• District of Columbia: The Biden administration announced a new partnership called the Global Health Security Strategy (GHSS) that aims to prevent future pandemics by identifying and responding to infectious diseases worldwide. The partnership will help 50 countries, many of them in Africa and Asia, develop better testing, surveillance, and communication around infectious disease outbreaks. Several U.S. agencies, including CDC, HHS, the State Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development, will be involved in the partnership. The GHSS will help "prevent, detect and effectively respond to biological threats wherever they emerge," said President Joe Biden. The strategy also aims to protect people around the world and "will make the United States strong, safer, and healthier than ever before at this critical moment." According to the Associated Press, Biden officials hope to expand the partnership to include 100 countries by the end of the year. (Seitz, Associated Press, 4/16)
• Georgia: CDC is currently investigating reports of harmful reactions from either counterfeit or mishandled Botox injections. So far, at least 19 women in nine states have reported becoming sick after receiving botulinum toxin (Botox) from people who were not licensed or in "non-healthcare settings" like homes or spas. The patients reported symptoms like botulism, including vision changes, drooping eyelids, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. Of the 19 patients, nine were hospitalized, and four "were treated with botulism antitoxin because of concerns that the botulinum toxin could have spread beyond the injection site," CDC said. The agency has advised clinicians to be aware of the possibility of adverse side effects of Botox injections if patients present with symptoms consistent with botulism. Clinicians should also immediately notify their health department for consultation and antitoxin release. According to NBC News, FDA is also involved in the ongoing investigation. In an alert, FDA advised clinicians to check for any signs of counterfeiting before using Botox products. Clinicians should also encourage patients who are interested in Botox to receive treatments from licensed providers in appropriate healthcare settings. (Edwards, NBC News, 4/15; Kahn, MedPage Today, 4/16)
• Rhode Island: Pharmacists at two CVS locations in Rhode Island have filed to unionize with the Pharmacy Guild, a new union dedicated to representing pharmacies. According to Axios, the Pharmacy Guild was formed late last year after pharmacists nationwide walked out of their jobs to protest understaffing and poor workplace conditions. Aside from the efforts in Rhode Island, pharmacy staff at the Las Vegas branch of CVS-owned Omnicare have also filed to unionize with the Pharmacy Guild. "We respect our employees' right to either unionize or refrain from doing so," said CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault. "We believe the direct, two-way relationship we have with our colleagues is the best way to resolve workplace concerns. We continually listen to our colleagues' feedback, which helps inform our programs and policies." According to Thibault, the company has made significant investments to improve working conditions for its employees, including $1 billion in wage increases since 2021. (Goldman, Axios, 4/17; Hamstra, Supermarket News, 4/16)

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