Public Health

'Not in the clear yet' on RSV: 4 physician survey notes

Emergency room and critical care physicians continue to see significant levels of respiratory syncytial virus activity, according to survey data published Dec. 14.

New York expires emergency order on polio

New York's executive order on polio is "no longer necessary" as the number of positive wastewater samples has declined, health officials said Dec. 12. Efforts to increase vaccination uptake, however, will continue as coverage rates in affected areas remain too low.

HHS: COVID-19 flexibilities apply to flu, RSV response efforts

States and healthcare organizations can use regulatory flexibilities permitted under the COVID-19 public health emergency to address capacity challenges stemming from a severe respiratory virus season, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra told governors this month, according to AHA News.

A snapshot of flu, COVID-19 & RSV: 3 notes

Respiratory virus activity is already high, and health experts anticipate the upcoming holiday season to accelerate virus spread.

Winter COVID-19 surge looms, experts say

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are steadily rising nationwide, suggesting a winter surge may be near. At present, however, the duration, magnitude and scope of such a surge is still unclear, experts told The Atlantic.

Adults who took Paxlovid 50% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19: 10 CDC findings

Adults who were prescribed Paxlovid for mild to moderate COVID-19 were 50 percent less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19, according to the CDC's COVID-19 Weekly Tracker published Dec. 9.

Last week alone, 26,000 flu patients were hospitalized: 8 FluView notes

Nearly 26,000 lab-confirmed flu patients were admitted to hospitals for the week ending Dec. 3, up from the nearly 20,000 that were admitted the week prior.

White House unveils dashboard to track opioid overdoses

The White House on Dec. 8 launched a dashboard to track nonfatal opioid overdoses at the state and county level, offering those on the front line of the opioid epidemic a better look at the hardest-hit areas and where to…

CDC chief to Congress: We need more authority, COVID-19 funding

In addition to more funding, the CDC needs Congress to grant it more authority to improve COVID-19 data reporting and accelerate its response to public health crises, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, told Roll Call in a Dec. 8 report.

Health experts: Wear masks to curb 'tripledemic,' not just COVID-19

Health experts are urging the public to mask up in crowded spaces to curb the spread of flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus during the holiday season.