Data

81% of toilet samples from US-bound planes had Omicron RNA CIDRAP

Two new studies from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report highlight new findings about air travel amid COVID-19, with one showing that 81% of wastewater samples from airplane restrooms had SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant genetic material in fall 2022, and the other suggesting that predeparture testing of international travelers was tied to a 52% lower positivity rate at arrival in the United States.

...

84% of hospital COVID patients in Sweden still had symptoms at 2 years CIDRAP

The vast majority—84.2%—of COVID-19 survivors in a Swedish cohort reported persistent symptoms affecting daily life 2 years after hospital release, according to a follow-up study published late last week in The Lancet Regional Health Europe.

Global COVID cases, deaths continue to drop CIDRAP

Monthly averages for new COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to decline steadily, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today in its latest pandemic update, though it cautioned that the trends are underestimated due to reduced testing and delayed reporting.

...

Flu vaccine worked well in season that faded fast, CDC says Early estimates suggest the flu vaccine performed well in a U.S. winter flu season that has already dissipated. The vaccines were more than 40% effective in preventing adults from getting sick enough from the flu that they had to go to a doctor's office, clinic or hospital, health officials said during a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccines meeting Wednesday. Officials generally are pleased if a flu vaccine is 40% to 60% effective. YahooNews

...