Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #112

[IceIce9]

MSN

Officials fear measles spread after infected traveler passes through Newark airport​

The measles virus spreads easily and can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. Symptoms include high fever, watery red eyes and a rash that typically appears several days after the initial onset of the virus. The measles rash begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, torso, arms, legs and feet. Infections can cause rare but serious complications, such as pneumonia, brain swelling and birth defects.

 

[killarney rose]

I am very concerned that parents refusing to have their children vaccinated against childhood illnesses is going to cause a resurgence of illnesses such as measles, mumps, rubella and heaven forbid diphtheria and polio.

DH had an uncle that had just turned 4 that died of diphtheria. An illness today that can be prevented by a simple vaccine.

 

[IceIce9]

I am very concerned that parents refusing to have their children vaccinated against childhood illnesses is going to cause a resurgence of illnesses such as measles, mumps, rubella and heaven forbid diphtheria and polio.

DH had an uncle that had just turned 4 that died of diphtheria. An illness today that can be prevented by a simple vaccine.

Kentucky had the first death of a child from the flu.

Kentucky child dies from flu; first pediatric death this season

A Kentucky child has died from influenza, marking the first pediatric flu death this season, state health officials announced Tuesday.

www.wkyt.com

A Kentucky child has died from influenza, marking the first pediatric flu death this season, state health officials announced Tuesday.

The child, who lived in Kenton County, had not received this season’s flu vaccine, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

 

[killarney rose]

We’ve had 2 in AL since Christmas.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I believe most health departments will provide COVID and flu vaccinations for those without insurance.

Our Meijer store accepts GoodRx for those without insurance which doesn’t make the vaccination free but makes it more affordable.

Very sweet pharmacist who gave DH and me our shots said that folks with Meijer Rewards get a discount on vaccines if they can't afford them or don't have insurance.

 

[IceIce9]

Very sweet pharmacist who gave DH and me our shots said that folks with Meijer Rewards get a discount on vaccines if they can't afford them or don't have insurance.

I love the Meijer pharmacists. I’ve been getting my flu and COVID vaccinations there, and recently got a shingles vaccination. They are always very kind.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

We experienced only very minor side effects from yesterday's Covid injection. Neither of us has/had a sore arm, but the fatigue was overwhelming. We got the shots at 2:00PM, picked up a few grocery items, and were home by 3:00PM. DH was falling asleep while watching TV at 4:00, so I suggested he go take a nap. He slept until 6:00. At @5:00, I had a brief bout of the "runs" and was starting to feel like I couldn't keep my eyes open. I had no appetite, so DH cooked some pasta for himself. We watched local news at 6:00, national news at 6:30, Wheel of Fortune at 7:00, and Jeopardy! at 7:30. I couldn't stay awake any longer and went to bed at 8:00. Slept well until 5:00 when I had to pee and never really fell back to sleep.

During the local news at 6:00PM, there was a report about local hospitals being overwhelmed with Covid, RSV, and flu - including a new "super flu" strain - patients in recent weeks. We're both glad that we got flu and Covid shots.

Flu is surging nationwide, and doctors say we're nowhere near the peak

The new variant of Influenza A, or H3N2, has been given the nickname 'super flu.' The fast-spreading virus has caused hospitalizations to nearly double in a week, the CDC reported.

www.nbcnews.com

Best wishes to everyone here a very Happy New Year! I hope the coming year will bring good health, much happiness, and many blessings for you and yours.

 

[Sundog]

Kentucky had the first death of a child from the flu.

Kentucky child dies from flu; first pediatric death this season

A Kentucky child has died from influenza, marking the first pediatric flu death this season, state health officials announced Tuesday.

www.wkyt.com

A Kentucky child has died from influenza, marking the first pediatric flu death this season, state health officials announced Tuesday.

The child, who lived in Kenton County, had not received this season’s flu vaccine, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

First death of a child/teen from the flu in Ohio this year. They are calling this year's influenza a "super flu" and the rates of infection and hospitalization are very high in our state and in contiguous states. Hopefully the fly vaccine will help againist serious illness and hospitalization, even if not a good match for the influenza that is currently circulating.

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/state/2025/12/31/ohio-flu-cases-teen-dies-influenza-cases-surge/87974112007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z114842p000750c000750d00----v114842d--50--b--50--&gca-ft=42&gca-ds=sophi&utm_campaign=newsalert&utm_content=ncod-columbus-nletter01&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dispatch-newsalert-strada&utm_term=hero

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

OT: Not about Covid, but this year's flu strain is at a very high level and cause for concern.

Flu surges in 45 states as doctor visits reach highest level in nearly 30 years

About 5,000 people have died of the flu so far this season, including 9 children, as the Trump administration pulls back on advice to get kids vaccinated.

www.nbcnews.com

Doctors’ visits for flu-like symptoms — fevers, sore throat, extreme fatigue and body aches — have hit the highest level in nearly 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and are likely to continue to rise in the coming weeks. At least 5,000 people have died this season, including nine children.

For the week ending Dec. 27, the CDC reported that nearly 1 in 10 outpatient visits nationwide — 8.2% — were for flu-like illnesses. That’s the highest logged since the CDC started tracking such visits in 1997. The flu has accounted for more than 11 million illnesses this season and 120,000 hospitalizations.

Forty-five states are experiencing high to very high levels of flu activity...

 

[Gemmie]

Even after the COVID-19 public health emergency ended in May 2023, the virus continued to cause millions of illnesses and more than 100,000 deaths annually from October 2022 to September 2024, with the majority of severe outcomes and deaths concentrated among older adults, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Using hospitalization data from the COVID-19 Hospitalization Surveillance Network, which covers approximately 10% of the US population, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research team estimated that COVID caused roughly 43.6 million illnesses, 10 million outpatient visits, 1.1 million hospitalizations, and 101,300 deaths during the 2022–23 respiratory illness season.

In the following season, COVID-related illnesses declined to roughly 33 million, outpatient visits fell to 7.7 million, and hospitalizations dropped to 879,100. But the number of deaths in the 2023–24 respiratory season—an estimated 100,800—remained essentially the same.

Adults 65 years and older shouldered a disproportionate share of the burden. Although they make up less than 20% of the US population, older adults accounted for nearly half (47.5%) of all COVID illnesses, roughly two-thirds (67.5%) of hospitalizations, and over 80% of deaths (81.3%) during the study period. On average, approximately 1 in 100 adults aged 65 years and older were hospitalized for COVID each year.

“While COVID-19 burden estimates from October 2022 to September 2023 and from October 2023 to September 2024 indicate declines in hospitalizations and deaths compared with earlier years during the COVID-19 pandemic, a substantial burden of COVID-19 disease persisted in the US in this period,” write the authors, adding that the virus “continues to disproportionately affect people 65 years and older whose immunity may wane faster than younger adults.”

More at link: COVID continues to exact heavy toll on older US adults, study suggests

 

[Gemmie]

A large observational study using US healthcare claims and electronic health record data suggests that Moderna’s updated 2024-25 COVID vaccine was 39% effective at preventing medically attended illness among adults and 53% effective against hospitalization, particularly those at high risk for severe disease.

More at link: Moderna COVID vaccine 53% effective against adult hospitalization in 2024-25 season, data suggest

 

[mickey2942]

Cruise hit by brutal outbreak of 'rib-cracking' stomach virus

Dozens of passengers abord a cruise ship have been hit with a outbreak of a 'rib-cracking' virus that leads to violent diarrhea and vomiting. The disease has also surged this winter in the US.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Not Covid, but again, the reason I can't stand the thought of going on a cruise.

 

[killarney rose]

The main reason I’d never go on a cruise.

 

[303gmf]

Can’t imagine being so sick on a ship with thousands of others, what a vacation memory, ick

 

[killarney rose]

Can’t imagine being so sick on a ship with thousands of others, what a vacation memory, ick

I totally agree!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Can’t imagine being so sick on a ship with thousands of others, what a vacation memory, ick

O/T

DH and I have been on two sailings during which a significant number of passengers were stricken with Norovirus. Thankfully, we didn't catch it, but we also spent most of our time in our stateroom watching TV, reading, or playing Scrabble. Ship officials tell guests who have symptoms to stay away from public areas, but, of course, some folks don't want to be told what to do when they are on vacation. They take Tylenol, Imodium, Pepto-Bismol, etc. and think it is alright to be out-and-about even though they have the stomach virus.

On one of our Noro cruises, the ship skipped a port because no one would have been allowed to disembark due to the number of Noro patients. There was a mob scene in the Piazza when passengers learned that they would not be able to visit that port. Port charges for all passengers were refunded, along with shore excursions booked through the cruise line. Those who booked private shore excursions were not so lucky because they usually aren't guaranteed refunds. Didn't matter to us because we had visited the port previously and probably wouldn't have disembarked anyway.

 

[303gmf]

O/T

DH and I have been on two sailings during which a significant number of passengers were stricken with Norovirus. Thankfully, we didn't catch it, but we also spent most of our time in our stateroom watching TV, reading, or playing Scrabble. Ship officials tell guests who have symptoms to stay away from public areas, but, of course, some folks don't want to be told what to do when they are on vacation. They take Tylenol, Imodium, Pepto-Bismol, etc. and think it is alright to be out-and-about even though they have the stomach virus.

On one of our Noro cruises, the ship skipped a port because no one would have been allowed to disembark due to the number of Noro patients. There was a mob scene in the Piazza when passengers learned that they would not be able to visit that port. Port charges for all passengers were refunded, along with shore excursions booked through the cruise line. Those who booked private shore excursions were not so lucky because they usually aren't guaranteed refunds. Didn't matter to us because we had visited the port previously and probably wouldn't have disembarked anyway.

That sounds like an awful way to spend money on a vacation to be holed up in a small room, flying to islands and resorts in Mexico or the Caribbean is much easier and safer