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March 21, 2019Read more...

Measles Cases Continue to Escalate throughout 15 States in the U. S.

IN THE NEWS According to the CDC, in the nearly 11 weeks from Jan 1st until Mar 14, 2019, there have been 268 confirmed cases of measles throughout 15 states (compared to 127 cases in 10 states a month ago). However, since then, individual counties have posted an increase in cases as of March 19, so the number is actually a little higher now.   It is not considered an outbreak until there are three or more cases in an area; less than...

March 21, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 3-9-19

For week #10 (ending 3-9-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), remained widespread during Week #10.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased slightly again to 25.8% from 26.1% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above their baselines, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels for the rest of March, however...

March 21, 2019Read more...
Opioid Overdose Data Elements per Data Source

Recommendations for Surveillance of EMS Data for Opioid Overdoses

An International Society for Disease Surveillance (ISDS) Webinar Following up on the poster presentation at ISDS 2019, Silvia R. Verdugo, MD, MPH, Mike Thompson, and Todd Stout of FirstWatch, will provide recommendations for mining EMS data to find opioid overdoses using approaches ranging from highly sensitive to very specific, depending on the need. These approaches are intended [...]

March 16, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 3-2-19

For week #09 (ending 3-2-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), remained widespread during Week #9.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased slightly to 26.1% from 26.4% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels for at least a few more weeks, however...

March 5, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 2-23-19

For week #08 (ending 2-23-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), remained widespread during Week #8.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased slightly to 26.4% from 26.7% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase, setting a new high for this flu season.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels...

March 1, 2019Read more...

Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) Update 2-23-19

The CDC released a new update of confirmed cases and PUIs (persons under investigation) for AFM through 2/18/19.  With five (5) new confirmed cases reported for 2018 included, it brings the total number of 2018 confirmed cases to 215, which are part of the 371 reports of PUIs to the CDC.  This number is the largest number the CDC has reported since CDC tracking, compilation and reporting began in August of 2014. Local and State Health Departments, in conjunction with treating...

March 1, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 2-16-19

For week #07 (ending 2-16-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), continued to increase during week #7.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased to 26.7% from 24.6% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase, setting a new high for this flu season.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels...

February 20, 2019Read more...

Outbreaks/Emerging Diseases:  MEASLES (Rubeola)

Although Measles was declared eradicated in 2000 within the United States, there have been individual cases of measles reported in most years, mostly as outbreaks (3 or more confirmed cases in one area).  2014 had the highest number of cases with 667, followed with preliminary data from 2018 of 372 cases, as a result of 17 outbreaks.  Other years had lower levels of measles cases but numbering over 100 (in 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017).  According to the...

February 20, 2019Read more...

Measles (Rubeola) in Multiple States in the United States

IN THE NEWS According to the CDC, in the seven (7) weeks since January 1st through February 14, 2019, there have been 127 confirmed cases of measles throughout ten (10) states in the United States.  However, since then, individual counties have indicated an increase in cases as of Feb 18, so the number is actually higher now.   There are currently five (5) outbreaks of Measles located in four (4) states:  multiple areas of New York State (Rockland County, Monroe Country and...

February 20, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 2-9-19

For week #06 (ending 2-9-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), continued to increase with all of the markers increased during week #6.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased to 24.6% from 21.6% last week; all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  This indicates that this Flu Season still seems to be worsening.  The CDC expects...

February 19, 2019Read more...
EMS Agenda 2050 Logo

EMS Agenda 2050

EMS Agenda 2050 is the result of a collaborative and inclusive two-year effort to create a bold plan for the next several decades. The new Agenda for the Future envisions people-centered innovative possibilities to advance EMS systems and is now available to download here. FirstWatch supported the effort by lending out our own Mike Taigman to serve as the facilitator for this important project. Visit website here.

February 11, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 2-2-19

For week #05 (ending 2-2-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), continued to increase with almost all of the severity markers increased during week #5.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased to 21.6% from 19.2% last week; all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  This indicates that this Flu Season will have a second peak in...

February 6, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 1-26-19

For week #04 (ending 1-26-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), increased again.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased to 19.2% from 16.1% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  This may indicate that this Flu Season will have a second peak in cases. Influenza A viruses were the most common found in the samples...

January 30, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 1-19-19

For week #03 (ending 1-19-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), increased.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased to 16.1% from 12.4% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase. Influenza A viruses were the most common found in the samples tested, with Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 the most dominant, except in Region 4 (the Southeast), which again...

January 23, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 1-12-19

For week #02 (ending 1-12-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), remained elevated.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased slightly to 12.4% from 12.7% last week, but all 10 Regions were still reporting flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase. Influenza A viruses were the most common found in the samples tested, with Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 the most dominant, except in Region...

January 14, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 1-5-19

For week #01 (ending 1-5-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), remained elevated.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased to 12.7% from 13.7% last week, but all 10 Regions were reporting flu levels above baseline and the number of cases of ILI and Flu continued to increase, as did hospitalizations. Influenza A viruses were the most common found in the samples tested, with Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 the most dominant,...

January 8, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 12-29-18

For week #52 (ending 12-29-18) the CDC reported that influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), continued to increase.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased to 13.7% from 15.6% last week, but all Regions were reporting flu levels above baseline and the number of cases of ILI and Flu continued to increase, as did hospitalizations. Influenza A viruses are the most common found in sample testing, with Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 the most dominant,...

January 7, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 12-22-18

For week #51 (ending 12-22-18) the CDC reported that influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness) continued to increase.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased to 15.6% from 11.0% last week. Influenza A viruses are the most common found in sample testing, with Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 the most dominant, except for Region 4 (the Southeast), which again had A(H3N2) dominate.  Influenzas A (H1N1), A (H2N2) and Influenza B viruses tested were considered to...

January 7, 2019Read more...

Ebola

IN THE NEWS There are new items to report regarding the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): On December 29, the Nebraska Medical Center, located in Omaha, put out a news release that they had accepted a role in monitoring an American healthcare worker (HCW) who had been providing medical care in the DRC and had a possible exposure to the Ebola Virus.  This HCW was transported by private plane and car with the coordination with county,...