Vermont reports its first human Jamestown Canyon case

News brief

Vermont has reported its first human case of Jamestown Canyon virus, a mosquito-borne disease. According to the state’s department of health, the case was confirmed earlier this week in a person from Windsor County.

While most Jamestown Canyon cases are mild, some can be severe. Immune-compromised individuals and the elderly are at risk for symptomatic illness, which can include fever, fatigue, and headache. Patients with severe cases also report confusion, loss of coordination, seizure, or a stiff neck.

“While cases of mosquito-borne illnesses are relatively rare, Vermonters can become infected and sometimes become very sick,” Vermont Interim Health Commissioner Julie Arel, MPH, said in a press release. “Even as the weather begins to cool, we encourage people to take steps to prevent mosquito bites.”

Even as the weather begins to cool, we encourage people to take steps to prevent mosquito bites.

There are no treatments or vaccines for Jamestown Canyon. This is the first year Vermont has tested mosquitoes for the virus; mosquitoes in three different areas of the state have tested positive since July.

Poll finds low public confidence in federal vaccine policy changes

News brief

Lisa Schnirring

In new polling designed to gauge American perceptions of the Trump administration’s vaccine policy shifts, only one in four believe that recent recommendations are based on scientific evidence and facts, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos survey.

nurse giving flu vaccine — *Penn State / Flickr cc*

Led by Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a long-time vaccine skeptic, federal agencies have narrowed their recommendations on who should get COVID-19 shots, which now exclude younger healthy people without underlying health conditions as well as pregnant women. The actions have prompted medical and expert groups to make their own recommendations, while several states have issued executive orders to ease access.

Perceptions vary on vaccine access

The poll of 1,084 US adults was conducted from September 5 through September 9. It revealed that 24% thought the new federal vaccine recommendations were based on facts, including 5% of Democrats and 48% of Republicans. Of the overall group, 48% thought the policy was not based on science and facts, and the rest were unsure or didn’t answer the question.

When asked about concerns for future vaccine access for children, 48% said they were very concerned, compared to 38% who weren’t worried. The answer to that question also showed a political divide, with four out of five Democrats saying they were worried, compared to one in five Republicans and half of independents. Regarding worries about their own access, 42% said they were worried.

Pollsters said the survey had a margin of error rate of 3 percentage points, rising to 6 percentage points for Republicans and Democrats.