The shutdown's impact on health, RSV is stirring, Covid-19 vaccines finally given green light, deadly pasta outbreak, and lots of good news!

Helloooo, fall weather. Yes, even here in San Diego, the air feels different this week— we actually have a cloud, which counts as big news in this town.

Across the country, the forecast is shifting in more ways than one: the federal government has come to a standstill, impacting public health and potentially healthcare coverage; the respiratory viral season is starting to brew; and a few deaths have been linked to Trader Joe’s precooked pasta.

But there’s also plenty of good news—from Covid-19 vaccines finally getting the green light to a Nobel Prize announcement. Plus, I’m answering a question one of my girlfriends texted me this week: What’s going on with pediatric Covid vaccines?

Let’s dive in.

Infectious disease “weather report”

The federal government shutdown means most CDC data updates are on pause. States are still reporting, but the CDC is important because it compiles all data into a single national picture. Currently, that picture is incomplete. I’m relying on PopHIVE from the Yale School of Public Health, which combines multiple data sources beyond the federal government, including Google Trends and medical records, to fill in the gaps. (Disclosure: I helped build it.)

RSV season is starting to brew, with increased activity in Florida. RSV typically emerges in the Southeast and then sweeps across the nation, so this is an indicator that it’s on its way.

Covid-19 trends continue to decrease, coming off the summer wave.

Flu activity is still low. The season “officially” starts on calendar week 40, so all epidemiological eyes are now on flu.

What this means for you: The respiratory season is slowly getting underway. Now is the best time to get respiratory vaccines before the winter season begins. For local updates, your state’s public health department remains the best source.

Deadly Listeria outbreak from precooked pasta

A Listeria outbreak has been linked to precooked pasta. Four people have died, and 20 became severely ill, with all but one landing in the hospital. This is likely an undercount, as some people improve from Listeria exposure without treatment.

Products include:

• Trader Joe’s and Walgreens Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo

• Marketside Linguine With Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce

• Albertsons pasta salads

What this means for you: At this point, these products are primarily off store shelves, but they might be in your