🇦🇺 "There were about 1,701 deaths associated with influenza in 2025, the highest number recorded this century." 1/2

"Texas reported more cases of whooping cough last year than anytime in the last 66 years, according to provisional data from the state health department. This peak comes as vaccination rates among children continue to decline."

"Finally, the United Kingdom reported this week that nearly 30 swans were found dead in London’s Docklands due to an outbreak of an avian flu viral strain."

"A necropsy of one of the dead seal pups showed she was in “excellent nutritional condition,” [Roxanne] Beltran said, “which means to us that that animal died quickly from a disease process that happened rapidly, as opposed to something more chronic or long-lasting.” 1/2

Kentucky "Norton Children’s Hospital recorded its largest spike of the season, confirming more than 2,500 pediatric flu cases in the past week and five hospitalizations." "This marks the highest surge in Kentucky kids so far this flu season."

"Although neither virus was found in brain tissue, mice that had COVID-19 showed signs of persistent brain inflammation weeks later, along with tiny areas of bleeding." 1/2

"Specifically, compared to influenza, those with a history of COVID-19 infection have a 2.3-times higher risk of acute kidney injury and a 1.4-times higher risk of chronic kidney disease, according to an analysis of over three million patients ..." 1/2

TB 🧵 Seattle WA "About 130 people associated with the school are being advised to undergo evaluation for tuberculosis (TB), including a medical risk assessment and TB test, due to potential indoor exposure." "King County reported 110 new TB cases in 2024, averaging about two diagnoses per week."

Idaho "All Walmart pharmacy locations are participating in the event, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m." "You can also expect to find low-cost options for immunizations for shingles, tetanus, respiratory syncytial virus, human papillomavirus and more."

"No-cost immunizations and free health screenings will be offered at Walmart pharmacies across California on Saturday, the chain said." 🚨⬇️(co-pays are waived for most insurance plans) "The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All Walmart locations that have pharmacies will be participating." 1/2

"Jesse Bump, a global public health expert at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, called the administration’s action “an act of monumental stupidity.” May the odds be ever in our favor. 1/4

"ACON Laboratories, Inc. today announced the retail availability of the first FDA-cleared home test which allows families to identify four major respiratory infections, including Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), in adults and children as young as 6 months using a single test."

"Nipah virus, which spreads between animals and people, is classified as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization (WHO) because of its potential to trigger an epidemic. There is no vaccine to prevent infection and no treatment to cure it."

1-19-26

"The proportions of older US adults vaccinated against influenza in the previous year and those ever vaccinated against pneumonia were lower in 2024 than in 2019, according to a report published today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Center for Health Statistics."

California "Fresno County is seeing preliminary 66 cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis," said Leticia Berber, a Health Educator with the Fresno County Public Health Department. "Last year we had 23 by the end of the year."

"A national hospital-based surveillance study from Australia found that the long-acting monoclonal antibody nirsevimab reduced respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-related hospitalizations in infants under 12 months by over 80% during the country’s 2024 RSV season."

"The shingles vaccine was significantly associated with less inflammation, slower epigenetic changes, and a lower overall composite biological aging score. Vaccination was also tied to increased immunity." 1/2

"Idaho has the lowest percentage of residents vaccinated against measles in the nation, at 78.5%, according to the CDC." "With the Idaho Medical Freedom Act in place, Idaho schools and daycares cannot prevent children from accessing their services due to their vaccine status." 1/2

Virginia "Health officials have confirmed a third case of measles in Virginia in just the past two weeks, raising concerns about the highly contagious virus and prompting renewed calls for vaccination."

Washington State "This map compiles data from local health departments into a user-friendly platform and allows users to see where someone who tested positive for measles has been."

"[Dr]Huang said Dallas County lost more than $4 million in COVID-19 funding that was clawed back by HHS – which he said the department used to support vaccination efforts for more than just COVID. Dallas County had to cancel more than 50 community outreach vaccine clinics and lost 25 staff members."

Oklahoma "A House lawmaker wants the state to run its own blood bank so it can provide Oklahomans blood “untainted” by the COVID-19 vaccine." 1/2

[Dr. Vandana Madhavan, clinical director of pediatric infectious disease at Mass General Hospital] "Madhavan recommends masking in crowded spaces, frequent handwashing and supportive care at home, including hydration and fever control."

Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease expert at UC San Francisco: "One big worry, she added, is that people who get winter respiratory viruses can get a secondary bacterial infection after the immune system “defenses are broken down.” 1/2

Washington State "The death is the first in Thurston County for the 2025-2026 season and among 39 lab-confirmed influenza deaths across the state, compared to only five reported this time last season, according to the release."

MI "State health data shows pediatric flu hospitalizations are up roughly 40% compared to this time last year, with emergency departments seeing more young patients than expected for early winter. As of Jan.10, Michigan has reported 845 flu-related hospitalizations among children ages 17 and under."

"Novavax has entered into a license agreement with Pfizer for use of Novavax's Matrix-M® adjuvant. Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will obtain a non-exclusive license for Matrix-M for use with Pfizer's products in up to two disease areas."

Oklahoma "Tulsa families are facing a wave of illnesses this cold and flu season, with children particularly affected. Pediatrician Dr. Scott Cyrus says respiratory viruses are driving the surge, impacting schools and emergency departments across the state."

"2News asked residents living around Dixie High what they thought of the outbreak. One resident said she and her children are not vaccinated, and all had measles in the past. She said she did not feel the illness was bad enough to warrant vaccination." 🤦‍♀️

"Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, former director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases who resigned in protest last year, said in another briefing Tuesday that trends suggest that the measles outbreak in South Carolina is “very, very active.” 1/2

"Two more deaths have been reported from influenza in Montana, bringing the seasonal total to 10, according to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services."

"Maryland has recorded 41 flu-related deaths so far this season, a drastic increase from the seven deaths that were reported in early January."

"South Dakota health officials are reporting four more flu deaths, bringing this season’s total to six statewide." "The state dashboard is showing more than 5,200 cases and more than 330 hospitalizations."

New York “This year has been, as of last week, since we’ve been reporting data like we do now, the worst year in 30 years of influenza,” says Broome County Health Department Medical Director Lazarus Gehring."

"As of date, Vanderhoff reports more than 6,700 Ohioans have been hospitalized with influenza. Compared to this time in 2025, the state only saw just over 3,700 hospitalizations."

Dr. Shawn Sood: “The dangerous thing I want parents to know about influenza is if your child has influenza, a high fever, and they seem to be getting better for a couple of days and then get worse again with another fever, you need to speak with your pediatrician because that is a concerning sign,”

Missouri "The American Red Cross Central and Northern Missouri Chapter is urging you to donate blood Wednesday afternoon in Columbia, saying the Red Cross’ blood supply has dropped 35 percent in the past month."

"Elly [Doyle] posted about the [flu] outbreak on social media, saying hundreds of passengers became sick. Ship staff closed sections of the vessel when bathrooms became overwhelmed, and 14 of the 21 Doyle family members, including all the children, became violently ill."

Iowa "The latest respiratory virus report for the week covering January 4 to January 10 shows there have been 31 flu deaths in Iowa this season." "That’s an increase from 14 deaths reported the week before."

🇨🇦 "Dr. Faiz Ahmad Khan explains how tuberculosis has seen a rise in Montreal and Quebec in recent years and how access to treatment remains an issue."

"In Elliot's case, he first experienced difficulty walking. Doctors, though, reportedly put the boy's symptoms down to viral infections and said he could be walking weirdly for attention due to having a baby sister."

"In 2024, the number of people notified to have the disease [TB] rose by 13.6% to 5,490 people. The rate of notifications at 9.4 per 100,000 population, is now only just below the World Health Organization threshold of 10 per 100,000 for a low incidence country and continuing to rise ..."

"Health officials said there were more than 7,000 reported cases across the United States in 2025, which is a sharp increase from just a few years ago."

“When we went in, they didn’t even want to test her [Alyssia Brown]. I had to tell them like, ‘there’s this thing going around, can you please just test her for it [histoplasmosis]?’[Kimberly] Shelton said." 1/3

"A spokesperson for the South Carolina Health Department said in an email that “eight people, including adults and children, required hospitalization for complications of the disease since the start of the outbreak.” It was unclear how many people are currently hospitalized." 1/2

🇨🇦 "In addition to this, an outbreak is underway with a total of nine other cases confirmed in the Lanaudière, Laurentians, Laval and Montreal regions."

"The Snohomish County Health Department has confirmed four new cases of measles connected to children who were exposed to a contagious family who was visiting from South Carolina." "They were not vaccinated."

Washington State "Kittitas County has reported its first confirmed measles case in at least 18 years or more." "The student, who had not received the MMR vaccine, is currently receiving medical care and is doing well."

Oregon "A measles case was reported in Clackamas County, the Oregon Health Authority said Friday, marking the third reported case in the state within the past week." "The person was not vaccinated for measles, OHA confirmed."