Dr. Klotman’s Week 224 video address is a simple shoutout to Independence Day; there is nothing about COVID or anything else medical. So, I’m going to share what my other medical news sources have said this week.
About COVID
- Texas COVID deaths are few, but other states have more.
- There is a rising incidence of ER visits and hospitalizations due to COVID. This is a worrisome trend.
- The dominant COVID strains in the USA are KP.3, KP.2, and the newcomer LB.1 they are all related FLRT variants.
I have to admit that after vacationing in RMNP where our activities were largely outdoor, I put my N95 mask away. Now that we are back in Austin, the mask goes on when I am in closed quarters with strangers (the store, most often).
About RSV
- Recent news about RSV vaccines is that immunity in adults appears to last at least three seasons – no need for annual boosters.
- Because it is summer, there are very few RSV cases. Look for that to change in late fall and winter. You still have time to get the RSV vaccine if you haven’t had it
About Measles
- Because Measles has a R0 (R-naught) of ~15, it requires that ~95% of the population have immunity to the virus in order to prevent outbreaks.
- Most cases of Measles in the USA occur among travelers to countries with low immunization rates. Outbreaks then occur here among unvaccinated contacts. USA vaccination rates for Measles have fallen in the past decade. In Travis County, Texas where I live, vaccination among school-age children has fallen to ~90%.
About MPOX (aka Monkey Pox)
- Live replication-deficient Vaccina virus vaccine (aka jynneos – Small Pox vaccine) protects against symptomatic MPOX. Optimal vaccination requires two doses.
- The principal group of Americans at high risk is MSM – homosexual and bisexual men.
- The disease can be spread by respiratory droplets as well as by skin-to-skin contact.
- Spread among heterosexuals and children is relatively uncommon but does occur.