As the country begins to thaw for spring, cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are finally on the decline, even as other viruses are on the rise.
Data from WastewaterSCANA network run by Stanford University and Emory University that monitors wastewater for signs of disease shows virus concentrations in facilities across the country are in the low to moderate range, and evidence of infection is decreasing. It has been shown that
“We’re seeing a downward trend, which is great,” said Marlene Wolfe, assistant professor of environmental health at Emory University and WastewaterSCAN program director. “We’re getting warmer and there’s more daylight, and we’re hoping this pattern continues.”
Unlike laboratory surveillance, which relies on patients reporting positive results when they see a doctor, wastewater surveillance passively picks up the virus’s genetic material from people’s waste and determines how widespread the disease is across the country. understand what is happening.
While wastewater data suggests that COVID-19 infections are slowing down, they also reveal that other respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses are on the rise. Experts say these viruses appear to be here to stay as the U.S. approaches warmer weather.
Influenza: Is influenza still prevalent?
Spring is just around the corner, and influenza, especially influenza B, is on the rise.
According to WastewaterSCAN data, influenza A samples have declined compared to their winter peak, but influenza B has so far appeared in 96% of samples in March compared to 66% in February. Detected.
While it’s normal for influenza A and B to peak at different times throughout the year, Wolf pointed out that influenza B was almost non-existent last year.
It’s difficult to pinpoint the reason, but experts suspect the pattern may have been disrupted by social distancing and other mitigation measures taken to prevent the spread of the disease during the pandemic. During this time, as people stayed home and wore masks, the virus was not circulating as usual, hindering the transmission of COVID-19 and other contagious viruses.
This resurgence of influenza B peaks suggests that viruses common in the United States may be returning to a more reliable seasonal pattern, Wolf said.
Parainfluenza: what is it?
Human parainfluenza virus (parainfluenza) has also peaked several times this season, Wolf said.
The virus, which causes respiratory symptoms such as fever, runny nose, cough, sneezing and sore throat, surged the most in November last year, and has yet to decline after experiencing another significant peak that began in mid-February. .
WastewaterSCAN detected the virus in 55% of all samples nationwide, particularly in the Midwest, Northeast, and South. The West is also seeing an increase, but it’s not as pronounced as in other regions.
Wastewater data is consistent with clinical data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, showing: Positive reactions to parainfluenza type 3 are increasing. Sherry Piperidis, a clinical professor of physician assistant research at Quinnipiac University, said she is seeing an increase in cases seen in clinics.
Human parainfluenza viruses most commonly cause respiratory infections in infants and young children, according to the CDC. Symptoms are usually mild and children can usually recover on their own at home.
In some cases, parainfluenza can cause more severe illnesses such as croup, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
In the case of croup, the virus infects the vocal cords, trachea and bronchi, Piperidis said. Children between the ages of 2 and 5 are more likely to develop symptoms of these serious diseases compared to other age groups.
There is no vaccine or antiviral drug to treat parainfluenza.
Gastroenteritis or gastroenteritis: norovirus
Norovirus, often called gastroenteritis or gastroenteritis, is also on the rise across the country and has passed a peak that began in early March, Wolf said.
This virus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, accounting for 58% of cases annually. Experts say food is usually contaminated by infected people during preparation, rather than during the growing, harvesting or manufacturing process.
The CDC reports approximately 2,500 norovirus outbreaks in the United States each year. Epidemics tend to occur from November to April, but in years when new virus strains emerge, the incidence of the disease can increase by up to 50%.
Norovirus causes more than 100,000 hospitalizations and 900 deaths annually, primarily affecting adults 65 and older. It is also responsible for nearly 1 million children’s medical care.
The most common symptoms of this disease are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain. With no vaccine or antiviral drugs available, experts say prevention is the key to staying healthy. Here are their tips:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water After using the toilet or changing diapers. Before eating, preparing, or handling food. before touching common surfaces. and before caring for a sick person. In addition to washing your hands with soap and water, you can also use hand sanitizer, but the CDC says this solution is not effective against norovirus and should not be used in place of hand washing.
- Handle and prepare food safely Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly, and clean and disinfect kitchen utensils and surfaces regularly. It’s important to remember that norovirus is relatively heat-tolerant and can survive temperatures as high as 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Preventing the spread of infection while camping or hiking By drinking and cooking with only clean water. Keep food away from bathroom areas, prepare and cook food properly, and wash your hands with soap and water.
Rotavirus: What Parents Should Know
Another stomach virus that is on the rise during the warmer months is rotavirus, which primarily affects infants and young children.
Wolf said wastewater data shows rotavirus started appearing at low levels in September, but has recently increased to high levels.
Although it is possible to contract the disease at any time of the year, onset is more common in winter and spring. Rotavirus also used to follow a biennial pattern, with cases peaking every other year, usually in even-numbered years like 2024.
But like influenza B, rotavirus trends have changed in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Jeff Goad, associate dean of the College of Pharmacy and professor of the practice of pharmacy at Chapman University. Stated.
“It used to be more predictable,” said Goad, who is also president-elect of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. “Eventually we’re going to get into a stable pattern, and we’re already starting to see that.”
Rotavirus commonly causes severe watery diarrhea and vomiting in infants and young children, which can lead to severe dehydration. In these cases, children often require hospitalization. According to the CDC, rotavirus causes more than 200,000 emergency room visits and up to 70,000 hospitalizations in children under 5 years of age each year.
Children between the ages of 3 months and 3 years who have not been vaccinated are most at risk. The rotavirus vaccine is effective in protecting 70% of children from the disease and 90% from the most severe symptoms.
Adriana Rodriguez is a USA TODAY national team health reporter. Contact Adrianna at [email protected] or @AdriannaUSAT on X.
