1. #MPXV 𧡠@WHO has issued an update on the #monkeypox situation. In it they announce they're no longer going to report cases from the outbreak outside of Africa; rather, they're going to report all reported cases of/deaths from MPX together.
2. The rationale is clear: why should #MPXV cases in some countries be treated differently β treated as if they are more important β than #monkeypox cases in other countries? Makes sense & is just.
3. On the other hand, will this make it harder to track the outbreak? Isn't it possible there may be differences in cases that are caused by continuous human-2-human spread rather than animal-2-human events where spread stops after 1 or a few cases? Even if this is a DNA virus?
4. I'll be interested in hearing what the scientific community feels about this policy change.
Moving on: There've been 2103 #MPXV confirmed cases reported so far this year, with one death. 98% of the cases have been since May β ie part of the international outbreak.
5. Here's a chart of the cases by country and region. @WHO also said it is going to focus going forward on confirmed & probable cases/deaths in affected African countries. Will that underestimate the burden of #monkeypox in those countries?
6. @WHO says the ongoing international outbreak of #MPXV is mostly but not exclusively occurring in "men who have reported recent sex with new or multiple partners." New wording, I think.
7. But if #MPXV continues to spread, it isn't going to remain restricted to one group of people (if it is now). For instance, while many of the cases have reported travel, increasing numbers of cases have not, @WHO says.
8. #MPXV cases in this outbreak are often presenting with symptoms that don't match what the textbooks say about #monkeypox β which will complicate the job of finding cases & stopping transmission.
9. @WHO says given the degree of transmission, there's likely going to be more spread, spread into different population groups and within new countries.
The update is here: who.int/emergencies/diβ¦
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1. @CDCgov posted FluView today after holding it back on Friday because of the incoming folks' communications pause. At some point I'd love for someone to try to make sense for me the strategic relevance of withholding flu season data.
Anyway, it's out. A 𧡠cdc.gov/fluview/surveiβ¦
2. #Flu activity had started to decline in the 2nd week of January, but it was climbing again in the week ending 1/18. 15 jurisdictions had very high flu activity; 24 had high. Montana seems to be having a very light flu season; not sure why that would be.
3. Four more pediatric #flu deaths were reported to @CDCgov, bringing this year's total to 31 so far. Far below last year's gruesome tally, but the season isn't over yet. And 31 families are going through a whole lot of heartache.
(Data CDC's; chart mine)
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.
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.
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? Maybe.
1. Some thoughts on #H5N1 #birdflu in cows. A π§΅
A bunch of new herds were announced by a couple of states today βΒ Colorado and Iowa. The former reported +5 & looks like it may have another pending; It now has 18 in total, maybe 19. Iowa reported 2 more, taking it to 10.
2. To the best of my ability to keep up βΒ and that's being challenged β I think there have been 125 herds reported in 12 states since the end of March. This graph combines @USDA's numbers from yesterday with the newly reported herds from Colorado & Iowa.
3. But @USDA threw a wrench into the works today. It updated its exceedingly wonky #H5N1 #birdflu in cows landing site. Some things work better, but the cumulative number of herds was lowered by 4 (from yday) with no explanation. USDA now says 112 herds in 12 states.
1. @USDA posted an FAQ today about the federal order restricting movement of dairy cattle infected with
#H5N1 #birdflu. Interesting information therein.
A π§΅
New to me: USDA says 8 poultry operations in 5 states have had poultry outbreaks with the virus detected in cows.
2. Minnesota hasn't reported #H5N1 #birdflu in cattle, but it has had at least 1 poultry outbreak with the cattle virus, @USDA reveals. More evidence, probably, that the virus is far more widely spread than has been realized. The FAQ is here: aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/β¦
3. The federal order on the movement of dairy cows goes into effect 4/29. @USDA is setting what looks like an ambitious timeline for processing of tests, especially "non-negative" tests that must then go for confirmatory testing at the USDA lab in Ames, Iowa. #H5N1 #birdflu
1. Listening to an @ASTHO - @IDSAInfo - @CSTEnews webinar on #H5N1 #birdflu in cows.
Of interest so far:
β @USDA is monitoring feral swine; no detections of H5 so far.
β in the "small number" of samples tested to date, doesn't look like cows are shedding virus thru feces.
2. @USDA Rosemary Sifford said the infections are "mostly" being seen in lactating herds.
1 herd was found to be positive despite the fact there were no clinical signs among the cows.
Sifford said USDA doesn't yet know how long infected cows shed virus.
#H5N1 #birdflu
@USDA 3. Sonja Olsen from @CDC says there've been 6 infections detected in cats on dairy farms. Not sure I've seen the exact number. #H5N1 #BirdFlu
1. A 𧡠on #flu, #Covid & #RSV (mostly flu). The
#influenza-like illness season is pretty much over. The percentage of people seeking care for ILIs is below 2.9%, that dotted line. You can catch flu at any time of the year, but chances of catching it now thru the summer are low.
2. It's not just #flu. #Covid activity now is at low levels nationally and #RSV activity has declined to the point where @CDCgov says the season is ending. Hallelujah. cdc.gov/respiratory-viβ¦
3. It hasn't been a particularly bad #flu season, but the estimated number of hospitalizations for flu has been pretty high β one of the highest in recent years. (red line) The 2017-18 season, which was harsh, was worse. CDC estimates there were 370K hospitalizations this year.