Becker's Clinical Quality & Infection Control

7 INFECTION CONTROL Michigan reports US' 1st known COVID-19 'spillover' cases By Erica Carbajal H ealth officials believe four Michigan residents infected with a coronavirus strain linked to minks are the first known animal to-human COVID-19 cases in the U.S., the Detroit Free Press reported April 17. e news outlet reported that although this marks the first known evidence of animal-human spillover cases in the country, there may be other such cases that have gone unreported. Six notes: 1. e four individuals — a taxidermist, his wife and two mink farm employees — have fully recovered. 2. Michigan's investigation into the mink outbreak started in October 2020. Samples from two farm employees who tested positive had virus mutations also present in those from mink on the farm. The state agriculture department at the time issued a statement saying: "There is currently no evidence that animals, including mink, play a significant role in spreading the virus to humans in Michigan." 3. Two months later, a taxidermist tested positive with the same mutations, as well as a fourth person in February. State health officials said it is unclear whether the muta- tions came directly from mink on the farm or whether they had been circulating in the community. 4. There is evidence of spillover cases in other coun- tries, including Canada. Researchers in February presented what they believe to be the first evidence of a human contracting COVID-19 from white-tailed deer in Ontario, Canada. 5. The CDC updated its animal testing guidance webpage to relect that surveillance efforts in wildlife at the state level "are now critical for early detection and prevention of virus spillover from animals, specifically wildlife, to people." In a statement to the news outlet, the CDC said animal testing is recommended at mink farms "if the animals show signs of having coronavirus or if their exposure to people who've had the virus is unknown." Active, routine surveillance is not required. 6. ere have been at least 18 known COVID-19 out- breaks among minks on mink farms in the U.S., accord- ing to data from the Department of Agriculture cited by the Detroit Free Press. n CDC mask guidelines spur confusion among hospitals By Mackenzie Bean H ealthcare facilities nationwide are grappling with con- flicting CDC guidelines on masking amid the pandemic, resulting in a patchwork of policies and practices, Politico reported April 5. CDC advises against wearing masks that are soiled or damaged, a guideline some hospitals have cited when asking patients to re- place their N95 masks with surgical masks provided by the facility. After Politico reported on this practice in March, the CDC updated its guidelines, saying hospitals should let patients and visitors wear N95 masks, which are more protective. Some hospitals have opted to let patients layer surgical masks over N95s, though the CDC warns against this practice because it can affect N95 masks' fit, making them less protective. Many hospi- tals are also providing employees surgical masks to work in, even though the CDC's website says these masks are less protective. In another sign of industry confusion, the American Hospital Asso- ciation said it was not sure how to interpret the CDC's guidance. "We recommend you check with the CDC," association spokesperson Colin Milligan told Politico. The CDC said it is not planning to change its mask guidelines again and recommends people visiting healthcare facilities use the most protective mask that fits well, spokesperson Kristen Nordlund told Politico on April 4. n Routine vaccinations dipped amid COVID-19, CDC finds By Mackenzie Bean R outine childhood vaccinations fell nationwide amid the pandemic and are below target levels, the CDC reported April 22. In the 2020-21 school year, about 94 percent of kindergartners had received all state-required vaccines for preventable diseases such as measles and chickenpox. This figure is about 1 percentage point lower than the year prior and falls just below the CDC's 95 percent vaccina- tion rate target. "This means there are 35,000 more children in the United States during this time period without documentation of complete vacci- nation against common diseases," Georgina Peacock, MD, acting director of the CDC's immunization services division, said during an April 21 media briefing cited by The New York Times. "This is further evidence of how pandemic-related disruptions to education and healthcare could have lingering consequences for children." Health officials have expressed concern that preventable childhood diseases could become more common if the nation doesn't increase vaccination rates. n

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