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The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today reported positive news regarding the 2023-2024 flu season in the United Kingdom.
As of August 17, 2023, the National Influenza reported for week #32 confirmed from most indicators that influenza activity remained low and stable over the past week.
In week #32 of 2023, influenza positivity rates remained low and stable at 0.5%.
Through primary care surveillance, the influenza-like-illness consultations indicator remained stable and was within the baseline activity level range.
Furthermore, no influenza-confirmed outbreaks were reported in England, and no influenza ICU admissions in week #32.
And emergency department attendance for influenza-like illness remained stable throughout the U.K.
For additional information regarding data, refer to Sources of surveillance data for influenza and other respiratory viruses.
When visiting influenza outbreak areas in 2023, the U.S. CDC says travelers should get vaccinated at least two weeks before departure because it takes times for vaccine immunity to develop after vaccination. Various flu shots are offered at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.
The Broward County Department of Health in Florida recently joined its southern neighbor, Miami-Dade, in issuing a Mosquito-borne Illness Alert.
The bite of an infected mosquito spreads dengue and is not usually present in the greater Ft. Lauderdale area. However, infected travelers have brought the virus back to Florida, primarily in the Miami-Dade Country area.
In 2023, there have been two locally acquired dengue cases in Broward County. Last year, there were two other locally acquired dengue cases.
In total, Florida's Department of Health has reported 215 dengue cases in 2023.
Globally, Dengue outbreaks have been confirmed by numerous countries this year, such as Costa Rica.
Dengue is a vaccine-preventable disease, with two vaccines approved in various countries.
While numerous countries are reporting dengue outbreaks in 2023, one U.S. state continues to confirm new cases.
The Florida Department of Health recently reported additional dengue infections in people through the bite of Aedes species mosquitoes.
As of August 12, 2023, one case of locally acquired dengue was reported this week in Miami-Dade County. In 2023, 11 cases of locally acquired dengue have been reported.
And 14 new dengue cases were reported this week in persons with international travel.
In 2023, 204 travel-associated dengue cases have been reported in Florida. Miami-Dade Country has reported 120 of these dengue cases this year. These travelers primarily came from Cuba and Brazil.
According to the U.S. CDC, 32 jurisdictions have reported a total of 513 dengue cases this year.
Dengue is a vaccine-preventable disease. The U.S. FDA, U.K., and Europe-approved Dengvaxia® (CYD-TDV) is a live attenuated tetravalent chimeric vaccine that requires pre-admission testing.
The Florida Department of Health's RSV Review Activity Summary #32 reported a few counties confirmed increasing detection rates and one outbreak in a pediatric facility in Deval County.
As of August 12, 2023, Florida's overall respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) positivity rate had increased since last week, but emergency room visits had not changed.
In Florida, deaths per 100,000 population for children younger than five was .02 for the 2022-2023 RSV season.
Florida says its RSV season is longer than the rest of the nation and has distinct regional patterns.
From a nationwide perspective, annual community-based outbreaks of RSV typically occur during late fall, winter, and early spring. The U. S. CDC's RSV detection graphs display the 5-week moving average.
RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. According to the CDC, young children and older adults, especially those with certain underlying health conditions, are at higher risk for severe illness from RSV.
A recent Original Investigation supports new RSV preventative interventions, including long-lasting monoclonal antibodies in infants and maternal vaccination.
On July 17, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved Beyfortus™ (Nirsevimab-alip), a long-acting monoclonal RSV-neutralizing antibody, for infants.
The New Zealand Government recently announced it was removing the remaining COVID-19 public health requirements.
Minister of Health Dr. Ayesha Verrall commented in a press release on August 14, 2023, ....While fluctuations from week to week are expected, overall COVID-19 case rates, wastewater levels, and hospitalizations have been trending downwards since the beginning of June 2023. And over the past month, reported COVID-19 cases have hit their lowest levels since February 2022.
.... and it’s safe to remove the final requirements.
COVID-19 cases accounted for 2.2% of recent hospital admissions, and New Zealand has now likely passed the winter influenza peak.
“While our case numbers will continue to fluctuate, we have not seen the dramatic peaks that characterized COVID-19 rates last year,” said Verrall, an infectious diseases doctor and Labour list MP from Wellington.
