Search

US respiratory virus infections rise, led by flu

… very high levels in 42 states. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Influenza, General … much of the nation, with the largest spikes seen for flu. COVID-19 levels continue to climb from low levels, and … and RSV are very high, with the steepest rise for flu. For COVID, ED visits are highest among young children and older …
Lisa Schnirring
woman in waiting room

CDC: Respiratory illness activity high nationally

… from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19, seasonal influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus … activity continue to increase across the country, with COVID wastewater detections reaching high levels.   COVID-19 is still causing a low number of people to seek …
Stephanie Soucheray
E
179

Episode 179: Remembering Darkness, Sharing Light: Five Years Later

In "Remembering Darkness, Sharing Light: Five Years Later" Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic's 5-year anniversary, examine the latest federal actions affecting public health, and provide an update on the measles outbreak in Texas. Dr. Osterholm also answers an ID query on the current recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines and reviews national trends in respiratory illnesses.

MORE EPISODES      

SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

March 20, 2025

Survey finds 8% Omicron-positivity rate after medical meeting

… was significantly associated with testing negative for COVID-19, while private lodging in Berlin was tied to a … rate than hotel accommodations. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Mary Van Beusekom, MS Body Of attendees at … a survey 3 weeks later, 8% reported testing positive for COVID-19, according to a research letter published yesterday …
Mary Van Beusekom
Conference attendees networking

Excess death rates due to pandemic persisted in Western countries

… been criticized for implying a direct causal link between COVID-19 vaccination and mortality, though the study assessed … ______________________________________________ New COVID-19 excess death rate estimates from 47 countries show … for three consecutive years, despite the implementation of COVID-19 containment measures and COVID-19 vaccines. This is …
Stephanie Soucheray

Flu continues to ebb in US as pediatric deaths reach 198

… 5 were caused by the H1N1 strain, and 3 were H3N2. COVID-19, RSV levels remain low Meanwhile, COVID-19 levels, already low, continue to ebb, according to … The percentage of overall deaths that were caused by COVID last week stayed steady, at 0.7%, a bit higher than the …
Jim Wappes
E
141

Episode 141: One Huge Puzzle

In "One Huge Puzzle," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the state of the pandemic in the U.S. and around the world, the rollout of the updated mRNA vaccines, and two recently published studies on long COVID. Dr. Osterholm also shares his thoughts on the updated Novavax vaccine and answers an ID Query about COVID vaccine side effects. 

    A one-way ticket. A cash-stuffed teddy bear. A dream decades in the making. (Carolyn Johnson, Washington Post)
    A scientific hunch. Then silence. Until the world needed a lifesaving vaccine. (Carolyn Johnson, Washington Post)
    ‘A deadly societal force’: A Q&A with author Dr. Peter Hotez on the anti-science movement. (Mary Van Beusekom, CIDRAP News)
    Do you ‘matter’ to others? The answer could predict your mental health. (Francine Russo, Scientific American)
October 5, 2023

US respiratory virus levels remain high as flu rises in central states

… image Teaser text Flu is rising in central states, and COVID levels are highest but on the decline in southern states. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Influenza, General Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) … regions of the country and indicators declining for both COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the Centers …
Lisa Schnirring
sick man in bed

WHO elevates XBB.1.16 to variant of interest as levels rise in US and other countries

… and immune escape properties. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Lisa Schnirring Body The World Health … shows growth advantage, immune escape In its weekly COVID update , the WHO said XBB.1.16 is now the second VOI, … hot spots in South East Asia and Middle East Regarding COVID trends, the WHO in its weekly report said overall cases …
Lisa Schnirring
Orange SARS-CoV-2

Post-infection immunity may wane faster after SARS-CoV-2 Omicron than after previous strains

… compared with 54% for Omicron. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Mary Van Beusekom, MS Body Infection with the … dominant strains such as Alpha, Beta, and Delta. COVID-positive people were matched with COVID-negative controls in a 1:2 ratio by sex, age-group, …
Mary Van Beusekom
Omicron variant

Vaccine refusal linked to mistrust in health authorities

… late 2021 and early 2022, Hong Kong had one of the lowest COVID-19 prevalence rates across the globe. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Stephanie Soucheray, MA Body Refusal of COVID-19 vaccines has been a feature of the pandemic since …
Stephanie Soucheray
hk vax

Healthcare workers' depression increased in second year of pandemic

… rate rose to 22% by spring 2021. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Stephanie Soucheray, MA Body A study today of … a prospective cohort study evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of HCWs in 26 … women), 22% had moderate to severe depression. Stress, COVID care, patient death tied to depression "This change was …
Stephanie Soucheray
distressed surgeon
E
133

Episode 133: No Simple Answers

In this episode, Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss national and international COVID trends, a study on metformin and long COVID incidence, and the use of N95 respirators for protection against wildfire smoke. Dr. Osterholm also answers a COVID query on booster doses and shares a moment of joy from one of our listeners.

    Outpatient treatment of COVID-19 and incidence of post-COVID-19 condition over 10 months (COVID-OUT): a multicentre, randomised, quadruple-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 trial (Bramante et al., Lancet Infectious Disease)
    Support this podcast and our podcast team!
June 15, 2023

Insulin shortages have plagued Iran for months

… over not only advocating for insulin but also over COVID-19 concerns. Sanctions, smuggling, corruption While …
Lianna Matt McLernon | News Writer | CIDRAP News
Insulin bottle and syringes

Paxlovid protects against hospital care, death, especially in older patients, data show

… Medicine that looked at outcomes of 703,647 patients with COVID-19 seen at 34 US clinics in 2022 and 2023 found that … from Paxlovid when administered within 5 days of COVID-19 infection confirmation, the authors said. But … White patients.   The study was based on the National COVID Cohort Collaborative’s (N3C) electronic health record …
Stephanie Soucheray

Flu levels in US continue to decline, but more kids' deaths confirmed

… influenza A and two from influenza B. Low levels of flu, COVID, RSV in wastewater Meanwhile, COVID-19 levels also continue to decline from already low … the South. The rate of overall deaths that were caused by COVID last week was 0.8% (down slightly from 0.9%), similar …
Jim Wappes

CDC urges people to get respiratory disease vaccines, notes MIS-C rise in kids

… of an urgent need to increase vaccine coverage for flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Influenza Vaccines Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) … of an urgent need to increase vaccine coverage for flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) against a …
Lisa Schnirring
Girl in hospital getting respiratory support

Study suggests vaccination plays role in making Omicron waves less severe

… less severe Teaser image Teaser text More than 1 million COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Hong Kong when Omicron swept … largely immune-naïve population. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Stephanie Soucheray, MA Body A new analysis … was largely successful in suppressing mass infection with COVID-19. By the end of 2021, only 1% of the Hong Kong …
Stephanie Soucheray
COVID patient

Respiratory infections show post-Thanksgiving bump

… flu activity causing decade-high hospitalization rates, COVID-19 markers are also climbing. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Influenza, General Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) … flu activity causing decade-high hospitalization rates, COVID-19 markers are also rising following the Thanksgiving …
Lisa Schnirring
Vaccine vial and syringe

US respiratory illness levels still high but showing some signs of reprieve

… again after the holiday period. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Influenza, General Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) … levels, showed declines. In its latest updates for COVID-19 , flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the … the winter holidays have slowed, with decreases noted for COVID-19 and continuing declines in RSV activity in some …
Lisa Schnirring
sick boy snow

'A failure of border control': Restrictions didn't stop SARS-CoV-2 from flying to UK

… for SARS-CoV-2 genetic material. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Mary Van Beusekom, MS Body SARS-CoV-2 genetic … international airports in the United Kingdom, despite COVID-19 travel restrictions in place during that time, … with requirements to wear a mask and show a negative COVID-19 test before departure, which were lifted in England …
Mary Van Beusekom
Airplane toilet

Celebrity tweets swayed US public opinion toward pandemic efforts, study suggests

… negative US public attitudes toward efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published this week … researchers analyzed the sentiments of more than 45,000 COVID-related tweets from 34,000 unique users from January to … Trump, Ted Cruz, and Ron DeSantis. Messages downplayed COVID risks While sentiments varied slightly, the researchers …
Mary Van Beusekom

US cancer screenings slow to recover from initial pandemic dip

… slow to recover from initial pandemic dip Body As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in the United States in February … as many healthcare facilities dealt with surges of COVID-19 patients, and patients in general avoided elective … Interference with cancer screening by periodic surges in COVID-19 infections is a continuing problem. Low income and …
Mary Van Beusekom

Few Americans concerned about upcoming respiratory virus season

… disease topics Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) COVID-19 Influenza Vaccines Influenza, General Byline … said less than 1 in 5 Americans are concerned about flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as the nation … viral season.   Furthermore, despite a summer surge in COVID activity and last year’s 199 pediatric flu deaths, only …
Stephanie Soucheray
flu shot
E
162

Episode 162: Class is Not Dismissed

In "Class is Not Dismissed," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall review the latest trends in COVID-19 and discuss new human cases of H5N1 influenza. Dr. Osterholm also answers an ID Query on Paxlovid eligibility and shares his perspective on timing the next dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Risk of long COVID has ebbed during pandemic, mostly thanks to vaccines, new data reveal (CIDRAP News)

How a hotel convention became ground zero for this deadly bacteria (PBS News)

MORE EPISODES      

SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

July 25, 2024

Our underwriters