Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

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News Scan for Jan 05, 2021

High antibiotic prescribing rates found in COVID-19 patients

A rapid review and meta-analysis of studies involving more than 35,000 COVID-19 patients has found that three-quarters received antibiotics even though fewer than 10% had a bacterial co-infection, Canadian researchers reported today in Clinical Microbiology and Infection.

  • Antibiotic use in COVID patients
  • COVID vs flu excess deaths
  • COVID-19 in jails
  • Gun ownership in pandemic
  • Avian flu in Asia, Europe

News Scan for Jan 04, 2021

CDC study finds sharp drop in outpatient antibiotics in first half of 2020

A new study by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a substantial decrease in the number of outpatients who received antibiotic prescriptions during the first 5 months of 2020 compared with previous years.

  • Outpatient antibiotic prescribing decrease
  • Polio in 4 countries
  • Avian flu outbreaks

News Scan for Dec 29, 2020

Age, race, income linked to rates of telehealth visits in COVID pandemic

Older people, Asians, and those with Medicaid coverage and preference for a non-English language at one US hospital system had fewer completed telemedicine visits than their peers during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study of patients scheduled for primary care or specialty telehealth visits at the University of Pennsylvania.

  • Telehealth uptake during COVID
  • Valley fever costs
  • More H5N8 avian flu in poultry

Flu Scan for Dec 28, 2020

Researchers find last year's flu vaccine 39% effective

Leading US viral researchers assessed flu vaccine effectiveness (VE) against two viral strains during the 2019-20 flu season, finding 39% overall effectiveness. The study in Clinical Infectious Diseases late last week suggests that the seasonal flu vaccine was 45% effective against a mutated Victoria lineage B strain, but only 30% effective against 2009 H1N1 variants due to a late-season vaccine mismatch.

  • Flu vaccine effectiveness
  • Avian flu outbreaks overseas

News Scan for Dec 23, 2020

Study finds 12.6% mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients

A multistate analysis of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the American Journal of Epidemiology yesterday found that 12.6% of patients died, with blacks especially hard hit.

  • COVID-19 hospital outcomes
  • Leafy greens E coli probe ends
  • Avian flu in Europe, Japan

News Scan for Dec 21, 2020

Investigations into 2 E coli outbreaks end with sources still unknown

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ended two separate Escherichia coli O157:H7 investigations on Dec 18. Neither of the outbreaks had a definitive source, although one triggered a food recall on a single brand of romaine lettuce.

  • CDC ends 2 E coli probes
  • H1N2v flu in Brazil
  • H5N6 avian flu case in China
  • Sexually transmitted infection plan

News Scan for Dec 17, 2020

Physical proximity may increase COVID-19 risk for poultry plant workers

A study published today in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) highlights factors that may increase the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, among US poultry facility workers—especially those who are foreign-born.

  • Poultry worker COVID-19 risk
  • No need to delay COVID tracheostomy
  • US waterborne diseases
  • More monkeypox-smallpox vaccine stocked
  • H5N6 avian flu case in China

News Scan for Dec 15, 2020

First CWD case in wild deer in Ohio triggers mandatory sampling

A sample from a white-tailed deer in Wyandot County, Ohio, tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD) Dec 10, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) yesterday, the first in a wild deer in the state.

  • First Ohio CWD case in wild deer
  • Racial disparities in kids' sepsis
  • Avian flu in 3 nations

News Scan for Dec 14, 2020

CDC details costs for school COVID-19 mitigation

Data published late last week in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) detailed public school costs for recommended COVID-19 mitigation strategies, which averaged $442 per student but varied widely.

  • School COVID-19 costs
  • CWD in Montana wildlife
  • Avian flu outbreaks

News Scan for Dec 11, 2020

CDC reports first pediatric flu death of the new flu season

Though flu activity in the United States remains well below expected levels for this time of year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today reported the first pediatric flu death of the 2020-21 season, a child who died from influenza B.

  • US pediatric flu death
  • Polio in 4 countries
  • More avian flu in Europe

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