Latest news with #MaryKekatos
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctors' visits for flu continuing to reach record levels: CDC
The rate of Americans visiting doctors' offices for flu-like illness continues to reach record levels, new federal data published on Friday shows. Nearly 8% of outpatient visits for respiratory illness during the week ending Feb. 8 were for flu-like illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This continues to be the highest level seen since at least 2009, during the swine flu pandemic. MORE: Doctors' visits for flu highest in 15 years, most since swine flu pandemic: CDC During the same week, 7.9% of emergency department visits were due to flu compared with 3.2% the same time last year, according to the CDC data. About 31.6% of tests came back positive for flu during the week ending Feb. 8, compared to a peak of 18.2% last season, the data showed. Data also showed that flu deaths continue to surpass COVID deaths, which occurred last week for the first time since the pandemic started. The CDC estimates there have been at least 29 million illnesses, 370,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths from flu so far this season At least 68 pediatric flu deaths have been reported so far, with 11 reported the week ending Feb. 8. It comes as overall respiratory illness activity is listed as "high" nationwide; CDC data shows. As of Friday, 12 states are listed as having "very high" levels of respiratory virus activity and 20 states are listed as "high." The remaining states are listed as having "moderate" or "low" levels. MORE: Doctors' visits for flu highest in 15 years, most since swine flu pandemic: CDC February has historically been the month where flu season peaks most often, with experts saying elevated activity will likely continue in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, although COVID-19 activity is "elevated" in many areas of the U.S., CDC data shows emergency department visits are at low levels and the number of laboratory tests coming back positive is stable. Respiratory syncytial virus activity was also described as "elevated" but declining in most areas of the U.S., according to the CDC. Public health experts have recommended children and adults receive the flu and COVID vaccine as well as older adults receive the RSV vaccine, but coverage is "low," according to the CDC. As of Feb 1, only 45% of adults were vaccinated against the flu and 22.6% were vaccinated with the updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, just 46% of adults ages 75 and older have received the RSV vaccine, according to CDC data. Nearly half of all children are vaccinated against the flu at 45.7%, but just 11.9% have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine. ABC News' Mary Kekatos contributed to this report. Doctors' visits for flu continuing to reach record levels: CDC originally appeared on
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Egg prices may increase up to 20% as top farm tests positive for bird flu: USDA
One of the nation's top egg producers confirmed that one of its farms tested positive for cases of bird flu over the weekend, the company said. Rose Acres Farms, which claims to be the second-largest egg producer in the United States, released a statement on Tuesday saying that it had detected cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at Cort Acre Egg Farm in Seymour, Indiana. With farms across the U.S. testing positive for bird flu cases, the USDA predicts that egg prices will rise up to 20% this year due to a shortage of eggs. Poultry found to be sick with avian flu need to be culled, and their eggs also need to be destroyed. MORE: Long Island farm forced to euthanize more than 100,000 ducks after bird flu detected "We are working with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health and the state veterinarian on best practices to combat the risk of spreading AI to other birds," the Rose Acres Farms statement said. "We are continuing to monitor all of our facilities." It explained that the risk to other birds, including migratory waterfowl, backyard poultry and commercial poultry, is high; however, "the risk to people remains low." The family-owned company also said the Indiana State Board of Animal Health is monitoring the current situation, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture is monitoring animal infections and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is monitoring human infections. Rose Acres Farms stated on the company's website that it "is committed to producing high-quality eggs and egg products and leading the way in animal stewardship." American Egg Board President and CEO Emily Metz said on Tuesday that the nation's egg farmers continue the fight against bird flu. She said in her statement that "volume sales of eggs at retail value have been up year-over-year for 22 consecutive four-week periods." The current threat is impacted by two factors, the statement explained: avian flu showing up in dairy cattle and changes in migratory bird patterns due to extreme climate events. MORE: What 3rd case of bird flu with unknown source of infection could mean in fight against disease Bird flu, or avian influenza, has been detected in poultry and dairy cows in the U.S. There have also been a few human cases, which have primarily been observed among poultry and dairy workers. Human cases have been diagnosed across the country since April 2024, with 67 confirmed in 10 states as of Monday, according to the CDC. Most human cases have been mild, and patients fully recovered. One death has been reported: a Louisiana resident over the age of 65 who had underlying medical conditions. The CDC and other public health officials say there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission, and the risk to the general public is low. ABC News' Mary Kekatos contributed to this report. Egg prices may increase up to 20% as top farm tests positive for bird flu: USDA originally appeared on
