Disease

Respiratory virus levels climb as JN.1 dominates COVID detections PeopleImages/iStock CIDRAP

... In its tracking of three main viruses that drive visits to health providers for symptoms such as fever and sore throat, the CDC said respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity remains elevated, especially for young children. Meanwhile, COVID-19 activity is increasing in many parts of the country, as is seasonal flu, though hospital bed occupancy and intensive care unit (ICU) capacity for all patients remains stable.

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New JN.1 COVID variant may be more contagious but less severe A new, fast-spreading variant named JN.1 now makes up 44% of all cases nationwide. Yahoo News

A new, fast-spreading variant named JN.1 now makes up 44% of all cases nationwide, more than doubling (21.3% vs. 44.2%) its share from the week before, according to the CDC COVID Data Tracker: Variant Proportions. ...

Reviews uncover no consistent link between antiviral drugs like Paxlovid and COVID rebound Igor Vershinsky / iStock CIDRAP

Two systematic reviews by US federal agencies on the possible link between antiviral treatment for COVID-19 and viral rebound—one specifically on Paxlovid—find no consistent association. The studies were published yesteray in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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XBB.1.5, BA.2.86, JN.1: How to understand the Covid-19 alphabet soup | CNN The virus that causes Covid-19 has more letters to describe its many derivatives than a bowl of alphabet soup. Jen Christensen CNN

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A virus like this one has a lot of different names because it is changing constantly, and scientists need a common language to talk about a specific version that they’re seeing in a particular community or that they’re working with to develop treatments, vaccines and tests.

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