Here is Dr. Klotman’s Week 246 video update. It’s a Q&A that includes questions about respiratory viruses, fluoridation, and other public health topics. The highlights are:
- A brief review of the vaccination schedules for COVID, Influenza, Pneumococcus, Tetanus-Diptheria, Shingles, and RSV.
- Like vaccination, water fluoridation is one of the most significant Public Health victories of the last century. Prior to the routine use of fluoride salts in water and toothpaste, many people lost their teeth in mid to late adulthood. [Read some public health history, RFK!]
- Fluoridation standards are established by state and local governments – not the CDC. The CDC recommends 0.7mg per liter of water, but that isn’t a mandate. Very high levels of fluoride (>5 times the recommended level) can be toxic.
- This flu season is looking like pre-pandemic flu seasons of the past – no worse.
- COVID wastewater levels and COVID cases continue to be low. In past years, the peak in COVID cases has occurred in Feb-Mar.
- Both West Nile and Dengue viruses are mosquito-borne and present in Texas. [Aside: with colder temperatures, the mosquito population should drop significantly.]
The Austin Flu picture so far this season shows a higher number of Influenza B viral infections rather than the more common Influenza A. This may be a transient phenomenon with Influenza A overtaking B later in the season. We’ll see.