Five on Friday: Harvest Season 2024

It’s Friday again! Across the country, peak harvest is underway. Migrant farmworkers have arrived and are hard at work in northern states like Pennsylvania, where vegetables and fruit like peaches are reaching the height of ripeness. Remember to think of the workers behind the food on your plate this weekend as you enjoy the summer bounty! Onward to Five on Friday, where we gather some of the articles that MCNers have shared among staff this week, including a double Weekly Win.

Our Puerto Rico team is safe after Hurricane Ernesto rushed the island this week. Marysel sent in this ABC News article as an update. Ernesto Becomes Hurricane after Leaving 728,000 Without Power in Puerto Rico

There have been over 5,000 reported cases of Valley Fever so far this year in California. The uptick in cases may be the result of drier soils and more soil disturbance from construction and agriculture. Amy recommended this article from CalMatters. A Soil Fungus that Can Kill Is on the Rise in California: What to Know about Valley Fever

Recently, mpox has been on the minds of MCN staff as we have watched the concerning increase in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring states. Now, it’s officially a global health emergency. WHO Declares Mpox Outbreak a Global Health Emergency

Weekly Win: Kim shared the excellent news out of the White House, where the danger of heat is finally starting to get the attention it needs. Biden-Harris Administration Unveils National Heat Strategy to Protect Community Health from Extreme Heat 

Weekly Win: Representation matters!  Black patients have better health outcomes and are more likely to get preventative care when they have a Black clinician. A $600 million investment in historically Black medical schools by Bloomberg Philanthropies this month strives to bring in more Black clinicians to reduce health inequities. Bloomberg Philanthropies Announces $600 Million Gift to Historically Black Medical Schools

Have a safe and healthy weekend!