In sync with TAG’s weekly matrix, health reports are showing that influenza, COVID, and RSV are (finally) on the decline. Experts, including epidemiologists and public health professionals, attribute this decrease to a combination of factors, including heightened awareness, vaccination efforts, and possibly, natural seasonal declines. However, they caution that vigilance remains essential, as these viruses are adept at mutation, potentially leading to new variants, which can emerge at any time.
Influenza activity in particular, including percent positive tests, mortalities, and hospital admissions have been declining for several weeks throughout the US and around the globe, although some pockets of slight increase are being seen in areas such as the Pacific Northwest and some countries in North Africa and Central America and the Caribbean.
Similarly, CDC shows COVID test positivity, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations all on a downward slope over the last several weeks in the US, with the WHO also showing a decline in reported cases over the last month, with the Russian Federation reporting the highest number of cases. CDC is also showing a national decline in percent positives and detections for RSV.
While all of these are endemic viruses with generally seasonal trends, they never completely decline to zero, but remain active and infectious throughout the year. So, businesses should also continue their infectious disease precautions – having those who are ill stay home and requiring regular handwashing and personal hygiene practices.
The respiratory virus updates are just one aspect of TAG’s weekly Infectious Disease Matrix update. If you’re interested in attaining the full report on a regular basis, or would like assistance with your infectious disease protections, give us a call. TAG’s public health experts can help.
COVID Risk Matrix:
Influenza:
- The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for Pemgarda (pemivibart) for the pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19 in certain adults and adolescents (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kilograms [about 88 pounds]). Pemgarda is authorized for individuals that meet the requirements found here.
- Adults hospitalized for COVID-19 were at lower risk of needing medical care for neurological symptoms including migraine, epilepsy, neuropathy, movement disorders, stroke, and dementia in the next year than matched patients who had prior influenza.
- Quezon City in the Philippines has declared an outbreak of whooping cough after at least 23 cases have been reported. 4 babies have died. Nationwide, a total of 453 Filipinos were infected by pertussis within just the first 10 weeks of 2024, data by the Department of Health showed on March 21. Cases are linked to decreases in routine vaccinations.
- Indicators suggest elevated but decreasing influenza activity in the EU. Influenza A dominates. Vaccine effectiveness is shown to be at up to 53% and 44% of vaccinated individuals in primary care or hospital settings, respectively.
- Measles
- Since the beginning of the year, 15,261 people have fallen ill with measles in Ukraine. During this time, six children and two adults died from measles complications.
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- The number of measles cases already reported in 2024 is likely to surpass last year’s total number of diagnoses nationwide. At least 58 cases of the measles infection have been reported in the U.S. so far in 2024 per the CDC, which is the same number of cases that were reported for all of 2023.
- Canada is facing a shortage of measles vaccines from Merck and GSK, amid a rise in cases across the country and around the world, and an increase in demand. Doses are being reserved for public immunization programs, so obtaining them from private clinics could be problematic. Doses are expected to be available within a month.
- Avian flu has been detected in cows from Kansas and Texas. In addition to avian flu updates in the US, Minnesota recently identified a baby goat on a farm that had a recent poultry outbreak to have the illness.
- A dengue outbreak that has sickened at least 549 Puerto Ricans so far this year—most in the capital city, San Juan—has caused public health officials in the territory to declare a public health emergency.
