In addition to the annual flu vaccine, new COVID-19 vaccine formulations are now widely available in Minnesota. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone six months of age and older receive the latest COVID-19 vaccine to prevent severe disease, hospitalization, and death.
Vaccination also protects against Long coronavirus, which currently affects more than 7% of adults in Minnesota, according to the latest data.
The latest update on Viral Respiratory Illness in Minnesota released Thursday by the state Department of Health provides the following overview:
COVID-19: Hospitalization rates remain elevated and stable.
Influenza: Hospitalization rates remain low and stable.
RSV: Hospitalization rates remain low and stable.
This is the same update they’ve been using for the past few weeks, but a relevant one. As it has been for the past five weeks, Minnesota’s COVID-19 hospitalization rate is about 5 per 10,000 people, the highest since early February. .
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Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus season is just around the corner, but the number of hospitalizations for each remains near zero, according to Minnesota Department of Health data updated through the week ending Sept. 14.
A quick look at other infectious diseases
Several other diseases that can be transmitted from person to person, many of which are preventable through vaccination, have recently been in the local, national, and international news. Here is a quick summary of the latest statistics from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Syphilis: As of August 20, there were 924 confirmed cases of syphilis in the state. Unless infection rates rebound, Minnesota will likely see fewer cases this year than the past three years, but fewer than in 2019 and 2020.
Data on other public health concerns, such as tobacco use, gun violence, drug abuse, including alcohol and opioids, domestic and sexual violence, and occupational hazards, are less timely. However, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety reports that 334 people have been killed in traffic accidents on Minnesota roads so far this year.
Bird and swine influenza latest information
Another influenza strain present in livestock, known as avian influenza, highly pathogenic avian influenza, and more specifically H5N1, was spreading rapidly this year. Infections have been detected in cows and goats here in Minnesota and across the United States, and a small number of cases have occurred among people working on dairy farms in other states.
According to a report from the Centers for Disease Research and Policy, public health officials are concerned that the H5N1 strain could mutate further and spread from person to person, especially after two health care workers in Missouri became ill after caring for patients. I’m keeping an eye on it to see if it’s there. In H5N1. The patient had no known contact with cattle or other patients with the disease.
The spread of H5N1 among animals appears to be slowing, with the Minnesota Animal Health Commission reporting no new cases in many of the state’s chicken and turkey flocks since July.
The Minnesota Department of Health recently reported that two children were infected with another animal influenza strain, H3N2v, either directly or indirectly through exposure to pigs at the state fair. All cases have recovered, and the agency does not expect further spread of infection.
More on COVID-19: Levels rising in wastewater, deaths rising
New data from the University of Minnesota’s ongoing wastewater monitoring study shows that statewide COVID-19 levels now include the highest levels of the December 2023-January 2024 epidemic. , indicating higher levels than those measured throughout the year. Regionally, the most severe spike is in the northeastern part of the study area. The region appears to be particularly affected by increases at Mora and Central Iron Range processing facilities.
COVID-19 wastewater levels across the state are higher than they have been since April 2023. In the Twin Cities region, levels are now consistent with levels last seen in March 2023 and have risen to February 2023 levels in the Northeast.
The good news is that levels of COVID-19 appear to be declining in the South Central, South East, North West and Central regions surveyed. It’s also worth noting that while wastewater is a leading indicator, COVID-19 hospitalizations have not yet followed suit. Hospitalizations are rising, but in line with levels seen in February of this year and not the much higher peak in late December 2023.
In addition to COVID-19 hospitalization rates “rising and holding steady,” the Minnesota Department of Health reports an increase in deaths due, at least in part, to COVID-19. I am doing it. After being in the single digits through much of June and July, the health department has reported 20 or more deaths in four of the past seven weeks, including preliminary data for the week ending Sept. 14. are included, and may increase further as additional information becomes available. comes in.
Note: For more information, see COVID-19 in Minnesota: Key Data.
