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Respiratory Diseases

ILI

Flu season is finally almost behind us. Outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) dropped from 3.9% to 3.4% in the region. Activity is still above baseline, meaning we are still in flu season, but at least things are still headed in the right direction. It will be a few more weeks yet before we are in the clear.

Northeast Region: ILI Activity

Percent of doctors visits for ILI symptoms

Across the Northeast, there were decreases in the rate of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness. Notable decreases in outpatient visits for ILI were seen in Rhode Island (-1.9 points) and New Hampshire (-0.6 points). Connecticut and Massachusetts also saw significant decreases of about 0.5 points. New Jersey has the highest rate of outpatient visits for ILI in the region, at 5% (compared to <2.5% for most of the region), but it too saw a decline this past week.

In terms of more severe illness, emergency department visits for influenza now account for roughly 2% or less of all ED visits and declined in every state in the region in the past week. Hospitalizations are similarly improving across almost the entire region. Every state except New Hampshire reported a decrease in the influenza hospitalization rate. Connecticut reported a particularly steep drop in hospitalizations – down 1.9 points to 2.7 hospitalizations per 100,000, and Pennsylvania and Maine also reported substantial declines of 1.1 and 1.2 points, respectively.

Northeast Region: Change in ILI Activity

Percent of doctors visits for ILI symptoms

COVID-19

Covid-19 is also improving across the Northeast. Wastewater data continue to look good—levels have dropped dramatically since December, and concentration is now similar to last July. Emergency department visits declined across the entire region, too.

Northeast Region: New COVID-19 Hospitalizations

Average rate per 100,000 population

New hospital admissions for Covid-19 also continue to decline, and are low across the region. Most states in the region saw substantial declines in new hospitalizations, including Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Vermont wins most improved of the week, with a decline of 44.4% and lowest overall rate at 1.6 new admissions per 100,000. New Jersey and New York saw more moderate declines in hospitalizations (between 16-18%), and Maine and Massachusetts held steady.

Northeast Region: Change in New COVID-19 Hospitalizations

Weekly new hospitalizations per 100,000

Stomach Bugs

Norovirus activity fell from 13.7% to 12.8% test positivity. This is the fourth week in a row that test positivity has declined, so my confidence is growing that we have past peak season in the region. Still, activity will likely remain high through April. ‘

The best way to prevent norovirus is to wash your hands using soap and water. Prevent onward transmission by staying home until 48 hours after symptoms resolve, and avoid preparing food for others during that time.

Northeast Region: Norovirus Activity

Test Positivity, Percentage

Food recalls

The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items:

New

• Trader Joe’s 50% Less Salt Roasted & Salted Whole Cashews (more info)

Previously reported:

• Multiple brands of cinnamon sold at discount stores, for lead contamination. The best resource I found to quickly survey affected products is here.
• Robitussin Honey CF Max cough syrup products (more info)
• Tons of different granola and oatmeal products from Quaker (more info).
• If you have food allergies, you may wish to review these FDA safety alerts and USDA alerts for foods with undeclared allergens.

In other news

• The Rhode Island Department of Health reported a case of Powassan virus disease in a man in his 70s from Kent County, who began showing symptoms in late January and is now recovering at home. Powassan is a tick-borne disease that can lead to serious neurological issues. It is mostly found in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions of the U.S. and eastern Canada.
• The New York State Department of Health reported a measles case in an unvaccinated child in Nassau County. This is the third case in New York State to be diagnosed this year and the first case outside of New York City.