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Since influenza is an airborne virus, efforts to avoid catching the flu depend on your proximity to an infectious (sneezing) person. While this logic is simple to say, what reports can a person trust to make virus avoidance decisions in 2023? 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Influenza Update N° 436, most countries of North America indicate influenza activity decreased while others were stable or continued to increase.

The WHO finding was supported by the recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report issued on January 13, 2023, that stated seasonal influenza activity continues but is declining in most areas, with specimens testing positive for influenza in clinical laboratories decreasing in all regions. 

Elsewhere around the globe, the WHO reported:

In Europe, overall influenza activity continued to increase, with influenza positivity from sentinel sites remaining above the epidemic threshold at the regional level.

In central Asia, influenza activity increased with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses predominant, followed by influenza B viruses.

In Northern Africa, influenza detections increased among reporting countries with all seasonal subtypes detected. And influenza activity remained low in tropical Africa, with detections of all seasonal influenza subtypes reported. However, activity increased in some countries in Eastern Africa.

In Western Asia, influenza activity decreased overall with all seasonal influenza subtypes detected, though increased activity was reported in some countries.

In East Asia, influenza activity of predominantly influenza A(H3N2) viruses remained low overall among reporting countries but with increases reported in Mongolia and the Republic of Korea. 

In the Caribbean and Central American countries, influenza activity of predominantly influenza A(H3N2) viruses decreased overall but remained elevated in Mexico.

In the tropical countries of South America, influenza detections were generally low. However, influenza positivity was at a moderate level in Ecuador.

In the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere, influenza activity decreased in Argentina and Chile to low levels and remained low elsewhere.

In Southern Asia, influenza activity remained low, mainly due to decreased activity reported in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In South-East Asia, detections of predominantly influenza B remained elevated due to continued detections reported in Malaysia.

Before visiting these areas, the CDC suggests speaking with a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to ensure you are appropriately protected from influenza. 

In the U.S., access to flu shots remains abundant, as over 157 million vaccines have already been distributed and are generally available at most clinics and pharmacies.

Each year, the American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates the number of new cancer cases and related fatalities in the United States (U.S.). Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease. 

On January 12, 2022, the ACS published a study with good news regarding cervical cancer.

This new ACS study highlights a 65% decrease in cervical cancer incidence from 2012 through 2019 among women in their early 20s.

This is the first cohort to receive the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) early in life, which foreshadows steep reductions in the burden of cancer.

This is essential news since there were 12,795 new cases of cervical cancer reported among women, and 4,152 women died of this cancer n 2019.

Surprisingly, cervical cancer herd immunity has also been identified in the U.S. based on data from the National Health Examination Survey from 2003 through 2018.

This data shows reductions in HPV-16 and HPV-18 infection among sexually active females aged 14–24 years, of 90% among those vaccinated and 74% among those unvaccinated.

Sweden was the first to report a population-level reduction in invasive cervical cancer incidence of 78% among women vaccinated before the age of 17 in 2020.

Shortly after that, an 87% reduction in cervical cancer and a 97% reduction in grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was demonstrated among women aged 20–29 years who were vaccinated at ages 12 to 13 years in England.

Although up-to-date (three-dose) HPV vaccination coverage in the U.S. has lagged behind other countries, accumulating evidence suggests that a single dose offers substantial protection and may even be preferable in low-income, high-burden populations.

In April 2022, the World Health Organization's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization endorsed single-dose vaccination among girls aged 9–14 to address the global shortfall and optimize cancer prevention.

In 2021, 79% of adolescent girls in the United States had received at least one dose, and 64% were fully up to date.

HPV vaccines are generally available at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

Earlier today, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke to the director of China’s National Health Commission, Minister Ma Xiaowei.

The WHO confirmed in a media statement on January 14, 2023; it appreciates this telephonic meeting and the public release of information about the pandemic in the country.

Chinese officials provided information to WHO and in a press conference on various topics, including outpatient clinics, hospitalizations, patients requiring emergency treatment and critical care, and hospital deaths related to COVID-19 infection.   

WHO is analyzing this information, which covers early December 2022 to January 12, 2023, and allows for a better understanding of the epidemiological situation and the impact of this wave in China.

The overall epidemiology—reflecting a rapid and intense wave of disease caused by known sub-variants of Omicron with higher clinical impact on older people and those with underlying conditions—is similar to waves of infection experienced by other countries, as is the increased pressure on health services.

Nevertheless, the reported data indicate a decline in case numbers, hospitalizations, and those requiring critical care.

The WHO has requested a more detailed breakdown of data by province over time.   

While the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has earlier reported that Omicron sublineages BA.5.2 and BF.7 are currently circulating, WHO continues to ask that other sequences be shared with open access databases such as GISAID for deeper phylogenetic analyses and continued collaboration with technical groups working on virus evolution, clinical care, and beyond.

The WHO stated it would continue to work with China, providing technical advice and support and analyzing the situation. 

Note: The unedited, complete media statement is available at this WHO link.

The World Health Organization (WHO) today called on countries to take urgent measures against measles outbreaks which are on the rise, with nearly nine million children having missed vaccination against the killer disease in the last two years.

Measles outbreaks are declared when the number of cases reported in an area is higher than expected.

"The strong political commitment, determination, focused and concerted efforts, and community support that marked our efforts for polio elimination are now urgently needed to stop and prevent measles outbreaks and accelerate efforts to eliminate the disease," said Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, in a media release on January 13, 2023.

Measles and rubella elimination is a flagship priority program of the WHO South-East Asia Region. Both are vaccine-preventable.

Between 2014 and 2021, the Region recorded a 73% reduction in measles deaths and a 64% reduction in measles cases.

Five of the 11 countries in the South-East Asia Region – Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste - have eliminated measles, and two countries - Maldives and Sri Lanka - have eliminated rubella as well.

In addition, governments have been administering two doses of measles vaccines as part of their childhood immunization program, and some are rolling out mass vaccination campaigns.

However, as the pandemic arrived, measles vaccination coverage, which had reached an all-time high of 94% coverage for the first dose and 83% coverage for the second dose by 2019, declined to 86% and 78%, respectively, in 2021.

This inaction left about nine million children unvaccinated for measles.

And around 5.3 million children are partially vaccinated against this highly infectious disease.

"The decline in vaccine coverage, and interruptions and delays in immunization and surveillance activities due to the pandemic, leaves the Region susceptible to large outbreaks and off track for the 2023 target of measles and rubella elimination," the Regional Director added.

"All countries have been taking several initiatives to revive and resume childhood immunization coverage and surveillance activities that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic," Dr. Khetrapal Singh concluded.

The U.S. CDC says measles is highly contagious, with about 90% of people who are not protected will become following infected exposure to the measles virus. 

The CDC's Top 10 Measles Outbreak Country list was updated on January 13, 2023.

International travelers can check CDC's Travel Health Notices to search for measles or other issues that may affect travelers' health. During 2022, the CDC issued various measles-related travel alerts.