Dr. Klotman’s Week 276 video address speaks to the ongoing evolution of COVID. While the NB.1.8.1 recombinant Omicron strain from Asia and Europe still accounts for 34% of the incoming COVID viral burden, there is an emerging XFG strain from another COVID lineage. He rightfully observes that the viruses do not care about our nationalistic America First nonsense. They, like all other pathogens, know no borders.
The wastewater viral analyses show that the virus running wild in the USA is Rotavirus – the cause of gastrointestinal illness that disproportionately affects children.
The Measles outbreak is subsiding, and we are probably going to hit the same level of disease that we achieved in 2019 – because we seem incapable of learning from the past. MAGA!
In other medical news …
30% of US respondents say that they would not test for COVID if they had suggestive symptoms. The highest rate was among non-Hispanic whites with Hispanics, Blacks, and mixed-race individuals trailing behind them. Sigh.
The new ACIP panel has recommended that adults aged 50-59 take the RSV vaccine once. The previous ACIP had recommended it once for older adults at risk for severe complications (folks with chronic cardio-pulmonary conditions and other compromising chronic illnesses). The CDC accepted the recommendation, and it does (to me) make sense.
The US is facing a surge in cases of Dengue virus. Dengue is endemic to Central and South America, and with climate change, it is becoming more of an issue in the southern US. Puerto Rico has long been an active region for this flavivirus illness. Most American PCP’s are not prepared to recognize this tropical viral illness because it has been so uncommon up to now. Alas.