When spring comes around, it’s not just the flowers that appear, but the bugs. In this week’s Five on Friday, catch up on some of the infections floating around, what is currently being done, and what still needs to be done to help stomp them out. Here are the articles, resources, and learning opportunities buzzing to you from MCN’s staff.

This article via WXPR, features quotes from MCN’s Amy Liebman, and discusses how important state health departments and clinicians are to H5N1 surveillance efforts. Clinicians, in particular, are key to tracking efforts, but the populations most at risk often have difficulties seeking care when they do become ill. “The majority of people that have been diagnosed with H5N1 are workers. Workers are at higher risk,” said Amy, who included that better education in avian flu and PPE, for workers, food producers, and healthcare providers, are essential to mitigating that risk. Barriers to Tracking Bird Flu Mount Amid Federal Changes

Having tough conversations about measles? Here's a resource that was initially designed for Afghan newcomers but is applicable to other communities and includes customizable slides, from NRC-RIM. Conversation Guide: Measles 

Sonia forwarded this opportunity available for health center staff, from our partners, Farmworker Justice. Receive updates on the current landscape of health access for farmworkers and strategize with other participants to improve outreach and access to farmworker communities. Supporting Comprehensive Health Care Access for Farmworkers and Their Families Learning Collaborative

In 2023, TB killed more than malaria, typhoid, and war combined – and yet funding is getting chopped, not expanded. WHY, why, why does TB still kill over a million people every year, when we have inexpensive drugs to cure it? Claire shared this Scientific American podcast episode with John Green (who has a new book on TB called Everything is Tuberculosis) to tease out the answer. Author John Green on How Tuberculosis Shaped Our Modern World

Weekly Win: In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), many remote communities lack access to preventative care like vaccines. This piece from UN News, sent in by Lasz, provides information on the UN World Health Organization’s new initiative to improve vaccination campaigns along the Congo River. WHO Injects Fresh Support into DR Congo Vaccination Drive

Have a safe and healthy weekend!