Next Week in Public Health, August 22, 2025
Hello. That’s it. I don’t have much interesting commentary this week. I did learn a new word, though — presenteeism. Check out some of the latest research on presenteesism below.
And what’s going on in the news
How the pandemic shaped presenteeism trends between healthcare and non-healthcare workers using the Korean working conditions surveys (2010 – 2023)
A study based on the Korean Working Conditions Surveys (2010-2023) reveals significant shifts in presenteeism, the act of working while unwell, among healthcare workers. While healthcare workers initially had high rates of presenteeism, particularly before and during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, these rates have since declined, falling below those of non-healthcare workers by 2023. This decline underscores the critical need for workplace interventions sensitive to age and sex to continue promoting healthier work environments, as older and female healthcare workers remain more susceptible to presenteeism pressures.
USDA Announces Sweeping Plans to Protect the United States from New World Screwworm
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a major initiative to combat the New World Screwworm (NWS), a pest that threatens the livestock industry and food security in the United States. This initiative includes the construction of a new sterile fly production facility in Texas, which will produce up to 300 million sterile flies per week to prevent the spread of NWS from Mexico into the U.S. The plan highlights the importance of collaboration among federal and state agencies, private sectors, and international partners to boost prevention, surveillance, and response capabilities, thereby safeguarding American agriculture and food supply from this devastating pest.
The bizarre ways food messes with the medicines we take
Scientists are investigating the interactions between foods and drugs, which can alter drug efficacy and safety, as illustrated by a case of prolonged erection after consuming Viagra with pomegranate juice. While some food-drug interactions can dangerously increase drug potency, like grapefruit with certain medications, research aims to harness these interactions to enhance drug effectiveness, signaling potential advancements in personalized medicine.
Native Americans want to avoid past Medicaid enrollment snafus as work requirements loom
The article highlights the challenges faced by Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly Native Americans, during the “unwinding” process after the COVID-19 public health emergency ended in 2023. Jonnell Wieder’s case illustrates how she and her daughter Oakleigh McDonald temporarily lost Medicaid coverage due to procedural issues, reflecting broader systemic problems that affected millions nationwide. Tribal leaders are concerned about the potential for increased coverage disruptions with the new federal Medicaid work and eligibility requirements set to be implemented by 2027, which may disproportionately impact Native American communities despite exemptions.
