Latest news with #NNDSS
Medscape
23-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
2019 Valley Fever Cases Exceeded Official Numbers
TOPLINE: Coccidioidomycosis, or valley fever, constituted a considerable public health burden, with surveillance data capturing only a fraction of actual cases. In 2019, the true annual incidence was approximately 10-18 times higher than reported cases, totaling an estimated 273,000 cases and 900 coccidioidomycosis-related deaths nationwide. METHODOLOGY: Researchers assessed the annual burden of symptomatic coccidioidomycosis in the US using data reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, as inputs for their models. The analysis used multipliers from US public health surveillance that accounted for healthcare-seeking behavior, underdiagnosis, underreporting, and in-hospital mortality, based on literature review and expert opinion. Regional estimates were generated by categorizing states as high-endemic states (Arizona and California), low-endemic states (Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Washington), or states with unknown endemicity (all other states and Washington, DC). TAKEAWAY: An estimated 273,000 incident symptomatic coccidioidomycosis cases (95% credible interval [CrI], 206,000-360,000) occurred in 2019, with high-endemic states accounting for 125,000 cases (95% CrI, 94,000-165,000). The national incidence was calculated as 83 cases per 100,000 people (95% CrI, 63-110), with regional rates of 267 per 100,000 in high-endemic states, 102 per 100,000 in low-endemic states, and 44 per 100,000 in states with unknown endemicity. An estimated 23,000 coccidioidomycosis-associated hospitalizations (95% CrI, 18,000-28,000) occurred nationwide, with high-endemic states accounting for 12,000 cases (95% CrI, 10,000-14,000). Approximately 900 coccidioidomycosis-related deaths (95% CrI, 700-1100) were estimated nationwide in 2019. IN PRACTICE: 'Increased awareness nationwide is needed among clinicians and the general public, as patients with knowledge of coccidioidomycosis may be more likely to be diagnosed earlier than those unfamiliar with the disease,' the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Samantha L. Williams, MPH, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC, Atlanta. It was published online on June 3, 2025, in JAMA Network Open. LIMITATIONS: The NNDSS data, used as the primary model input, captured only cases from states where coccidioidomycosis was reportable, requiring approximations for nonreporting states. Several multiplier values relied on expert opinion and lacked validation due to limited data. This study also did not account for demographic, medical, or exposure-related risk factors or lifelong immunity. DISCLOSURES: This study did not receive any specific funding. Few authors reported receiving funds from the CDC. Additionally, three authors reported receiving financial aid from certain pharmaceutical organizations. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Australia has had record flu cases this year – and that's before winter arrives. What's going on?
Australia is being struck by a surge in respiratory illnesses, with record breaking inter-seasonal flu cases since the start of the year. However, flu remains the 'underdog of infectious diseases', in that people underestimate its severity, and as a result vaccinations rates remain stubbornly low, Prof Julie Leask from the University of Sydney, says. What are the case numbers and how can you protect yourself? In 2025 there had been 83,402 flu cases nationally, as of Tuesday, according to the government's national notifiable diseases surveillance system (NNDSS). It represents a rise of more than 10,000 more cases compared to the 73,641 flu cases reported to the end of May last year. There have also been 67,141 cases of Covid-19, and 52,611 cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – which causes infections of the lungs – to date this year, as of Tuesday, according to the NNDSS. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Prof Paul Griffin, an infectious diseases physician from the University of Queensland, says the country is experiencing a record-breaking surge in respiratory illnesses, with flu cases the highest ever recorded outside the traditional winter months. 'This year's cases are well above what we've seen for the past five years for January, February, March and April, very clearly,' Griffin says. Griffin says it is unclear what the high number of cases will mean for the rest of the season: 'We don't know till we're in it. It does mean with that number of cases already, low vaccination rates, the impact is already very significant and more significant than it should be because we've got a very small proportion of people vaccinated.' Figures from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance show that in the year to date only 11.7% of children between six months and five years old received the flu vaccine, despite this age group being among the most at-risk of developing serious complications. Only 7.6% of five- to 15-year-olds, 12.8% of 15- to 50-year-olds, 21.2% of 50- to 65-year-olds, and under half (46.9%) of those over 65 have had vaccines to date this year. Griffin says 'with that much flu already, it's very clear we need to have as many people vaccinated as possible and we're well below that. The vaccine rates are still terrible.' Leask says flu vaccination needs to be a habit for Australians, with data showing once someone receives a vaccine one year, they tend to continue it the next. It's important for healthcare workers to encourage patients to initiate that habit, she says. Griffin urges everyone to get vaccinated for flu, as well as consider taking other steps to prevent getting infected, like hand hygiene and air purifiers and even mask wearing for high-risk people.
