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Influenza-like illness
The off-season is in full swing. Trips to the doctor for fever, cough and sore throat (known as influenza-like illness, or ILI) remain steady at 1.8%.
At the regional level, the Midwest is reporting the lowest levels of ILI at 0.9%, while the West continues to decline but is slightly higher than the national average at 2.1%.
Young children aged 0 to 4 years are now at 5.7%, while young people aged 5 to 24 years are holding steady at 2.8%. Eight pediatric influenza-associated deaths were reported this week, for a total of 166 pediatric deaths this influenza season (note: death reporting is often delayed, so these deaths are not necessarily recent). Activity in adults is lower than 1.5%, with activity in the 65+ age group below 1%.
Severe flu is also trending down. Flu-related hospitalizations remain low at 0.3 per 100,000, while emergency department (ED) visits for ILI are hovering around 0.4%. Hospitalizations in the Northeast are holding steady but are a notch above other regions, primarily because New York and Connecticut are registering cases at 0.3 and 0.2 per 100,000, respectively. There was a noticeable drop in flu hospitalizations in the West from 0.5 to 0.2 per 100,000, primarily driven by significant improvements in California, Washington, Colorado, and New Mexico.
ED visits in the West also continue to trend down, but remain slightly higher than the national average at 0.7%, primarily because of Hawaii. Last week, Wyoming saw a slight increase from 0.9% to 1%, while all other states are under 1%.
Covid-19
Covid-19 activity is low and stable. Wastewater concentration is low across the country. The South continues to have a slightly higher wastewater concentration than the rest of the country, but nothing significant.
Trips to the emergency department are low nationally. All regions are below 0.2%.
Hospitalization rates for Covid-19 remain steady at 0.3 per 100,000 population. The Northeast, which is slightly higher than the national average, also pivoted down this past week, primarily because Covid-19 hospitalizations in Connecticut witnessed a significant drop, from 0.9 to 0.3 per 100,000.
RSV
RSV activity is also low and stable. Emergency department (ED) visits are low across the country at 0.1%, with the Midwest slightly higher at 0.2%. All states in the Midwest–including North Dakota and South Dakota which were lagging behind last week–are now trending downward. Emergency department visits and hospitalizations for RSV are highest among infants and young children. Hospitalizations for RSV are low across the board at 0.5 per 100,000, but slightly higher in the Northeast (0.7) and the Midwest (0.8).
Other Stomach Bugs
Norovirus continues to be elevated in the South and West, with test positivity rising. Though less elevated, the Midwest is also seeing a slight uptick in norovirus activity. The Northeast is the region with the lowest norovirus activity.
Another stomach bug, rotavirus, is especially dangerous for infants and young children due to dehydration caused by watery diarrhea and vomiting. An oral vaccine exists and can protect young children against this viral infection but pediatricians worry that declining vaccination rates could lead to more severe illness from this viral infection. Rotavirus test positivity continues to be high across the country at 5.9%. The Western region has the highest activity at 9% and is climbing.
Food Recalls
The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated and can pose a health risk to you and your family. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items:
New:
- Headcheese Deli Meat products, Crawford Sausage Co., Inc. (More info)
- Blackstone, Parmesan Ranch seasoning (More info)
- Hellas Meze Golden Smoked Whole Herring (More info)
- IQ produce LCC, Enoki Mushrooms 150gr package (More info)
- HH Fresh Trading, Enoki Mushrooms 150gr package (More info)
- Williams Sonoma, Fireworks Popcorn, White Cheddar Seasoning (More info)
Previously reported
- Giant Eagle, Pita Chips with Parmesan, Garlic and Herbs (More info)
- John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. Snack Mixed Products (More info)
- Spring & Mulberry chocolate Bars (More info)
- Allbright’s Raw Pet Food (More info)
- Wildlife Seasoning for Popcorn (More info)
- Stoltzfus Family Dairy Sour Cream and Onion Cheese Curds (More info)
- Pork King Good Pork Rinds and Seasoning Bottles (More info)
- Zapp’s and Dirty Potato Chips (More info)
In Other News
- Hantavirus update: On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) reduced the total number of reported hantavirus cases from the MV Hondius cruise ship from 11 to 10. Officials from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have said that none of the 41 Americans who are being monitored have tested positive. Others who are being monitored include passengers who left the ship before the outbreak was detected and those who may have been exposed to a symptomatic passenger while on a flight.
- Although we are still in the incubation period so new cases may yet appear, my level of concern has dropped significantly over the last week.
- New Ebola outbreak: On May 17, the World Health Organization declared a new Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The outbreak is concentrated in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo; two cases have also been reported in Uganda. The Ebola virus causes severe hemorrhagic fever and spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. The country’s reference laboratory confirmed this outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which does not currently have an approved vaccine. As of May 15, there have been 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths reported. U.S. embassies in both the DRC and Uganda have issued health alerts.
- This is clearly a very serious situation. There is no approved vaccine, the affected region is difficult to access, and WHO has signaled that the true scale of the outbreak is likely much larger than what has been detected so far. I expect troubling updates in the week ahead.
- Norovirus and Ambition cruise ship: This past week, French authorities lifted a lockdown order on a cruise ship carrying 1,187 passengers and 514 crew members that was hit by the highly contagious norovirus, a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Dozens aboard the cruise ship suddenly became ill with the virus. Local authorities allowed asymptomatic passengers to disembark the ship, while those infected were told to continue to stay in isolation. Sick passengers are being cared for by the ship’s medical team.
- Vibrio vulnificus, summer alert and seafood: There is increasing evidence that warmer and saltier oceans are becoming more hospitable to a bacteria known as Vibrio vulnificus. This bacteria, commonly found in seawater and raw or undercooked seafood, causes food poisoning and infections. As summer approaches, the US East coast is on high alert for this bacterial infection. Often described as a “flesh-eating” bacteria, Vibrio vulnificus can trigger severe skin infections that lead to ulcers and tissue damage. When ingested through contaminated seafood–especially raw oysters–it may cause vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. If the bacteria enters the bloodstream, the infection can become life-threatening, with a fatality rate of up to 50 percent, particularly among people who are immunocompromised, have liver disease, or are older adults. Vibrio vulnificus infections are the leading cause of shellfish-related death in the US. The CDC estimates there are about 80,000 cases of Vibrio bacteria and 100 deaths annually.