1. A #flu & other respiratory bugs update: This year's flu season was pretty much exquisitely timed to coincide with the holidays, a great way to spread respiratory illness across the various age groups. Right now there's lots of flu, lots of #RSV & #Covid is on the rise again, per #CDC. - ThreadSky

helenbranswell.bsky.social • 65 days ago

1. A #flu & other respiratory bugs update:
This year's flu season was pretty much exquisitely timed to coincide with the holidays, a great way to spread respiratory illness across the various age groups. Right now there's lots of flu, lots of #RSV & #Covid is on the rise again, per #CDC.

Comments

goodgreatokayish.bsky.social•65 days ago

📌

empressminty.bsky.social•65 days ago

It seems like no matter where my coworkers went for the holidays (Ohio, New Jersey, North Carolina, etc) everyone got sick.

harriet75.bsky.social•65 days ago

Great!

helenbranswell.bsky.social•65 days ago

2. Check out the difference 1 month made. The map on the left shows #flu activity at the end of November, just after Thanksgiving. The map on the right shows the situation as of Dec. 28. The darker the color, the more flu-like illness making the rounds.

helenbranswell.bsky.social•65 days ago

3. For the week ending 12/28, the percentage of outpatient visits for #influenza like illness (red arrow) was near the peak of activity in 2019-20, though that season (dark blue line) had 3 peaks. We're still below the peaks of 2022-23 (pink) & 2017-18. Will we have a 2nd peak? Perhaps.

helenbranswell.bsky.social•65 days ago

4. These graphs tell you about #flu dynamics. There's been a pretty sharp increase across all age groups in the percentage of outpatient visits from flu-like illnesses, but the increase is greatest among kids (left). But who is being hospitalized? Older adults. (right)

helenbranswell.bsky.social•65 days ago

5. Speaking of kids, #CDC was informed of 2 more pediatric flu deaths, both of which occurred in late December. They bring the 2024-25 season's total to date to 11. Reports of pediatric deaths often come in weeks/months after they occur, so this number will rise.
(Data: CDC's; chart: mine)

helenbranswell.bsky.social•65 days ago

6. Most of the #flu so far has been #influenza A. It's possible we'll see a flu B surge later on in the winter; flu B can be very hard on kids.
The A activity is about 40% H1N1 & 60% H3N2. And the vaccine component for H3N2 doesn't look like it's a great match. Not a surprise, but unfortunate.

carriepharmd.bsky.social•65 days ago

Yikes. H3N2 mismatch reminiscent of 2017-18, if memory serves?

no3spera.bsky.social•62 days ago

Helen, thanks for your work. Does the prevalence of FluA increase chances of reassortment with HPAI since they are the same type, or is the risk of reassortment the same regardless of phylogeny?

helenbranswell.bsky.social•65 days ago

7. #CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 5.3 M #flu illnesses, 63K hospitalizations, & 2.7K deaths from flu.
If you haven't gotten a flu shot, what are you waiting for? Good time to remember to wash your hands a lot.
The end.
https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2024-week-52.html

anac57.bsky.social•63 days ago

I am a statistic although fortunately I have been vaccinated so I am not as sick as I could be.

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