This Season’s Influenza Surge May Be Ending, But It Isn’t Gone Yet
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said flu is ending but levels were still elevated, and the risk will remain for at least a few more weeks. Separate reports say flu is also fading in Europe. Meanwhile, Moderna said it will launch a combination flu and covid vaccine as soon as late 2023.
CIDRAP:
US Flu Markers Show Slight Declines In Activity
The nation's flu activity showed small signs of decline last week, but levels are still elevated, with circulation expected to continue for several more weeks, the CDC said today in its latest weekly update, which covers last week. The percentage of doctor's visits for flulike illness declined from 4.8% to 4.3% last week, with the current level still above the national baseline. The CDC notes that other respiratory viruses are circulating, contributing to the overall respiratory illness picture. (1/14)
Bloomberg:
Common Flu’s Strong Return In Europe Slows In Early 2022
Influenza’s stronger-than-expected comeback in Europe lost steam in the first week of the year, easing worries about a potential double whammy with Covid-19. The number of flu cases in European intensive care units more than halved to 19 between Jan. 3 and 9, from the peak seen in the last days of December, according to the latest data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. France, Sweden and the United Kingdom were the only countries with confirmed cases in ICU wards. (Anghel, 1/17)
Politico:
Moderna Hopes To Market Combined COVID And Flu Booster In 2023
Moderna hopes to market a combined booster vaccination for COVID-19, influenza and RSV — a common respiratory virus — as soon as the fall of 2023, CEO Stéphane Bancel said Monday. Bancel, speaking on a panel at the World Economic Forum, said the combination vaccine would enable people to get broad protection against illnesses caused by respiratory viruses ahead of the winter infectious season without having to obtain multiple jabs. (Busvine, 1/17)
In pediatric news —
CNBC:
Covid Could Be Turning Kids Into 'Fussy Eaters' Due To Loss Of Smell
Children who have recovered from Covid-19 may experience a distorted sense of smell afterward, which could affect the foods they will eat, according to experts in the U.K. “Parosmia” — when people experience strange and often unpleasant smell distortions — is relatively common after a Covid infection, with 250,000 adults in the U.K. estimated to have suffered parosmia as a result of having the coronavirus. Experts say it could be a reason why children who have recovered from Covid might find it hard to eat foods they once loved. (Ellyatt, 1/18)
Philadelphia Inquirer:
Philadelphia Children Appear To Be Gaining Weight Which Could Make Their COVID Symptoms Worse
Philadelphia pediatricians are seeing substantial weight gain in many young patients due to pandemic stress and lockdowns. Those extra pounds mean that if the children get COVID-19, they’re more like to get sicker than their leaner friends. The city doesn’t keep data on children’s weight the way it does on COVID cases and hospitalizations. But pediatricians at three medical centers in the city are seeing a situation that matches national trends. Rates of pediatric weight gain doubled over the course of the pandemic, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study of more than 400,000 children between ages 2 and 19 released in September. That was similar to weight gain in adults. Children who were already obese or overweight when the pandemic started tended to see the biggest gains. (Laughlin, 1/18)
Fox News:
Early-Aging Disorder Claims Life Of Young, Beloved Social Media Star Adalia Rose
Although many hope to discover the fountain of youth, there’s actually a gene that does the opposite, as social media sensation Adalia Rose Williams of Austin, Texas, shared with the world through her rare genetic disorder that accelerates the appearance of aging, according to her Instagram page, which noted she died recently at age 15. "January 12, 2022 at 7pm Adalia Rose Williams was set free from this world. She came into it quietly and left quietly, but her life was far from it. She touched MILLIONS of people and left the biggest imprint in everyone that knew her. She is no longer in pain and is now dancing away to all the music she loves," the post said in part. (Sudhakar, 1/16)
In other public health news —
Philadelphia Inquirer:
Thousands Of Gallons Of Toxic Phenol Reportedly Spilled This Week At A Philly Chemical Plant
A worker failed to shut off a valve Thursday at the AdvanSix plant in Philadelphia and up to 2,000 gallons of phenol spilled, with some possibly entering the sewer system, according to a police report. The incident occurred at about 4:20 a.m. on the 2500 block of Bridge Street. The fire department responded, but did not call for an evacuation. No one was injured. Phenol can be toxic to humans. The company’s Frankford plant is one of the largest producers of phenol in North America. The chemical is used in the manufacturing of nylon polymer for carpet fibers, plastics, and films, according to the company’s website. (Kummer, 1/14)
Fox News:
Trust Your Gut When It Comes To Sugar, Study Says
If your gut is telling you the difference between real sugar and an artificial sweetener, it may be right, according to a Duke study published recently in Nature Neuroscience. Around the time the taste receptors were discovered 20 years ago, scientists tried to eliminate the taste buds in mice, but were surprised the mice not only could tell the difference between natural and artificial sugar, but they even preferred real sugar over the artificial sweeteners, despite having no sense of taste, according to the Duke press release. (Sudhakar, 1/16)
