United States: Around thirty states in the United States alone are recording “very high” COVID activity as the virus remains rampant and even surges in multiple regions as per the latest CDC wastewater surveillance.
Currently, at least 27 states publish data on “very high” levels and 17 “high” levels of wastewater viral activity.
More about the news
The reports suggest that the western region has the highest rate, followed by the South, Midwest, and Northeast. Prevailing levels are close to but below those recorded before the flu season, which usually is between the months of December and February.
Drawbacks in wastewater data – Experts
Specialists add that wastewater data have several drawbacks as far as representing spread in a community is concerned; however, it may be one of the best data sources.
According to Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children’s Hospital, “While wastewater is not a perfect measure, it’s increasingly vital in filling the gaps left by the absence of comprehensive case reporting and hospitalization data,” as abc7.com reported.
Some national surveillance systems were downsized after the national public health emergency was lifted, thereby engorging the authorities with little or no instruments to use in tracking how the virus is transmitted.
Brownstein said, “As traditional surveillance systems have dwindled, wastewater analysis has emerged as one of the most reliable tools we have to monitor COVID-19 activity in communities.”
Other more restrained COVID surveillance measures, including emergency department visits and test positivity rates, are also increasing, per the CDC figures.
Still, mortality from this virus has not increased significantly, at least not compared to previous years.
What more are the experts stating?
Senior health officials confirm that updated COVID shots should be out this fall. The US Food and Drug Administration suggested that vaccine producers develop the shots concerning the KP.2 strain, one of the subvariants of the omicron variant, estimated at 6 percent of the samples.
The genetically related forms, KP.3.1.1 and KP.3, account for nearly half of the estimated cases, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, as abc7.com reported.
The CDC has already recommended that everyone over six months get an updated COVID vaccine this season. The recommendation will take effect as soon as the vaccines are made available, pending FDA authorization.
The CDC has already recommended that individuals over six months old receive an updated COVID vaccine this year. The recommendation will start as soon as the vaccine is available, with the FDA’s approval for emergency use.