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
A new study (JAMA Health Forum) estimated that, worldwide, the COVID-19 vaccination saved 2.5 MILLIONS of lives, especially in older adults.
On August 27, the FDA approved the updated COVID-19 vaccines for the fall. Two things are noteworthy: there now is a new "version" of the covid shot that will better address the circulating variants (much like there is a new flu shot every year). This time, however, the vaccines are ONLY recommended for people over 65, or younger patients that have underlying medical conditions that make them more vulnerable, and healthy kids (with consultation of the doctor). These regulations are quite a bit more restrictive than in the past.
In addition, the newly-appointed ACIP advisory committee ("Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices") recommended that people over 65 only be vaccinated against COVID-19 "after discussions with their health care provider." So, for the record, if you are over 65 and are my patient: I RECOMMEND YOU GET VACCINATED FOR COVID-19.
America's Health Insurance Plans, however, announced that they would continue current coverage despite the changes announced by ACIP and CDC, at least through the end of 2026.
The wave of increased COVID infections continues, though we have not seen a lot of very sick people and mortality is low. National waste water levels of virus are high. California is in the "very high" stage.
Now, this is interesting: the over-the-counter nose spray "azelastine," which is usually used to treat allergies, may also help in preventing COVID infections! A growing amount of research indicates that azelastine may help prevent a number of viral infections, including influenza, RSV, as well as SARS-Cov-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). People may be able to use this to prevent COVID in themselves, if they are anticipating an exposure to the virus (JAMA Internal Medicine).
You might recall that there have been various reports in the past that indicate that the diabetes drug metformin may be helpful in combatting Covid-19. Well, a new study (Clinical Infectious Diseases) found that metformin may also reduce your risk of developing Long Covid if you are overweight and infected with the virus.
Other Infectious Diseases:
FLU:
We often look to Australia, whose flu season is just now ending, as a predictor of how bad our season will be. Unfortunately, Australia had a severe flu season in 2025. Luckily, the vaccine seemed to be a good match for the circulating virus.
Children (especially) who are infected with influenza can rarely develop a nasty brain infection called "acute necrotizing encephalopathy." Unfortunately, the number of kids with this in the 2024/25 flu season went up - though only 109 children had it in the United States. Vaccination helps protect from this deadly consequence.
I recommend getting the flu shot in October and early November. We do have the flu shot in our office, so you are welcome to stop by and get a shot.
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.
Before the measles vaccine became available in 1963, 3 to 4 million people in the U.S. were infected with measles each year, 48,000 ended up in the hospital, 400-500 died.
At this time, 1,514 people have developed measles in the U.S. in 2025. Recent new cases are related to travel as well as fresh outbreaks in Utah and Arizona.
The new Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended to the CDC that the MMRV vaccine against measles not be given to kids until age 4. This recommendation notwithstanding, the vaccines should continue to be covered by insurance for children as young as 12 months.
Most children who are sick enough to be hospitalized with measles are between 11 months and 3 years old. This is one reason I would not recommend waiting until a child is 5 or older before vaccinating them.
LA county announced that a child had died of a brain infection due to measles infection. This brain infection (known as SSPE, "subacute sclerosing panencephalitis") is most common in kids under 5, and particularly in kids under 2. About one person in 1,400 who contracts measles goes on to have SSPE.
A recent study done in collaboration with Stanford University has found that the United States no longer has enough people vaccinated against infectious diseases such as measles to prevent outbreaks. As noted in the past, there needs to be a "critical mass" of people vaccinated in order to prevent outbreaks. For example, in Mohave County, Arizona there have been 42 confirmed cases of measles. And as of last year, not a single kindergarten school class in the county had enough kids vaccinated to provide a herd immunity for measles.
There is NO scientific evidence that measles vaccines lead to autism, cancer, or heart disease.
OTHER MEDICAL NEWS:
For people who have had colon cancer themselves, taking daily aspirin can cut the likelihood of the cancer coming back by 50% (New England Journal of Medicine).
Exercising muscles produce substances that seem to suppress breast cancer cells (Breast Cancer Research and Treatment). In this study, a single session of exercise, led to increased cancer-fighting molecules in the blood.
As you may imagine, climate change will lead to many changes in our country's (and the world's!) health problems. We have mentioned the increase of mosquito-borne infections in the past. However, predictions published in the journal Nature suggest that wildfire smoke will do the most harm to our health.
The DEA and other federal agencies will be offering thein bi-annual "National Prescription Drug Take Back Day" on October 25, 2025. This allows for people to return unused and unwanted medications from their homes. Please look at their website at:
https://www.dea.gov/takebackday
About Dr. Sujansky's Life in These Times
We just returned from a biking trip in Southern France. My gosh, was that fun! Biking all day through the beautiful French countryside....and eating all those delicious pastries, croissants, and cheese at most every meal. It was perfect! Moreover, we went with a group of friends, so great conversations and camaraderie were the order of the day. And, let me tell you, it was so nice to be distracted by that conversation and camaraderie when I was biking uphill and my legs were feeling tired! Also, who knew that there were so many 1000-year-old churches in every small village, each one more gorgeous than the last!
Fall is here. As much as I love summer, I am also enjoying the changing color of leaves and the slight briskness in the air. Plus, my cup of coffee just tastes better when the weather is a bit cool. Change is good. On to the next adventure!
