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.

At this time, the new guidelines recommend vaccinating for COVID in the spring.
The CDC released data showing that "COVID vaccine administered last fall sharply decreased the risk of emergency department and urgent care visits in children." (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report). The risk decreased by 76% in kinds under age 4, and by 56% for kids aged 5 to 17.
Covid cases nationwide are increasing, though we have not noted this trend in Northern and Central California (yet).

The U.S. is seeing a sharp increase of flu cases now, thought to be brought on by a new flu virus strain "H3N2." The holidays and associated holiday travel likely contributed to this uptick. This increase in numbers is likely not to improve until mid February. At this time, the CDC estimates that "there have been at least 4.6 million flu-related illnesses, at least 49,000 hospitalizations, and 1,900 deaths" during the current flu season. And, unfortunately, we are seeing much more flu in the Bay Area in recent weeks.
The United Kingdom is also seeing a lot of flu activity, with people between the ages of 5 and 24 being most affected. Hospitalizations have doubled in the last week and are setting new records.
Luckily, there are some signs that the flu outbreak may be declining already. It is too early to say for sure, so stay tuned.
Kids are particularly hard hit: the number of children and teenagers hospitalized with influenza this season is the second highest in 15 years.
Although the current flu vaccines was not formulated to include the new strain H3N2, it should still lessen the severity of influenza if you do get it.

A recent study found that Pfizer's RSV vaccine is more than 90% effective in older adults in preventing the disease (Clinical Infectious Diseases).
Unfortunately, it seems like RSV infections throughout the country (and also in our neighborhood) are increasing.

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.
There is NO scientific evidence that measles vaccines lead to autism, cancer, or heart disease.
We are continuing to see more measles in the U.S. There were over 2000 recorded cases in 2025, which is the highest level in over 30 years. In 2024, the U.S. had only 285 cases. Of those who were sickened by the disease, 93% were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. California had only 25 cases overall.
South Carolina currently has one of the worst outbreaks in the nation and has sickened over 434 people, an increase of 124 cases in the last week alone.
Two recent studies (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) show that wastewater testing can predict measles outbreaks days to months before they occur. This could allow health officials to anticipate cases and make sure unvaccinated people receive last-minute protective vaccinations. Unfortunately, this national wastewater surveillance system is threated by budget cuts...

On December 30, CMS issued a letter that removed the reporting requirement for four major pediatric and prenatal immunizations. This makes it much more difficult to see if a community has adequate "herd immunity" to protect those babies that are not yet vaccinated for certain diseases or those people who can't be vaccinated for medical reasons.
A new study published in the Cochrane Database to Systemic Reviews found that exercise was just as helpful in treating depression as therapy or medications are....now, I'm NOT recommending anyone stop therapy or stop their medications, but I will urge everyone with symptoms of depression to crank up their exercise...to whatever extent they can!