Dr. Klotman’s Week 244 video address eschews COVID and focuses on other, potentially more threatening issues.

H5N1 Bird Flu

  • There have now been 53 cases of H5N1 in Americans
  • The Canadian teenager who developed lower respiratory H5N1 infection (pneumonia) did not develop the illness from the H5N1 strain that affects dairy cattle. It is the strain found in wild birds and poultry.
  • The teen has no history of exposure to infected fowl. He has a variety of pets, and they all tested negative for H5N1. So, the means of his exposure remains undetermined.

RSV

  • RSV most often peaks in Jan-Mar
  • Half of the RSV hospitalizations occur among folks 75+ years old. 20% of them wind up in the ICU. People 60+ who have cardio-pulmonary illnesses or other compromising chronic illnesses are also hard hit by RSV.
  • There are three RSV vaccines available, any one of them can provide protection from infection.
  • If you are in the risk groups above, this is the best time to get vaccinated for RSV.

Mpox

  • The CDC has recorded the first US case of Clade 1 Mpox – the severe form from Central Africa.
  • The affected individual had traveled to the endemic area.
  • Not surprisingly, there have been travel-related cases of Clade 1 Mpox in Europe, South and East Asia, the UK, and African countries outside Central Africa.

Measles

  • Vaccinations for this and other childhood diseases has fallen from 95% to 93% among kindergarteners (national figures). It is worse in some areas where vaccination exemptions are granted more liberally.
  • Since measles has an R-naught of 18 (one infected child typically infects 18 others), only a vaccination level of 95.5% or greater can prevent epidemics of the illness.
  • The US has seen over 8K cases of measles this year – expect more as parents and RFK, Jr. followers delay or deny having their children vaccinated.

Influenza

  • Influenza season has begun. The CDC weekly ILI (Flu-like illness) report shows increasing cases each and every week.
  • Get your Flu vaccine if you haven’t yet had it.

Not in Dr. Klotman’s address, are these vaccination-related items reported in today’s TMA’s medical news round-up.

  • Only 35% of Americans eligible for the annual Influenza vaccine have received it to date.
  • Only 18% of Americans eligible for the current COVID vaccine have received it.
  • Only 33% of Americans eligible for the RSV vaccine have had it.

So much for herd immunity. Sigh.

By: llcPosted on