One thing I've never quite understood is what the rate of positivity for Norovirus is based on. Is it 10% positive for all labs submitted to Calcinet? And if those submissions are based on public health departments participating in an epidemiologic investigation of an outbreak, is it possible to quantify or even qualify the extent of infection in the population when so many people have self-limiting disease and therefore would not be tested or reported? I guess (or assume) the value of the data is in trends over time. But I also guess/assume that the trends really represent severe illness which presumably is a small percentage of all the noro infections out there?
It represents a very small subset of cases, mostly those who need medical attention. But it's the only timely data that I know of. "On a weekly basis, participating U.S. laboratories from university and community hospitals, selected state and county public health departments, and commercial entities, voluntarily report the total number of tests performed, the method used for detection, and the number of those tests with positive results. Reports include virus antigen detections, isolations by culture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results on a weekly basis."
Well, . . . . . . . the FLY season here in Minnesota starts around June 1st each year. In the state of Vermont they even have a traditional Black Fly Season that lasts most of every summer.
Flu season. I meant flu season, not fly. 🥲
I really appreciate these posts. ❤️
One thing I've never quite understood is what the rate of positivity for Norovirus is based on. Is it 10% positive for all labs submitted to Calcinet? And if those submissions are based on public health departments participating in an epidemiologic investigation of an outbreak, is it possible to quantify or even qualify the extent of infection in the population when so many people have self-limiting disease and therefore would not be tested or reported? I guess (or assume) the value of the data is in trends over time. But I also guess/assume that the trends really represent severe illness which presumably is a small percentage of all the noro infections out there?
It represents a very small subset of cases, mostly those who need medical attention. But it's the only timely data that I know of. "On a weekly basis, participating U.S. laboratories from university and community hospitals, selected state and county public health departments, and commercial entities, voluntarily report the total number of tests performed, the method used for detection, and the number of those tests with positive results. Reports include virus antigen detections, isolations by culture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results on a weekly basis."
Well, . . . . . . . the FLY season here in Minnesota starts around June 1st each year. In the state of Vermont they even have a traditional Black Fly Season that lasts most of every summer.
Ugh worst typo!