US flu cases edge up as virus claims lives of 2 children
News brief27 minutes ago.
Mary Van Beusekom, MS
Topics
Influenza, General
Influenza Vaccines
Although US cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 are low, the proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) is 3.2%, above the 2.9% national baseline, indicating the beginning of flu season in earnest.
“This early-season influenza activity is currently higher than typically observed at this time of year, but an earlier increase in activity does not necessarily lead to a higher seasonal peak or greater overall severity,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly FluView update.
The CDC also noted two child deaths from flu this week, for a total of five so far this season. In total, 9,584 people were hospitalized for flu. This season, there have been at least 2.6 million flu cases, 36,000 hospital admissions, and 2,100 deaths.
Flu test positivity was 11.3% this week, up from 9.1% the week before, primarily from influenza A. While infections are minimal or low in most of the country, flu is in the high or very high category in California, Louisiana, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington state and moderate in Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York state, and Puerto Rico.
The preliminary estimate of season severity is low across all ages, and no novel influenza virus has been confirmed in people. “CDC expects the 2026-2027 respiratory illness season to be much like last season,” the agency said. “It is too early to know what viruses may predominate or to say whether there might be implications on flu vaccine effectiveness this season.”
Low but rising overall respiratory illness activity
The amount of acute respiratory illness such as COVID-19 and flu causing people to see medical care is low but rising, the CDC said in its respiratory illness update today. Levels of rhinovirus/enterovirus and respiratory adenovirus levels are elevated across the country. The CDC also noted cases of group A Streptococcus (strep), walking pneumonia, and pertussis (whooping cough).Wastewater levels of COVID are moderate in most of the country, while flu and RSV are low and very low, respectively. Wastewater concentrations are a measure of community viral activity.
Up to 500 Ebola cases still diagnosed a week amid escalating attacks, officials say
News briefToday at 3:17 p.m.
Mary Van Beusekom, MS
Topics
Ebola
As the African Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak toll reaches 11,145 cases, including 5,437 deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) is warning that the situation remains "concerning," with intensifying violence hindering containment efforts.
"We need an urgent halt in hostilities and violence," Marie Roseline Belizaire, PhD, WHO's regional emergency director for Africa, said in an online news briefing yesterday. "Health workers and humanitarian teams must be able to reach affected communities safely, and patients must be able to seek care without fear."
Since the outbreak began in May, the WHO has logged 81 attacks on healthcare facilities and workers, she said. Just last week, 66 civilians, including three healthcare workers, were killed and three facilities looted and burned in North Kivu province. As a result, response efforts were interrupted and Ebola patients were forced to flee, including 1,000 contacts.
We need an urgent halt in hostilities and violence.
Marie Roseline Belizaire, PhD
In an update today, the United Nations said that more people are being killed in villages in Ituri province and North Kivu by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) extremist rebels than by Ebola in recent days. “People are scared, people are furious at the lack of action on this... following up contact tracing in areas where ADF [is] operating is a very hazardous idea,” Julien Harneis, MS, MBA, UN senior Ebola response coordinator, said in the update.
WHO officials said that while prevention efforts have substantially reduced viral transmission in previous hot spots, up to 500 infections are still being diagnosed each week.
Nigeria ends 21-day monitoring period
Just days after Kenya began a 42-day countdown after the last Ebola patient was released from the medical care, Nigeria has ended its 21-day Ebola monitoring, with all 62 monitored contacts cleared and no new cases identified.Nigeria’s first Ebola patient, a Swiss woman who returned to Nigeria after becoming infected in Uganda, was released from a hospital in Switzerland yesterday. The woman, the wife of a Swiss embassy worker in Abuja, was evacuated to Geneva on October 26.
Quick takes: E coli death tied to pumpkin farm, US Salmonella outbreaks, 18 more polio cases
News briefToday at 12:43 p.m.
Mary Van Beusekom, MS
Topics
E coli
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
Salmonella
Polio
- One person has died of Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) linked to a San Luis Obispo, California, pumpkin farm that has sickened five people, according to the county public health department. No details about the death were released. All five infected people visited Brookshire Farms on October 17 or 18, and another 10 people who developed symptoms after visiting the farm from October 16 to 26 are considered suspected cases. Three people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition, and one was hospitalized. “Testing of environmental samples was limited due to the abundance of potential sources, absence of testable items, delays between exposures and sampling, and other factors, the departmental news release said. “Some potential exposures common to infected individuals remain notable, including edible corn cups, pumpkins, hay, and non-potable water sources, although no specific source of the E. coli O157 was identified.” The investigation is now over, and the farm has reopened after a voluntary closure. Officials said the patients were not exposed to animals while on the farm.
- Yesterday, the US Food and Drug Administration reported two new outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis from unidentified food sources, one with 14 illnesses and one with 35, but released no other details. The FDA also updated the case count of the Salmonella Javiana outbreak of unknown origin from 65 to 70. That outbreak was first announced on October 28.
- This week, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative reported 15 new polio cases from five countries. Pakistan announced one case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), South Sudan documented one circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) infection, while the Democratic Republic of Congo logged nine circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases, Nigeria noted one new cVDPV2 case and two cVDPV type 3 (cVDPV3) infections, and Niger documented one cVDPV3 case. Syria also recorded another polio case in Deir Ezzor after reporting two VDPV1 cases last week.