According to the most recent data from the Minnesota Department of Health, cases of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, are plateauing in Minnesota as other respiratory illnesses spread.
Season-specific weekly rates of RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 hospitalizations
In collaboration with 13 sites across the country, including Minnesota, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET) was established. Three platforms make up RESP-NET, which monitors the population for hospitalizations linked to laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in both adults and children. Hospitalized patients with COVID-19, influenza, and RSV among people living in the seven-county metropolitan area (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties) are included in the Minnesota RESP-NET data. MDH is now looking at respiratory illness data for the entire year rather than just in the fall and winter months in order to align data trends for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.
“We hope that the state’s RSV activity is starting to decline. Although it’s too soon to tell for sure, that is our hope based on the early signs, according to MDH epidemiology manager Kathy Como-Sabetti. “It appears that influenza is the most prevalent this week.”
According to the most recent state data, there were 159 flu hospitalizations in the week that ended on December 16, compared to 100 hospitalizations the previous week.
“We’ve noticed a fairly quick rise,” Como-Sabetti stated.
According to her, the increase coincides with a consistent rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations in Minnesota.
About 21% of new cases in the United States are caused by JN.1, which was listed as a COVID “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization earlier this week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Como-Sabetti stated, “At this point, it would be unlikely that the increase we’re seeing is exclusively due to a new variant.” With new variants, we do observe an increase in cases. Does this significantly differ from the previous variant to increase the number of cases and hospitalizations? It’s too soon to say.
She informed 5 Eyewitness News that hospitalization rates for COVID-19 are lower now than they were at this time last year. Nevertheless, the rise serves as a reminder to become immunized. In Minnesota, fewer than 18% of people have received all of the doses for which they qualify.
Before getting together for the holidays, loved ones should exercise caution as well. This includes getting tested or postponing plans if someone is exhibiting symptoms of a respiratory illness.
“You ought to take into account your emotional state,” Como-Sabetti advised. “Yes, there may be mild symptoms, but it’s important to consider who you’re with, particularly if they may be at high risk for a serious illness.” Early October marks the beginning of each new respiratory season, and reporting is done all year long.
The Latest Covid Hotspots: Soaring Cases by 39% in a Week Amid Concerns Over ‘Devious’ New Variant of Interest
Just before Christmas, it caused a 39% spike in COVID infections in the UK in a single week. According to UKHSA, it represents 7% of cases in this area.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that between 15 and 29 percent of cases in the US, where the variant was first identified in September, are caused by this variant.
Prof. Openshaw described the virus as “devious,” telling the BBC that “people who are otherwise young and fit are also reporting nasty episodes of COVID.”
“It’s a surprisingly cunning virus that can cause severe illness at times and occasionally result in “long COVID.”
Experts have taken care to emphasize that there is currently a “low” risk associated with the strain.
However, they have issued a warning that the protection provided by vaccinations given in previous years is diminishing as the coronavirus continues to evolve. According to the WHO, vaccinations continue to provide protection, and there is no proof that they lead to more serious illnesses.
In the week leading up to December 9, 6,000 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in England, according to data from the government coronavirus dashboard.
This means that for every 100,000 individuals in the area, there are 10.6 cases.
Compared to the previous week, when 4,300 cases were diagnosed, or 7.6 cases per 100,000 people, there has been an increase of nearly 39%.
200 cases were reported in Wales in a single week, translating to 6.4 cases per 100,000 people.
When examining the United Kingdom more closely, the seaside town of Hastings in East Sussex has the highest case rate.
After 26 people were diagnosed in a week, there are currently 28.1 cases for every 100,000 residents in the area.
South Cambridgeshire (26.1 per 100,000, 42 cases), Hart (27.7 per 100,000, 27 cases), and Tandridge (26 per 100,000, 23 cases) come next.
Eden and the Ribble Valley are the only two locations in England without a case number.
According to the most recent UKHSA Winter Report, the percentage of people in England who tested positive for COVID-19 rose from 6.4% to 7.5% in the week ending December 14 in the week leading up to December 9.
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security’s senior scholar, Dr. Amesh Adalja, compared JN.1 to “another Omicron variant.”
