The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 13 COVID patients today, down from 14 yesterday. Other significant numbers:

• 6 with the active virus today, 5 yesterday
• 2 in ICU, 0 yesterday
• 0 on ventilator, same as yesterday
• 7 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 9 yesterday

Key points from today’s guests:

Dr. Steve Lauer, pediatrician, The University of Kansas Health System

• February baby formula plant shutdown and recall has led to nationwide shortage of formula
• Could be six to eight weeks before store shelves are fully stocked
• Parents starting to see problems this week
• European formula would be OK, but could still take a while to get to U.S.
• Be very careful about buying formula online as it may not have the same quality control as used in the factory
• Cow’s milk is normally not used until the baby is 12 months old

Sallie Page-Goertz, pediatric nurse practitioner

• Goat’s milk, almond milk or oatmeal milk are not suitable alternatives to formula
• Trying to make your own formula from a recipe found online can be very risky and may not have all of the nutrients a baby needs
• Before there was baby formula, babies in the 50’s were given evaporated milk with water and Kayro syrup
• Adding water to formula to stretch the supply could be dangerous
• Breast feeding is the best and cheapest option. Lactation consultants can help

Becky Mannel, executive director Oklahoma Mother's Milk Bank

• Healthy breastfeeding mothers with excess milk are donating to milk banks across the country
• Milk is pasteurized and much of it goes to hospitals, but also available to the public
• The pandemic and the shortage have caused a huge demand for donor milk
• Formula shortage is having a particularly big impact on disadvantaged populations such as African American and Native American families

Rich Kolko, retired FBI agent

• Scammers are having a field day with the formula shortage
• They want your money and personal information, and prey on desperate people during any shortage
• Parents need to be sure an online purchase is from a reputable company
• Always pay with a credit card rather than an internet transfer app like Venmo
• If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System

• COVID does not get transferred from breastfeeding mothers to their babies
• Some employers are relaxing vaccine mandates for their workers
• Numbers going up slowly but not a surge as we’ve seen in several other countries
• Booster shots are still lagging behind

Monday, May 16 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. Alcohol is not the only beverage that could be endangering your liver. A new study finds some sugar substitutes can be harmful too. In fact, experts say there are some drinks that could be leading you down the road to unhealthy liver function. Our experts explain the problem and look for solutions.

ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:

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Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628

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