/ en Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:46:47 -0500 Tue, 11 Feb 25 16:13:58 -0600 /news/headline/2025-02-11-nevada-confirms-its-first-human-case-bird-flu <p>The Central Nevada Health District yesterday <a href="https://www.centralnevadahd.org/press-release/" title="bird flu">announced</a> the state's first case of H5N1 bird flu, a dairy farm worker who was exposed to infected cattle. The agency said the individual had conjunctivitis and no other symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the risk of bird flu to the public remains low. </p> Tue, 11 Feb 2025 16:13:58 -0600 Flu /news/headline/2025-02-10-cdc-estimates-least-24-million-have-had-seasonal-flu <p>At least 24 million people have had seasonal flu this season, according to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2025-week-05.html">estimates</a>  from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 49,000 patients were admitted to hospitals with the flu for the week ending Feb. 1. Emergency department visits due to the flu remain classified as “very high” and “increasing,” the agency <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data/index.html">said</a>. ED visits for COVID-19 are “low” and “decreasing,” while visits for respiratory syncytial virus are “moderate” and “decreasing.” Overall respiratory illness activity causing people to seek health care is “very high.” </p> Mon, 10 Feb 2025 15:25:35 -0600 Flu /news/headline/2025-01-21-cdc-flu-activity-remains-high-covid-19-increasing-while-rsv-peaks <p>Respiratory illness activity remains high across the country, according to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data/index.html">latest data</a> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seasonal flu activity remains elevated, while cases of COVID-19 are increasing and respiratory syncytial virus activity has peaked. <br> <br>The agency said emergency department visits for the flu and RSV remain high, while COVID-19 hospitalizations are low. Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are low among adults and children, although COVID-19 vaccine coverage among older adults has increased compared to the 2023-2024 season. RSV vaccine rates remain low among adults. </p> Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:08:20 -0600 Flu /news/headline/2025-01-16-cdc-alerts-clinicians-accelerate-type-flu-subtyping-hospitalized-patients <p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today released an <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/han/2025/han00520.html" title="CDC advisory">advisory</a> recommending clinicians expedite subtyping of type A influenza samples from hospitalized patients, particularly individuals in an intensive care unit. The CDC recommends that this subtyping occur as soon as possible following admission — ideally within 24 hours — to determine whether the virus is a seasonal influenza A subtype (i.e. A[H1] and A[H3]) or a novel influenza A virus, such as avian influenza A H5N1. The agency said these efforts can help prevent delays in identifying human H5N1 bird flu infections and support timely infection control and investigation.  </p><p> </p><p>The CDC still considers bird flu a low risk to the public. The agency said while seasonal flu levels are high nationally, nearly all individuals currently hospitalized with type A flu infections are likely experiencing a seasonal strain. </p> Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:34:35 -0600 Flu /news/headline/2025-01-07-louisiana-reports-first-h5n1-bird-flu-death-us <p>The Louisiana Department of Health yesterday <a href="https://ldh.la.gov/news/H5N1-death" target="_blank">announced</a> that a patient hospitalized last month for H5N1 bird flu has died, becoming the first U.S. death from the virus. The agency said the individual contracted the virus after exposure to a combination of a backyard flock and wild birds.  <br> <br>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2025/m0106-h5-birdflu-death.html" target="_blank">said</a> that no person-to-person transmission has been identified. As of Jan. 7, the CDC said, there have been 67 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S. since 2022 and the risk of bird flu to the general public remains low.</p> Tue, 07 Jan 2025 15:00:45 -0600 Flu /news/headline/2025-01-06-latest-united-against-flu-toolkit-urges-vaccination-during-peak-respiratory-virus-season <p>AHA’s latest social media toolkit for encouraging vaccination against the flu and COVID-19 focuses on vaccination during peak respiratory virus season. The January toolkit features messages and social media assets that hospitals and health systems can use on their channels. <a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/01/2025-January-UAF-Digital-Toolkit.pdf"><strong>DOWNLOAD NOW</strong></a></p> Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:53:05 -0600 Flu /news/headline/2024-10-29-ahas-latest-united-against-flu-toolkit-embraces-vaccination-during-heart-fall <p>AHA's latest social media toolkit for encouraging vaccination against the flu and COVID-19 celebrates the changing foliage, Thanksgiving and more. <a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/10/November-2024-UAF-Digital-Toolkit.pdf">Download the toolkit here.</a></p> Tue, 29 Oct 2024 16:24:38 -0500 Flu /news/headline/2024-10-22-cms-releases-final-guidance-hospital-respiratory-data-condition-participation-reporting-requirements <p>The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Oct. 22 released final <a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-25-05-hospitals-cahs.pdf">guidance</a> detailing reporting requirements for the hospital respiratory data condition of participation. Under the new CoP, which takes effect Nov. 1, all Medicare- and Medicaid-participating hospitals and critical access hospitals (other than psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, psychiatric hospital distinct part units and rehabilitation hospital distinct part units) will electronically submit certain COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on a weekly basis. CMS will evaluate compliance using monthly reports generated by the CDC. Psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, psychiatric hospital distinct part units and rehabilitation hospital distinct part units will report once, annually, beginning in January. AHA will share additional information with members in an upcoming Special Bulletin.<br> </p> Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:42:48 -0500 Flu /news/headline/2024-10-22-four-washington-farm-workers-suspected-have-bird-flu <p>Four workers at a commercial egg farm in Washington tested presumptively positive for H5N1 bird flu, the Washington State Department of Health <a href="https://doh.wa.gov/newsroom/first-presumed-human-infections-avian-influenza-under-investigation-washington-state">announced</a> Oct. 20. These are the first presumed human cases in the state. The individuals experienced mild symptoms and Benton-Franklin Health District officials have forwarded test samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for final confirmation and analysis. Washington is the sixth state with human H5N1 infection, which has caused outbreaks in poultry, dairy cattle and wildlife. The CDC considers the risk of H5N1 bird flu to the general public to be low.</p> Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:15:45 -0500 Flu /news/headline/2024-10-18-cdc-reminds-hospital-and-health-system-workers-protect-themselves-patients-during-respiratory-virus <p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reminding clinicians and other health care workers to take necessary steps to keep themselves and their patients safe during respiratory virus season. The agency is <a href="https://blogs.cdc.gov/safehealthcare/hcw-vaccination-respiratory-virus-season-2024/">urging</a> workers to get COVID-19 and flu vaccinations and to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data/index.html">monitor</a> respiratory illness activity in their communities. The CDC is also <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/hcp/child.html">recommending</a> workers offer nirsevimab to prevent severe respiratory syncytial virus for all infants under eight months of age or those eight to 19 months with certain risk factors.</p> Fri, 18 Oct 2024 16:03:53 -0500 Flu