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.