Credit: India Currents
Deadliest flu season hits immigrants hardest
The big idea: Immigrants, especially the undocumented, and disadvantaged Black and Brown communities tend to be at extreme risk each flu season, and this one is no different. The 2024-2025 flu season has emerged as one of the most severe in 15 years, writes Harshini Rajachander for India Currents. That’s because this season is characterized by two types of influenza strains combined with a drop in vaccination rates.
The fine print: Flu seasons in general can be harrowing because of the systemic barriers to care for immigrant communities, including those who skip medical appointments due to deportation fears. Those who skip appointments risk their conditions growing worse over time, especially since antiviral medications are most effective within the first few days of symptoms.
The stakes: The current flu season presents critical public health challenges. More than 20,000 people, including more than 130 children, have died already this season. There’s also a potential for another flu season peak, according to India Currents.
What you can do: Public health experts emphasize that vaccination can still help mitigate the season’s impact.
Credit: Sahan Jounal / Chris Juhn
How federal funding cuts may hurt HIV prevention
The big idea: HIV clinics and support organizations face potentially devastating funding cuts due to the Trump administration’s budget priorities. Those cuts would definitely reduce the public services available to vulnerable communities. The Aliveness Project and similar organizations in Minnesota provide critical services including free HIV testing, case management, and resources for people at risk of or living with HIV, according to Sahan Journal.
Meeting the moment: Local nonprofits are adapting to potential funding cuts while continuing to serve their communities. The clinics are responding to ongoing HIV transmission challenges, with Minnesota seeing a 24% increase in new HIV cases in 2023, particularly among communities of color and high-risk populations.
The stakes: The potential loss of $700 million in CDC funding could be devastating. State officials say it would disrupt HIV prevention programs, potentially increasing transmission rates. The loss could also result in more than 1,000 Minnesotans who don’t know their HIV status being left without access to critical testing and support. Long-term medical costs will rise, disproportionately affecting communities of color and high risk groups, which can include men who hadve same-sex sexual relations and intravenous drug users.
From the source: “We’re all kind of left scratching our heads about what in the world is going on,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “The decisions that are coming down are neither wise nor smart, and they certainly aren’t done in the best interest of the communities that we all are charged with serving and keeping safe and healthy.”
Credit: Luz Media
Understanding imposter syndrome
The big idea: While it isn’t considered a mental health condition, imposter syndrome is a pervasive psychological experience in which high-achieving individuals, particularly women and people of color, doubt their own abilities and accomplishments. Some even believe they are frauds despite the evidence of their talents and successes, writes Luz Media.
The stakes: Imposter syndrome can have significant mental health consequences, including anxiety, depression, self-doubt and a feeling of not belonging.
The fine print: For Latinas, imposter syndrome can be compounded by intersectional challenges of navigating workplaces built by and for men, usually white men. Latinas face racial and gender barriers that challenge their sense of belonging, competence and safety.
From the source: “Imposter syndrome is especially prevalent in biased, toxic cultures that value individualism and overwork,” Luz Media quotes authors Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey, who wrote “Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome. “Yet the 'fix women’s imposter syndrome' narrative has persisted, decade after decade.”
Meet the Game Changers
Highlighting the innovators transforminghealth outcomes in our communities
The story: Elsa Marie Collins is founder of This is About Humanity, Poderistas and I Am A Voter. On the latest episode of the podcast Latina to Latina, Collins discusses how important it is to remember that you are the most influential person in your own circle, and how freeing it can be to embrace that power.
Credit: Alliance for a Healthier Generation
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