Update on Infectious Disease Threats: What You Need to Know
Information about various infectious diseases is constantly evolving. I am hoping to summarize some of that in these newsletters. New information will be in BOLD!
GENERAL:
COVID-19
General Information
Moderna has developed a new mRNA-based vaccine that combines the flu with the covid vaccination. And it seems that getting both vaccines in one leads to an improved immune response to both COVID-19 and influenza (JAMA)! We will have to wait until 2026 for the FDA to approve this vaccine, however, so you will need to get both shots individually this coming flu season. :(
LONG COVID:
Children vaccinated against COVID-19 had less than 50% likelihood of developing Long COVID, compared to unvaccinated kids; and vaccinated kids were 75% less likely to have a bad case of Long COVID, which include symptoms that affect daily functioning (JAMA Network Open).
Other Infectious Diseases:
Norovirus:
Norovirus is an extremely contagious virus that causes severe diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
Alcohol hand sanitizer does NOT kill the norovirus....but good old-fashioned soap and water does!
Since January 1, 2025, 16 cruise ship outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses have been reported and at least 12 of these were due to norovirus. In all of 2024, there were 18 outbreaks (15 with norovirus).
RSV:
I have written in the past about RSV ("Respiratory Syncytial Virus") that causes flu-like symptoms and pneumonia in the very young as well as the elderly.
Luckily, RSV rates continue to decline in our neck of the woods.
AVIAN FLU:
AKA "Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza" or HPAI (or " H5N1").
Bird flu has become the most recent concerning virus that could lead to an epidemic. The disease can lead to a pneumonia, neurological problems, and conjunctivitis. It has largely been found in animals such as cows, wild birds, and marine mammals, but has spread to many mammals at this point.
A child in Vietnam recently suffered from a brain infection caused by the bird flu.
There is a real reason to believe that Avian Flu can be transmitted via pasteurized milk. I strongly recommend you drink only pasteurized milk to avoid not only Avian Flu, but also E. Coli, Salmonella, Brucella, and a couple of other nasty bugs. This is important as some states (like Iowa) may soon allow wide access to unpasteurized milk. Also, the FDA has suspended milk quality testing, which could increase the incidence of all of these infections via improperly pasteurized milk.
FLU:
HHS is trying to develop a new "universal" type of flu vaccine that would protect against multiple strains (including Avian Flu). This vaccine would be available in 2029
Over 200 children died in this last year's flu season. This is the highest number since the swine flu 15 years ago. Overall, 26,000 people have died of the flu this season.
MEASLES:
Measles is a highly contagious disease. Every person sick with measles can transmit the virus to 12-16 unvaccinated people. Just standing next to someone with measles (as in an international airport) can be enough to get you sick.
Measles was thought to have been eradicated in the U.S. in 2000. Unfortunately, vaccination rates have since fallen, leaving communities very vulnerable to the highly infectious disease. Last year, there were 285 cases of measles reported in the U.S.
Complications associated with measles include pneumonia, brain infections, vulnerability to future infections of multiple kinds, hearing loss, and pregnancy complications.
The death rates associated with measles is usually 2 per 1000.
Currently, the measles outbreak is growing in Texas and New Mexico, where vaccination rates were lower than recommended. At this time, there are over 1000 people who are known to be infected nationwide (over 700 in Texas alone). 13% of people with known measles have been hospitalized. Children less than 5 with measles have a hospitalization rate of 23%. Three people (including 2 otherwise healthy children) have died. Almost all of the cases were in people who were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. In addition, it is likely that an additional hundreds (thousands?)of people are infected but were not officially diagnosed. Most cases are in children aged 5 to 17.
At this time, the U.S. may be having the worst measles outbreak "in the millennium" and the WHO may remove the U.S. from the list of countries in which measles has been eliminated.
Unfortunately, we are seeing a surge in measles in Mexico and Canada as well. Overall, there have been over 2,500 known cases in North America.
Infectious Disease experts are increasingly concerned that measles may again become rooted in the U.S. due to ongoing low vaccination rates (JAMA). This could lead to millions of new cases in the next 25 years. Even a small increase in vaccination rates could prevent such a dire outcome.
As mentioned previously, all adults born after 1957 (who have also been vaccinated for measles as children) should get a one-time measles booster as an adult.
There is NO scientific evidence that measles vaccines lead to autism, cancer, or heart disease.
Whooping Cough
Whooping cough (aka pertussis) cases have risen drastically since the beginning of the year. 6,600 people have been infected from January through mid April - more than 4-times the number of ill people compared to the same time period last year. The rising cases are attributed, like in the measles outbreak, to fewer people getting vaccinated.
Whooping cough is also known as "100-day cough."
Most infections are transmitted by school-aged children and adults. Infants, however, are the most likely to die of the disease.
OTHER MEDICAL NEWS:
Let's talk microplastics: Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that measure between 1 nanometer and 5 millimeters. They have been found in every part of our environment, including the deepest part of the ocean. We absorb them in the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breathe. There is no "safe" amount of microplastics (New England Journal of Medicine) and they are associated with a myriad of diseases including heart disease, and metabolic diseases. Common chemicals used in plastics, "phthalates" have been associated in the past with metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. They are considered "endocrine disruptors" as they change the way our bodies' hormones work. Phthalates are found in things like shampoos and lotions, as well as packaging and food containers. A more recent study (eBioMedicine) found that phthalates may also increase your risk of heart disease. What can you do? It depends on how far you want to go. But do try to minimize food exposure to plastics (use glass containers instead) and don't microwave any foods in plastic containers if you can help it. Also, try to avoid water bottled in plastic containers.
About Dr. Sujansky's Life in These Times
We were lucky enough to see two Shakespeare plays in the last month, each of which being unique and fascinating: the first was a rendition of Hamlet where a single actor played all of the parts. No props, no scenery, no costumes. And yet the actor was so good that we could completely follow the plot and understand who was speaking. Great fun!
Then, we saw Macbeth at Fort Point: Fort Point is that civil war-era fort at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. Let me tell you, in the evening cool, the sounds and wind made it a very believable stand-in for a Scottish castle. Amazing!
So glad we live where we live (despite the crazy living expenses) so we can take advantage of these kinds of offerings!
