspection results to consumers at the restaurant point of service (POS) with fewer foodborne outbreaks. We used data from the national Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System (FDOSS) to assess the reproducibility of the survey results. Programs that participated in the survey accounted for approximately 23% of the single-state foodborne illness outbreaks in restaurant settings reported to FDOSS during 2016 to 2018.

COVID-19 Outbreak Associated With a Fitness Center-Minnesota, September-November 2020.

The Minnesota Department of Health investigated a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak at a fitness center in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Twenty-three severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections (5 employees and 18 members) were identified. An epidemiological investigation supported by whole genome sequencing demonstrated that transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurred at the fitness center despite following recommended prevention strategies.

A Public Health Informatics Solution to Improving Food Safety in Restaurants: Putting the Missing Piece in the Puzzle.

Foodborne illnesses remain an important public health challenge in the United States causing an estimated 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths per year. Restaurants are frequent settings for foodborne illness transmission. Public health surveillance - the continual, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of reports of health data to prevent and control illness - is a prerequisite for an effective food control system.

First Identified Cases of SARS-CoV-2 Variant P.1 in the United States - Minnesota, January 2021.

Since December 2020, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Public Health Laboratory has been receiving 100 specimens per week (50 from each of two clinical partners) with low cycle threshold (Ct) values for routine surveillance for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. On January 25, 2021, MDH identified the SARS-CoV-2 variant P.1 in one specimen through this surveillance system using whole genome sequencing, representing the first identified case of this variant in the United States.

First Identified Cases of SARS-CoV-2 Variant B.1.1.7 in Minnesota - December 2020-January 2021.

On January 9, 2021, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced the identification of the SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC) B.1.1.

Age and Racial/Ethnic Differences in Dietary Sources of Protein, NHANES, 2011-2016.

Dietary protein serves a pivotal role in providing the body with essential amino acids, which are required for the maintenance of body proteins, and the assimilation of structural and functional components required for basic survival. Understanding how dietary protein sources potentially vary for different population subgroups will allow for future nutrition interventions to be more targeted for specific needs. The purpose of this analysis was to identify the top ten food category sources of dietary protein by age and race and ethnicity in a nationally representative sample.

Can Aggregated Restaurant Inspection Data Help Us Understand Why Individual Foodborne Illness Outbreaks Occur?

Abstract: Restaurant inspections seek to identify and correct risk factors for foodborne illness, but restaurant inspection data are not typically used more broadly as a food safety surveillance tool. In 2015, there was an outbreak of Salmonella serotype Newport infections associated with multiple restaurants in a chain (chain A), primarily in Minnesota. The outbreak was associated with tomatoes that were likely contaminated at the point of production.

Consumer Interest and Preferred Formats for Disclosure of Restaurant Inspection Results, Minnesota 2019.

Abstract: In recent years, numerous state and local health departments have developed systems to disclose restaurant inspection results to consumers. Public disclosure of restaurant inspection results can reduce transmission of foodborne illness by driving improvements in sanitary conditions. In Minnesota, restaurant inspection results are not readily accessible for consumers to use to make decisions about where to eat.

Restaurant Inspection Letter Grades and Salmonella Infections, New York, New York, USA.

Rates of Salmonella infection in the United States have not changed over the past 20 years. Restaurants are frequent settings for Salmonella outbreaks and sporadic infections. Few studies have examined the effect of posting letter grades for restaurant inspections on the incidence of foodborne illness.

Asian American Dietary Sources of Sodium and Salt Behaviors Compared with Other Racial/ethnic Groups, NHANES, 2011-2012.

Objective: Asian Americans consume more sodium than other racial/ethnic groups. The purpose of this analysis was to describe major sources of sodium intake to inform sodium reduction initiatives.

Methods: Cross-sectional data on adults (aged >18 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012 with one 24-hour dietary recall were analyzed (n=5,076).

Validation of self-rated overall diet quality by Healthy Eating Index-2010 score among New York City adults, 2013.

Objective: Chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer can result from a number of diet-related environmental and behavioral factors. Screening for poor diet is helpful in developing interventions to prevent chronic disease, but measuring dietary behavior can be costly and time-consuming. The purpose of this study was to test the ability of a self-rated, single-item measure for evaluating diet quality among individuals and populations.

Self-reported sitting time in New York City adults, the Physical Activity and Transit Survey, 2010-2011.

Introduction: Recent studies have demonstrated the negative health consequences associated with extended sitting time, including metabolic disturbances and decreased life expectancy. The objectives of this study were to characterize sitting time in an urban adult population and assess the validity of a 2-question method of self-reported sitting time.

Methods: The New York City Health Department conducted the 2010-2011 Physical Activity and Transit Survey (N = 3,597); a subset of participants wore accelerometers for 1 week (n = 667).