All articles tagged with #infection rates
West Nile virus cases in the US are 40% higher than usual this year, with over 770 cases reported, prompting health warnings and urging the public to take protective measures against mosquito bites, especially in states like Massachusetts and Colorado where infection rates are notably high.
Covid cases are increasing again this summer across most states, with rising emergency visits and high concentrations in wastewater in states like Texas, Utah, and Nevada, despite low national levels.
COVID-19 cases are rising in the U.S., especially in the West, with wastewater data indicating a moderate level of virus activity nationwide. The CDC reports increased infection rates in 45 states and a rise in emergency room visits, highlighting the ongoing summer surge of COVID-19, which can still pose serious risks to vulnerable populations.
Alabama is experiencing a high level of COVID-19 in wastewater, indicating increased infection risk, with the state's emergency room visits for COVID-19 symptoms exceeding the national average, amidst a summer surge affecting multiple states.
COVID-19 cases are rising in 25 U.S. states, especially in the South, Southeast, and West Coast, with a summer wave following a biannual pattern. Emergency room visits are increasing, and health officials warn about the spread of Parvovirus B19, which can cause flu-like symptoms and pose risks to pregnant women.
The WHO has issued a warning about rising COVID-19 activity in the Western Pacific, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Mediterranean regions, driven by the new variant NB.1.8.1, with global test positivity reaching 11%, the highest since July 2024, though hospitalizations and deaths remain underreported.
As winter approaches, COVID-19 activity in the U.S. remains low, with the highest rates in the Midwest, according to wastewater data. States like New Mexico, Arizona, and Minnesota show higher viral activity, while Nevada, Hawaii, and California have the highest test positivity rates. Experts predict a potential increase in cases during winter due to indoor gatherings, but serious complications are expected to remain low due to vaccination and prior infections. The CDC advises maintaining preventive measures like vaccination, good hygiene, and improved ventilation to reduce the risk of illness.
Recent data suggests that the previously rising rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may be stabilizing, indicating a potential leveling off after years of increase. This trend could reflect the impact of public health interventions and increased awareness, although continued efforts are necessary to maintain and further this progress.
States in the New England, Central, Northern, and Pacific regions continue to have the highest rates of COVID-19 infections in the US, according to the latest data from the CDC. The overall positivity rate has decreased slightly, but the CDC warns that cases could increase during the winter months. Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming have the highest positivity rate, followed by New Jersey and New York. Southern and East Coast states have the lowest prevalence of positive test results. New mask mandates have been introduced in some states due to the emergence of new variants and a potential new wave of infections.
Maps produced by the CDC show that states in New England, central, northern, and Pacific regions have the highest prevalence of COVID-19 infections, while southern and East Coast states have the lowest positivity rates. The overall positivity rate in the US has slightly declined, indicating a stabilization of infections. However, the CDC warns that cases could increase during the winter months. Hospitalizations have largely stabilized as well, with a decline in total hospitalizations nationwide. The CDC emphasizes the importance of prevention as the respiratory virus season begins.
Cayuga Health System (CHS) facilities in New York will reinstate a mask mandate starting September 7 due to the emergence of a new COVID-19 subvariant, EG.5, which has led to an increase in positive cases among staff members and higher levels of SARS-CoV-2 detected in community wastewater testing. Infection rates have been rising in the county, with 59 positive cases reported in the seven days prior to August 30. Hospitalizations remain low, and CHS will provide surgical masks at facility entrances without implementing additional screening procedures or plexiglass barriers.
Researchers have developed a computer vision-based approach to analyze COVID-19 mortality data and infer how infection rates changed on the day a lockdown or similar measure was introduced. By using a deconvolution method for epidemiology, the model can work back from death rate data to the daily incidence rate. The approach has been successfully used to identify the timing of lockdowns, travel restrictions, and mask mandates in various European countries. This method could be valuable in assessing the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions in reducing infection rates during future epidemics and pandemics.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 4 U.S. adults and older teens had not contracted COVID-19 by the end of 2022, while 77.5% had antibodies from at least one prior infection. The CDC estimates that by December 2022, 96.7% of Americans aged 16 and older had antibodies either from vaccination, surviving the virus, or a combination of both. Seniors had the lowest proportion of people with prior infections, while young adults and teens had the highest. Rates of prior infections were similar among men and women, and among Black and White individuals. Asian Americans had the smallest proportion of people with antibodies, while Hispanic individuals had the highest. The CDC's findings highlight the need to measure the additional protection provided by COVID booster shots.