Outbreak Outlook - Sep 9

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Influenza-like illness

We are on the ascent. Around 1.9% of visits to the doctor’s office were for fever and cough or sore throat, up from 1.8% the week prior. However, the threshold that marks the beginning of flu season is 2.9%, so activity is still low.

The increase is concentrated among children, both in the 0-4 and 5-24 age groups. I expect the 25-49 age group will begin to see increases soon, as children pass their illnesses on to parents and others.

Covid-19

Wastewater activity dipped slightly nationally, from ‘very high’ to ‘high’ activity. Concentration remains highest in the West and the South, though both of these regions are improving.

Source: CDC

In terms of severe illness:

• Emergency department visits declined moderately, to 2.3%. Behind this decline, however, is a patchwork at the state level. Some states reported substantial declines (including Louisiana and Montana), while others reported increases (including West Virginia and Idaho).

• Hospitalizations declined nationally again, to 2.6 per 100,000 people.

  • This is nearly half the peak it hit in early August.