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Respiratory Diseases

ILI

Influenza-like illness is beginning to improve for most of the Northeastern region, so I think we are past the worst of flu season. Still, it will be weeks before we return to low levels of ILI activity.

New York City is reporting very high levels of influenza-like illness at 11%. Moreover, unlike other states in the region, the city is not yet seeing a clear peak in ILI—outpatient visits and test positivity are still rising. However, since most of the country is now past peak, I think we can expect NYC to turn the corner soon, too.

Mid-Atlantic states show moderate activity. New York reports consistent indicators with 4.2% for both outpatient ILI and ED visits, with moderate wastewater levels. Pennsylvania shows lower rates with 3.2% outpatient ILI, 3.3% ED visits, and moderate wastewater levels.

 

New Jersey is also experiencing quite high outpatient ILI, at 8.1%, which is a decline from 8.4% the week prior. New Jersey also has high (6.0%) ED visits, though showing moderate wastewater levels. Massachusetts follows with 5.2% outpatient ILI (down from 5.9% the week prior), though lower ED visits at 3.4%, with high wastewater levels.

Northern New England shows lower activity, particularly in Maine with 2.9% outpatient ILI, the region’s lowest ED visits at 1.7%, and moderate wastewater levels. Rhode Island reports 3.0% outpatient ILI, 2.5% ED visits, despite high wastewater levels.

COVID-19

The winter wave continues, though this year is shaping up to be less intense than years prior. Wastewater activity is high, but dipped a bit this past week. Severe illness remains elevated. It is too soon to tell for sure whether the dip in wastewater activity is temporary blip before it increases again or if we have passed the peak of this winter wave, but my money is on the latter.

Wastewater activity is very high or high but decreasing in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Activity increased in only one state in the region: Maine.

In Maine, wastewater activity is very high, higher than it has been at any point in the past year. At the opposite end of the spectrum is New York, where activity remains minimal.

Visits to the ED held steady or increased in every state in the region this past week, and most states have moved from ‘minimal’ to ‘low’ levels of ED visits. Only New York and New Jersey remain at a minimal level (<1.5%).

Hospitalizations are also elevated across the region. Two states reported increases in hospitalizations: Connecticut (7.3 hospitalizations per 100,000) and Pennsylvania, where hospitalizations are at a high 11.0. Hospitalization rates are also a bit high in Rhode Island (8.0) and Massachusetts (9.0), but things held steady there this past week.

The rest of the region has a bit lower – though still moderately elevated – hospitalization rates, and things held steady or decreased this past week. This includes Maine (6.6), Vermont (5.4), New Jersey (5.1), and New York (4.6). New Hampshire had a particularly notable improvement, with hospitalizations decreasing abruptly from 9.5 to 5.7 in one week.

RSV

On the bright side, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is clearly receding across the region, though most states are still reporting more than 1% of visits to the emergency department are for the virus.

These improving trends include New York City, which has seen a steady decrease in laboratory reports since late December.

I expect we will see continued declines of RSV in the weeks to come.

Stomach Bugs

Nationally, we are in the middle of the largest norovirus wave in over five years. It is a rough season in the Northeast as well, but so far it is not radically out of step with prior winter seasons. Currently, test positivity is at 14.6%, and it has been bouncing between ~14-20% for the past month in the region. Yuck. The best preventive measure is to wash your hands regularly with soap and water and avoid touching your face in between.

Food recalls

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

New:

• Casa Mamita frozen chicken and cheese taquitos (more info)

Previously reported:

• Wicklow Gold Cheddar Cheeses (more info)
• Blue Ridge Beef Kitten mix [for Cats] (more info). While not for human consumption, humans may be infected with Salmonella if they do not adequately wash their hands or contaminated surfaces after handling the product.
• Marketside Broccoli Florets (more info)
• Connie’s Thin Crust Cheese Frozen Pizzas (more info)
• If you have food allergies, you may wish to review these FDA safety alerts and USDA alerts for foods with undeclared allergens.