Hits: 389

	View in browser Outbreak Outlook – Northeast – Mar 31 Mar 31 READ IN APP Welcome to the Northeast edition of Outbreak Outlook! It is only available to paid subscribers. If you wish to become a paid subscriber and access region-specific information, please click the Subscribe now button below. Thanks for reading! -Caitlin Subscribed Respiratory Diseases Influenza The Northeast is the last region in the country to transition to low levels of influenza-like illness (ILI) activity. Many states in the region are still reporting moderate and high levels of ILI. However, I do think that relief is coming soon, as all indicators look good. Influenza Emergency Department Visits (%) % of visits to the ED that are for influenza At the state level, New Jersey leads the Northeast in flu activity with outpatient ILI at 4.7% (down from 5.4%). The proportion of ED visits that are for influenza is 2.1%, a moderate decrease of 0.6% from the previous week. For reference, I’d like to see the ED metric get to below 1%. New York state also reports outpatient ILI at 4.7% (down from 5.2%) with lower ED visits at 1.8%. In New York City, outpatient ILI is 6%, which is an improvement from previous weeks but is still quite high. A huge proportion (73%) of specimens in NYC is flu B, which is quite anomalous compared to the national picture. Northeast: Outpatient influenza-like illness % of visits to the doctor that are for fever and either cough or sore throat Maine is also still working to turn the corner, with outpatient ILI at 4.0% (down from 4.5%), and the highest ED visit percentage in the region at 3.0%. However, this is a substantial decrease of 1.2% from the previous week. Connecticut reports outpatient ILI at 3.2% (down from 3.6%) with ED visits at 2.8%. Massachusetts shows similar outpatient ILI at 3.1% (down from 4.0%) but with lower ED visits at 1.7%. New Hampshire reports outpatient ILI at 3.0% (down from 4.1%) with ED visits at 3.0%, nearly matching Maine for the highest ED visit percentage. Rhode Island shows outpatient ILI at 2.7% (down from 3.1%) with the region’s lowest ED visits at 1.1%. Pennsylvania reports the lowest activity in the region with outpatient ILI at 1.9% (down from 2.3%) and ED visits at 1.7%. Vermont has no reported outpatient ILI data. ED visits for influenza there is 2.6%. Northeast: ED visits for influenza (%) % of visits to the emergency department that are for influenza COVID-19 Things are quiet—with a few exceptions. Wastewater activity remains low at the regional level. Severe illness is low and decreasing in most places. In most of the region, wastewater activity is low or very low. Activity is low and declining in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and is very low in New York and Maine. Despite slight increases this past week, activity remains low in Vermont and Rhode Island. In contrast, in New Jersey, wastewater activity is high and increasing. In Connecticut, activity is also high but is on the decline. (Incomplete data for Pennsylvania). Northeast: Covid-19 wastewater  Wastewater concentration of SARS-CoV-2concentration Trips to the emergency department were minimal (<1.5%) and held steady or declined in most states in the region. ED visits did increase in New Hampshire but only to 0.5%, which is far, far lower than where they were in January (3.0%). Hospitalizations remain low-to-moderate across most of the region. Even Pennsylvania, which for so long has had particularly high rates, has dropped down to 4.6 hospitalizations per 100,000 people. Most states reported stable or decreasing rates, but two (Vermont (2.2) and Rhode Island (2.6)) reported increases. I’ll be watching to see if these increases continue in the coming weeks, but for now the rates remain low. Northeast: ED visits for Covid-19 (%) % of visits to the emergency department that are for Covid-19 RSV RSV activity is very low in the Northeast and will likely continue to remain out of season until autumn. Northeast: ED visits for RSV (%) % of visits to the emergency department that are for RSV Other Bugs A bunch of those pesky bugs that cause cold- and flu-like symptoms are spreading widely or picking up steam right now. Adenovirus has been increasing since February, though it is still below the peak it reached in December. Human coronaviruses are still quite high, but are slowly decreasing. Human metapneumovirus continues to climb and is likely getting close to its peak for the year. Parainfluenza and rhinovirus/enterovirus remains fairly low, but are on an increasing trend. Stomach Bugs Norovirus dropped a bit this past week, down to 12.7% test positivity. This is still high, but marks the lowest rate in the Northeast since November. Norovirus tends to persist into the spring – and to jump around a bit – so I wouldn’t get too excited just yet. I expect several more weeks of elevated levels. Source: CDC Food recalls The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items: New: Nothing new this week Previously reported: Enoki mushrooms sold under Daily Veggies brand (more info) Hot pot sauce sold under Wangshihe brand (more info) Prepared vegetables sold at Tokyo Central/Marukai stores in California (more info) Wild Coast Raw Chicken Formula [for cats] due to potential contamination with avian influenza H5N1 (more info). This poses a risk to cats who ingest the product, as well as to humans handling the product. Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes in various flavors (more info) Canned Tuna sold under Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s brand names (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 This is the last regional edition until October! Thank you all for joining me this flu season. I hope my newsletters were helpful to you during this particularly tough flu season. I will continue to send the national editions to paid subscribers, so be on the lookout for that next Monday. Measles updates are still going out on Tuesdays and Fridays. BIRD FLU SITATION: SIGNIFICANT LOSSES Avian influenza continues to impact Delaware poultry farms, forcing farmers to “depopulate” flocks to contain the virus. Nine broiler farms on the Delmarva Peninsula have been affected. The virus, spread by migrating waterfowl and potentially by contaminated boots or rodents, has led to significant financial losses. Infected farms are quarantined, disinfected, and swabbed to confirm virus clearance.

Hits: 823

THE FIRST DAFFODIL OF THE SPRING BLOOMED OUT IN TODAY’S LATE AFTERNOON STORM! PLANTS ARE TOUGH!

Hits: 393

WPCNR HEARTBEAT. By Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, Your Local Epidemiologist. March 29, 2025

There was an abrupt $11B cut to local and state public health (PH) infrastructure yesterday. I don’t think people realize what this means:

– Want an updated system to check your immunizations instead of digging through documents? PH no longer able to carry out upgrades to immunization information systems

– Want your mayor to save money by addressing the opioid epidemic? PH no longer able to carry out upgrades to disease surveillance and reporting

– Want to know your blood test results faster? PH no longer able to carry out major laboratory renovations and modernization

– Want to know if and how measles is spreading to protect your family? PH no longer able to perform wastewater testing

– Want your grandma in a nursing home to live a long, prosperous life? PH has to discontinue infection control education for nursing homes.

The broad media narrative is that these rescissions are about Covid-19 tests and vaccines. That’s just wrong. This money is indeed being used for Covid-19—used to address key vulnerabilities identified during the pandemic.

But, PH is inherently crosscutting. Capacity in one area strengthens capacity across the board

This is just the latest in a long pattern, including sidelining scientific advancements, cutting USDA programs that support healthy eating, canceling global cooperation so we are safer in the U.S., and abruptly future cohorts of public servants.

This is not America first.

Hits: 188

CRATERS OPEN UP ON INTERSTATE 80! INFRASTRUCTION QUESTIONS WORRIES FLY! JUST A LITTLE DETAIL AND HEAP BIG DELAYS. WHO KNEW? WHERE’S TRAFFIC AND WEATHER TOGETHER GONE?

ARE THESE BRIDGES AND HIGHWAYS ALL OVER 70 YEARS OLD SAFE?  TAKE YOUR PARACHUTE

ADMINSTRATION SAYS COVID WAS “YEARS AGO.” IS IT OVER IN WESTCHESTER. NO THE LATEST PROJECTIONS– VACCINES RESEARCH HALTED.

 

 

STATE CONSIDERS REFORM ON DISCLOSURE PROCEDURES. WESTCHESTER D.A. SAYS DISCLOSURE PROCEDURES ARE BROKEN. NO DETAILS ON WHAT THE LEGISLATURE IN NY IS CONSIDERING. CAN WE KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING OF DOING PERHAPS?

 

THE STATE BUDGET STORY 

 

ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON TRIES TO CLAW BACK COVID RELIEF NOT SENT

WITH JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS…

EVERY WEEK ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK

FOR  23 YEARS

Hits: 391

WPCNR Press Box. March 27, 2025:  

They’re getting READY at the Big Ball Park, as Red Barber called it.

Today the Bronx Bombers return to Yankee StadiUM and play Milwaukee at 1 PM.

In the honor of Opening Day, WPCNR brings back this original celebration of The Day I wrote about why Opening Day is the best day of the year  

OPENING DAY

OPENING DAY is better than Christmas Day, When you look out  and know they’ll play, Dreary gray or brilliant spring sunray Opening Day means The Big Show is back today.

Decades past, Opening Day for fanatics starved, Eager for  sharp crack of ash on horsehide carved; Pennants snapping in northwest winds Top ramparts of inviting walls arches  and sculpted friezes wistfully escarped. 

Fans lucky to get away with ducats Marvel at flannels sharp whites pristeen, To play in the warm zephyrs in NY blazened caps, Dashing specks of white warmup on the greenest green.

Motor cars pant in  traffic jams on the Deegan, Down Yawkey Way, on 35th and Shields or Waveland’s jam. The first glimpse of storied Park, The place where ball is played, where ghosts of Ted, Babe, Duke Mel, Spahnie, Whitey, Mickey, Willie, Yaz, Minnie and Sandy lark.

Pay a fortune to park, pass stogie smoking old men at the same gates for a hundred years,

Now out into the street 

You go, aroma of roasting chestnuts, pungent cigars sweet,

Cries of “scorecard heah” “programs,heah” shout out, neath light towers to heaven.

Fans in cap and uniform, little boys and girls gawk in awe hoping to make the Anthem Never seeing such sheer walls, topped with the legend “Game Today 1:30 PM.”

Clutching slim cardboard tix to Section 14 Upper Deck up to the turnstiles Festooned with souvenirs more dear as diamonds, beyond, the lure of endless aisles.

Into  press of crowd, grizzled usher,

RIPS YOUR TICKET.

Turnstile turns, clicks, and into the cathedral of ball you go Into the rotunda greeted with magic signs dazzling the senses — UPPER LEVELS SECTIONS 1 to 39, 2 to 40

Hawkers shout –Voices of Flatbush — colorful books in hand

“Yeahhbook heah,” “Dodger Yearbook here,” “Hot dog, heah,” Assail  ears! Up ramps you climb to the sign “NEXT HOMESTAND”

Walking the catwalk,sliver of blue is first look of the magic sphere Into the sunlight splaying the vast rake of the mighty stand.

Below are baseball knights of the diamond in white hues Cavorting, snapping throws across immaculate red clay As majestic fungo bats — CRACK! send white spheres soaring to filling bleachers a mile away, Bunting flutters from the deck rails red, white and true blues.

Old Glory furls on  highest pole in centerfield Colorful signs deliver the manly flavor of the only real game, GILLETTE To Look Sharp, The Red Sox use Lifeboy, Schaefer It’s A Hit Hey, Neighbor Have a Gansett, White Owl Cigars, Hit Sign Win Suit

From old friendly walls, to Gladys Gooding on the organ Comfy old green scoreboard display Today’s games in the bigs BETTER THAN CNN CHI CLE BOS DET, CHI STL, NY WAS make you king for a day. Two Bits for a scorecard, usher wipes your seat, ballpark fills your heart.

Penciling lineup 42 2B, 1 SS, 14 1B, 4 CF, 39 C, 6 RF, 23 LF 19 3B 36 P

Smell of beer, peanuts pretzels. I love it

Nippy air, warm rays sink into face feels nice,

Starters wheel, deal, kicking high on sidelines fueling expectancy

Men in blue, arms folded solemnly conduct the home plate regimen Casey, Ralph , Walter, Joe, Sparky exchange lineup cards and knowing Ground rules by heart, go over them for ritual’s sake. Bob Shepard “The Voice of God” speaks “Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to Yankee StadiUM .”

“Please rise for the playing of our national anthem,” Nancy Faust at organ note by note renders baseball’s theme song Rising on the breeze, uniting do-rag and ball cap, Fedora, ponytail and bouffant in the spirit of the greatEST game.

Grass is never greener on opening days Strikes are louder, long drives scream with authority into the alleys Beers with whiter than white high creamy heads,

Taste crisp cold mellow best brew you drink all year

Smashes laser through short in the gap in raucous rallies

Magicians without wands start 6-4-3s, (if you’re scoring at home)

Backhand sure hits losing their caps

“Oh what a play’s “crackle on WGN with “CUBS WIN!”‘S

Jack and Mel, Vince, Red, Curt and Murph , Gussie, Marty, John and Suzyn , Ernie, The Gunner, are back at mikes turning mundane days

Into joy with a ninth inning elixir and “happy recaps”

Thunderous ROARS AWARD the 2-out winner again creating big kids’ grins.