Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/11/flu-scan-nov-12-2021
Flu Scan for Nov 12, 2021
Slight rise in US flu; Avian flu in Europe, Asia
Filed Under:
Influenza, General; Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
US flu shows another small rise, with 90% of cases in young people
Though the nation's flu activity is still at low levels, the number of detections has increased in recent weeks, mostly due to the H3N2 strain and with 90% of cases in people ages 5 to 24, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in an update that covers last week.
Most flu markers remained below baselines, and the CDC notes that public health labs over the past 3 weeks have reported H3N2 in 7 of 10 of US regions. Flu seasons dominated by H3N2 are concerning, because the subtype causes more severe illness in older people and vaccines don't typically protect as well against it.
A spurt of cases in Michigan is linked to a single outbreak among young adults, the CDC said.
New Mexico reported a high level of flu activity, as measured by doctor's visits for flulike illness. Very few nursing homes reported flu positives among residents.
Last week, 295 people with lab-confirmed flu were admitted to the hospital, the CDC said. So far, no pediatric flu deaths have been reported for the current flu season.
Nov 12 CDC FluView report
Europe and South Korea report more H5 avian flu outbreaks
As avian flu outbreak activity picks up steam in Europe and Asia, South Korea and the United Kingdom reported more H5N1 events in poultry, and European countries reported more highly pathogenic H5N1 and H5N8 outbreaks in wild birds.
South Korea reported its second H5N1 outbreak of the season, which occurred at a duck farm in North Chungcheong province, not far from the initial event reported earlier this week, according to an agriculture ministry statement translated and posted by Avian Flu Diary (AFD), an infectious disease news blog.
Elsewhere, the UK's Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) yesterday reported an H5N1 outbreak, with the pathogenicity still to be determined, at a facility in Essex. According to the BBC, the facility is a wildlife sanctuary, and the affected birds included guinea fowl, chickens, and geese.
In related developments, a number of European countries reported more highly pathogenic H5 detections in wild birds, according to the latest notifications from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Countries reporting H5N1 were Hungary (wild goose, Baranya County), Poland (mute swans, Wielkopolska province), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (mute swan, Republika Srpska). Meanwhile, two reported H5N8: Sweden (Canada goose, Ostergotland County) and Luxembourg (backyard birds, Grevenmacher commune).
Nov 12 AFD post
Nov 11 DEFRA report
Nov 12 BBC report
OIE reports on wild bird outbreaks in Hungary, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, and Luxembourg
Flu Scan for Nov 12, 2021
Slight rise in US flu; Avian flu in Europe, Asia
Filed Under:
Influenza, General; Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
US flu shows another small rise, with 90% of cases in young people
Though the nation's flu activity is still at low levels, the number of detections has increased in recent weeks, mostly due to the H3N2 strain and with 90% of cases in people ages 5 to 24, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in an update that covers last week.
Most flu markers remained below baselines, and the CDC notes that public health labs over the past 3 weeks have reported H3N2 in 7 of 10 of US regions. Flu seasons dominated by H3N2 are concerning, because the subtype causes more severe illness in older people and vaccines don't typically protect as well against it.
A spurt of cases in Michigan is linked to a single outbreak among young adults, the CDC said.
New Mexico reported a high level of flu activity, as measured by doctor's visits for flulike illness. Very few nursing homes reported flu positives among residents.
Last week, 295 people with lab-confirmed flu were admitted to the hospital, the CDC said. So far, no pediatric flu deaths have been reported for the current flu season.
Nov 12 CDC FluView report
Europe and South Korea report more H5 avian flu outbreaks
As avian flu outbreak activity picks up steam in Europe and Asia, South Korea and the United Kingdom reported more H5N1 events in poultry, and European countries reported more highly pathogenic H5N1 and H5N8 outbreaks in wild birds.
South Korea reported its second H5N1 outbreak of the season, which occurred at a duck farm in North Chungcheong province, not far from the initial event reported earlier this week, according to an agriculture ministry statement translated and posted by Avian Flu Diary (AFD), an infectious disease news blog.
Elsewhere, the UK's Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) yesterday reported an H5N1 outbreak, with the pathogenicity still to be determined, at a facility in Essex. According to the BBC, the facility is a wildlife sanctuary, and the affected birds included guinea fowl, chickens, and geese.
In related developments, a number of European countries reported more highly pathogenic H5 detections in wild birds, according to the latest notifications from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Countries reporting H5N1 were Hungary (wild goose, Baranya County), Poland (mute swans, Wielkopolska province), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (mute swan, Republika Srpska). Meanwhile, two reported H5N8: Sweden (Canada goose, Ostergotland County) and Luxembourg (backyard birds, Grevenmacher commune).
Nov 12 AFD post
Nov 11 DEFRA report
Nov 12 BBC report
OIE reports on wild bird outbreaks in Hungary, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, and Luxembourg