Covid-19 and dengue creeping up, vaccinations creeping down, a new mRNA flu vaccine, and more

As summer draws to a close, several diseases are on the rise, including Covid-19 infections and rare mosquito-borne illnesses. Unfortunately, we can expect the same trend for vaccine-preventable diseases, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, there is some positive news: the approval of a new mRNA flu vaccine.

Here's your disease "weather report" and what it may mean for you and your family. As of now, Covid-19 levels (such as emergency department visits and wastewater transmission) are low nationwide but are still on the rise in every state. The South and the West are the regions experiencing the most significant increase, which is a common pattern at this time of year.

It is projected that 10-15% of people will contract Covid-19 by the end of this wave. While hospitalizations are not as severe due to population immunity, Covid-19 remains serious for older adults, infants, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

When it comes to tracking Covid-19 waves, wastewater testing metrics are still valuable when used in conjunction with other data. Although fewer people and places are testing, the positivity rate still provides insights into the direction of trends. However, the number of wastewater testing sites has slightly decreased from approximately 1,500 to 1,300, and funding for these programs is uncertain. Nonetheless, the systems still cover about 144 million people.

Other diseases to be aware of include dengue, a mosquito-borne disease also known as "break-bone fever" due to its severe joint pain. This rare illness is starting to appear in the Southern and Western United States as we approach peak mosquito season. Last week, the first-ever non-travel-related case of dengue was reported in Virginia.

This situation occurred when a mosquito bit a returning traveler with dengue and then bit another person nearby, who subsequently became infected. Although this is not likely to escalate into an outbreak, it is crucial to remember that mosquitoes only feed every few days, remain within a few hundred yards of where they hatched, and live for just 2-4 weeks.