Report to the Board of Health

Town of Greenwich Department of Health Community Health Education Memo Dr. Stephanie Paulmeno, Public Health Education Specialist

Overview of Respiratory Virus Activity This Season-CT Data on RSV, COVID-19, and Influenza 03-26-24:

3-26-24: Our Connecticut COVID-19, RSV, & Influenza numbers are dropping. A report was made to the Greenwich Board of Health last evening about how Connecticut has fared during this year's Respiratory Viral Illnesses Season, which runs from October 1, 2023, to June 1st, 2024. The Greenwich Health Department's tracking & trending of this season's Respiratory Viral Diseases, COVID-19, Influenza, & Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) were reviewed in terms of CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS, & DEATHS in Connecticut, & depicted Connecticut vs. the United States.

The presentation to the Board of Health explored our now declining numbers along with the impact of the recently passed winter holidays/family gathering times where cases, hospitalizations & death tolls rose, which was anticipated when people, many unvaccinated, gather indoors. Another big family holiday, Easter, is next week & our vaccination rates in Connecticut remain abysmally low for all three illnesses. The presentation & interactive discussion addressed 1) The 23-24 Respiratory Viral Illnesses Season as seen through official tracked/trended data reports (CDC/CT-DPH); 2) Monitoring of COVID-19 Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations & Deaths in the U.S. & Connecticut; 3) Respiratory Virus Activity in Connecticut as a Percent of Emergency Department Visits; 4) Weekly Cases, Hospitalizations & Deaths in Connecticut from the triad of Respiratory Viral Illnesses; 5) The percent of CT people vaccinated with the "2023-24 Updated mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine", Seasonal Flu Vaccine, & a new RSV Vaccine since July 2023 as seen by Age (CT-DPH). 6) We looked at COVID-19 cases & deaths in both staff & residents in Connecticut Nursing Homes during the 2023-24 Respiratory Viral Disease Season. 7) We discussed the CDC's Change in Guidance Following Respiratory Viral Illnesses; 8) AND NOW MEASLES, another deadly respiratory viral illness, is on the rise in the U.S. & the world. In the U.S. this is being attributed to infected people entering the country, increasing numbers of unvaccinated children in the U.S.A, & more susceptible people traveling abroad & returning home infected (CDC).

In 2000, the United States declared measles to have been eliminated. Unfortunately, debunked disinformation put out by British physician Andrew Wakefield & 12 colleagues (1998) falsely claimed that the vaccine could cause autism; more unfortunately, many parents bought into the junk science & have increasingly opted since that time not to have their children vaccinated, so now measles is coming back (https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/vaccines-and-other-conditions/vaccines-autism). So far this year, 3 months into 2024, the U.S. has had 58 cases of Measles in 17 states. This is what we had in ALL OF 2023. Measles can be deadly & is highly contagious. One person with measles on average infects 12 to 18 other people (https://www.scientificamerican.com).

The CDC is now taking a different approach to respiratory guidance following a bout of illness from COVID-19, RSV, or influenza, which they hope the public will follow. Attached is a snapshot of the CDC's new guidance on what to do following a respiratory viral illness to protect those around you who are unvaccinated, or possibly at high risk due to compromised immune systems for a multitude of reasons. It is NOT ALL ABOUT US, but also about our responsibility not to infect others around us if we get exposed, become ill, or feel we are on the road to recovery. With COVID-19, an infected individual is typically contagious for about 10-days after their symptoms emerge, but not everyone develops symptoms, thus using masks, social distancing & good respiratory hygiene remain important, as does getting vaccinated.