Week 8 Respiratory Update

An additional 28 flu cases were added to our data during week 8. This brings our total number of flu cases this season 1,052. Surrounding counties have also reported a slight uptick in flu cases within the past couple of weeks. Most cases continue to be Type A.

So far, this flu season, we have reported two flu deaths in the county.  Flu vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of flu. CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine especially those at a higher risk of serious complications.

 

COVID-19 Summary: (Sara Wilton, Epidemiologist)

CDC recently added a new tool, COVID-19 Community Levels, to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Health officials and individuals should consider current information about COVID-19 hospitalizations in the community, as well as the potential for strain on the local health system and COVID-19 cases in the community, when making decisions about community prevention strategies and individual behaviors. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. 

Communities and individuals should also make decisions based on whether they are at high risk for severe disease and consider inequities in access to prevention strategies.

Currently, Jefferson County, MO is in the MEDIUM COMMUNITY LEVEL (yellow). In the MEDIUM level, the recommendations for individuals and households are:

  • If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease

    • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions (e.g., testing)

    • Have a plan for rapid testing if needed (e.g., having home tests or access to testing)

    • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies

  • If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease

    • consider self-testing to detect infection before contact

    • consider wearing a mask when indoors with them

  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters

  • Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible

  • Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19

Remember, Community Transmission looks at the number of new cases per 100,000 persons in the last 7 days and percentage of Nucleic Acid Amplification Test results that are positive during the past 7 days. Community Level looks at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Though community level metrics are the most impactful indicators of COVID data, CDC still provides transmission data so we will continue to do so as well.

This week the county has dropped into the ORANGE transmission status. As a reminder, if the indicators show two different transmission levels, the higher level is selected. During Week 7 we reported a weekly case count of 153 confirmed and probable cases, moving to ORANGE transmission status. Our percent positivity in Week 8 was 5.45% which drops that indicator into the YELLOW transmission status.

Of the 153 new cases reported in Week 7, 62.1% were unvaccinated, 22.87% were fully vaccinated, and 15.03% were fully vaccinated AND boosted. 54.25% of Jefferson County residents have initiated COVID vaccination, while 50.13% have completed the full series. The percentage of residents who have received a third dose or booster vaccine is 19.65%.

-        Total Cases: 52,758

-        Total Deaths: 500

             o     27 additional COVID deaths since last report

§  Female 40’s

§  3 Males, 50’s

§  Female, 60’s

§  2 Males, 60’s

§  Female, 70’s

§  5 Males, 70’s

§  6 Females, 80’s

§  4 Males, 80’s

§  3 Females, 90’s

Sipping, Snacking and Tooth Decay

Many parents across the country will issue a common refrain at dinnertime tonight: ―You’d better eat that--it’s good for you!‖ There’s another old favorite in the parental arsenal of dietary admonitions: ―Don’t eat that—it’ll rot your teeth!‖ Now more than ever, kids are faced with a bewildering array of food choices -- from fresh produce to sugar-laden processed convenience meals and snack foods. What children eat and when they eat it may affect not only their general health but also their oral health.

Americans are consuming foods and drinks high in sugar and starches more often and in larger portions than ever before. It’s clear that junk foods and drinks gradually have replaced nutritious beverages and foods for many people. For example, in the U.S., on average, individuals consume approximately 50 gallons of sugary beverages per year! Alarmingly, a steady diet of sugary foods and drinks can ruin teeth, especially among those who snack throughout the day. Common activities may contribute to the tendency toward tooth decay. These include ― grazing habitually on foods with minimal nutritional value, and frequently sipping on sugary drinks. Consuming too much sugar can also affect your overall health, such as becoming overweight/obese, or getting heart disease or type 2 diabetes.

When sugar is consumed over and over again in large, often hidden amounts, the harmful effect on teeth can be dramatic. Sugar on teeth provides food for bacteria, which produce acid. The acid in turn can eat away the enamel on teeth.

Almost all foods have some type of sugar that cannot and should not be eliminated from our diets. Many of these foods contain important nutrients and add enjoyment to eating. But there is a risk for tooth decay from a diet high in sugars and starches. Starches can be found in everything from bread to pretzels to salad dressing, so read labels and plan carefully for a balanced, nutritious diet for you and your kids.

Reduce your children’s risk of tooth decay:

  • Sugary foods and drinks should be consumed with meals. Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acid production and rinse food particles from the mouth.

  • Limit between-meal snacks. If kids crave a snack, offer them nutritious foods.

  • If your kids chew gum, make it sugarless- Chewing sugarless gum after eating can increase saliva flow and help wash out food and decay-producing acid.

  • Monitor beverage consumption – Children should make healthy beverage choices such water and low-fat milk.

  • Help your children develop good brushing and flossing habits. -

  • Schedule regular dental visits

Week 7 Respiratory Update

An additional 23 flu cases were added to our data. This brings our total number of flu cases this season 1,024. We had 23 cases reported during Week 7, up 130% from the 10 we reported during Week 6. There was no change in influenza-like-illness (ILI) in the emergency departments from Week 6 to Week 7.

So far, this flu season, we have reported two flu deaths in the county.  Flu vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of flu. CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine especially those at a higher risk of serious complications.


COVID-19 Summary: (Sara Wilton, Epidemiologist)

This week the county remains in the RED/highest transmission level even though percent positive is in the ORANGE status. As a reminder, if the indicators show two different transmission levels, the higher level is selected. During Week 7 we reported a weekly case count of 277 confirmed and probable cases; a 46.9% decrease in weekly cases reported from last week. Our percent positivity in Week 6 was 8.4% which is also a decrease from the previous week and drops that indicator into the ORANGE status.  

Of the 277 new cases reported in Week 7, 64.62% were unvaccinated, 24.55% were fully vaccinated, and 10.83% were fully vaccinated AND boosted. 54.18% of Jefferson County residents have initiated COVID vaccination, while 49.98% have completed the full series. The percentage of residents who have received a third dose or booster vaccine is 19.47%.

-        Total Cases: 52,592

-        Total Deaths: 473

             o     No additional COVID deaths since last report

 

Week 6 Respiratory Update

An additional 12 flu cases were added to our data. This brings our total number of flu cases this season 1,001. Our influenza cases decreased again this past week.

So far, this flu season, we have reported two flu deaths in the county.  Flu vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of flu. CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine especially those at a higher risk of serious complications.

 


COVID-19 Summary: (Sara Wilton, Epidemiologist)

This week the county remains in the RED/highest transmission level with a weekly case count of 510 confirmed and probable cases; a 38.7% decrease in weekly cases reported from last week. The last time we saw a weekly case count in the 500’s was 2021 Week 47 (11/21/21 – 11/27/21). Our percent positivity in Week 6 was 13.3% which is also a decrease from the previous week.

Of the 510 new cases reported in Week 4, 61.96% were unvaccinated, 25.89% were fully vaccinated, and 12.15% were fully vaccinated AND boosted. Though we see a slight increase in the number of fully vaccinated and boosted individuals testing positive for COVID, vaccination and booster doses still provide the best protection against contracting COVID-19. 54.1% of Jefferson County residents have initiated COVID vaccination, while 49.83% have completed the full series. The percentage of residents who have received a third dose or booster vaccine is 19.30%.

This week we are reporting an additional 11 COVID deaths. We know that when we see a spike in cases (such as the Omicron surge) we then see an increase in hospitalizations, and soon after an increase in COVID deaths. Though we are seeing a current reduction in cases, we are also seeing the final effects of the Omicron surge.

-        Total Cases: 52,278

-        Total Deaths: 473

             o     11 additional deaths since last report

§  Female, 50’s

§  Male, 50’s

§  Female, 60’s

§  2 Males, 60’s

§  2 Females, 70’s

§  2 Males, 70’s

§  Female, 80’s

§  Male, 80’s