NOTE: Data in this article is accurate at the time of original publishing, and remains online for future reference. For up-to-date information, please consult the most recent edition of the Pandemic Weather Report, or current data from the sources cited below.
COVID-19
Per the latest data from the CDC at the time of writing, the Wastewater Viral Activity Level in Massachusetts is High. According to the CDC’s predictive model, cases are declining in Massachusetts.
According to the CDC’s Nowcast model, the dominant variant is the Omicron-descended XEC at 37%.
According to the Pandemic Mitigation Collaborative, in a room of 20 people, there is a 20.7% chance someone is infectious.
Influenza
Per the latest data from the CDC at the time of writing, Influenza-like Illness (ILI) Activity in Massachusetts is Very High.
Medical visits related to ILI are at 10.22%, down 1.6% from last week. This is however, still 8.32% above baseline.
H5N1 (Bird Flu)
According to the CDC, there is no known human-to-human spread of H5N1, and 70 confirmed cases in humans nationwide. The primary concern with H5N1 is that it is an influenza: a kind of virus highly adept at mutating, and it may mutate in a way that makes human-to-human spread more likely.
Current CDC & Harvard Health guidance on protecting yourself and pets from bird flu is as follows:
- Avoid contact with wild birds and poultry
- Do not consume raw milk or products made with raw milk. Pasteurized milk only.
- Cook all eggs and poultry to an internal temperature of at least 165°F.
- Avoid feeding any pets raw food.
- Keep pets in doors as much as possible, especially cats.
- Wash hands thoroughly when coming inside, and consider leaving shoes outside.
REVIEWED BY: Ryan Nivus, Axen Wetzel, Verne Gulley
