This week in outbreaks: March 27 edition

Last updated on 27 Mar 2023

The weekly influenza surveillance report, usually published by CDC on Fridays, is still not available, so I’m taking it as a sign that spring break is in order. Here are some quick hits to get you through the week. (Check out last week’s update for background on these bugs.)

I’m starting to see glimmers of influenza B activity in some state influenza surveillance reports. The absolute number of reported cases is low, but it’s something I’ll be watching closely.
Most of the worst respiratory viruses are down, including Covid-19 and RSV. Metapneumovirus activity has peaked, and so has adenovirus. They’re still elevated, but coming down. I hope the worst of the brutal flu season is behind us.
No relief yet from the cold-causing viruses. Rhinovirus/enterovirus activity is still surging, and so are the seasonal coronaviruses. Seasonal allergies are also sky-high, so I predict that stuffy noses are here to stay a while longer.
Bad news on the stomach bug front. Norovirus activity is (still!) high, and rotavirus activity is picking up as well. Stay hydrated and stay home when sick.
Don’t forget to check your freezer for frozen organic strawberries. A large nationwide recall is underway over concerns about hepatitis A. Boneless beef chuck has also been recalled.
In this week's edition of the NYT's newsletter on The Next Pandemic, I answered a reader question on Covid-19 boosters.