Below is my summary of Dr. Paul Klotman’s Week 290 video address.

Raw Milk

  • Raw Milk carries health risks; it is not “safe.” For one, it can transmit H5N1 bird flu infection to both humans and domestic animals such as cats
  • Even though H5N1 virus can be detected in pasteurized milk, the inactivated virus is not infectious

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria

  • These bacteria are usually associated with hospital-acquired infections (healthcare associated infections)
  • A recent study of several individuals infected with these “superbugs” revealed that they all had pets (dogs and cats) that had these same superbugs associated with the same veterinary care facility
  • There are many bacterial infections that pass readily between humans and animals

Measels

  • Although the Texas outbreak has ended, Measles is still present in other states
  • There have been 30+ US cases of Measles since Sept 14th
  • Currently, there are 18 cases in Minnesota – all among unvaccinated children

COVID

  • The Moderna NexSpike and SpikeVax vaccines both target the LP.8.1 strain. The NexSpike is the current, lower dose, and most specific vaccine recommended for older adults
  • If you get the Moderna vaccine, you need to ask your provider whether it is NexSpike
  • The summer peak of COVID has already passed; expect a winter speak in the upcoming months

West Nile Virus

  • There have been no Texas deaths due to WNV this year
  • A recent study from the Netherlands seems to show that beer drinkers, cannabis users, and people who had sex recently attracted mosquitoes more readily than people who had not partaken

My take: For the past dozen years or so, I have speculated that people who live with pets share a “communal biome” with all of their household members. That is, we share our intestinal and cutaneous bacteria not just with our family members but also with our pets. To the extent that we are sharing healthful commensal microbes, this is a win-win for us and our non-human allies. Then again, there is always the possibility of sharing antagonistic bacteria – I hate it when that happens.

By: llcPosted on