CDC Issues Health Advisory on Human-to-Human Transmission of Monkeypox Virus with Geographic Spread in Democratic Republic of the Congo
On December 7, CDC recently issued a health advisory to notify clinicians and health departments about the occurrence, geographic spread, and sexually associated human-to-human transmission of Clade I Monkeypox Virus (MPXV) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). MPXV has two distinct genetic clades (subtypes), and cases of Clade I MPXV have not been reported in the United States at this time. A clade is a broad grouping of viruses that has evolved over decades and is a genetic and clinically distinct group. However, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of Clade I MPXV in travelers who have been in DRC. Clinicians should notify their state health department if they have a patient with mpox-like symptoms, which may include a diffuse rash and lymphadenopathy, and recent travel to DRC. Clinicians should also submit lesion specimens for clade-specific testing for these patients.



​Respiratory Illness Data Indicate Elevated Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and COVID-19 Activity
CDC’s Weekly Viral Respiratory Illness Snapshot on November 27 highlights key viral respiratory illness findings for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV from the past week. In addition, two new posts discuss COVID-19 vaccine uptake and the SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.2.86. The most recent summary of respiratory virus activity levels indicates that the United States is experiencing elevated respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity, particularly among young children, and COVID-19 activity remains elevated. RSV test positivity has exceeded COVID-19 test positivity. In addition, influenza activity continues to increase in most of the country, with hospital emergency department use for influenza approaching the level observed for COVID-19. According to CDC’s November 27 weekly FluView report, flu activity is increasing most noticeably in the South Central, Southeast, Mountain, and West Coast regions. Outpatient respiratory illness is above baseline nationally for the third week and is at or above baseline in seven of 10 HHS Regions. The number of weekly flu hospital admissions continues to increase, and the CDC estimates that there have been at least 1.2 million illnesses, 12,000 hospitalizations, and 740 deaths from flu so far this season.

New: Weekly Updates on Fall and Winter Virus Season 
CDC and public health partners are working to help people protect themselves this fall and winter virus season, when COVID-19, flu, and RSV are spreading at the same time. You can use CDC's new web tool to find weekly updates on respiratory viral illness activity in the United States or in your area, along with other key data on whether things are getting better or worse, and who is most affected by serious consequences such as hospitalizations or even deaths. Visit our respiratory illness website to learn how to stay safe, find resources and toolkits, and stay updated with the weekly viral respiratory illness snapshot. 
Take Steps to Help You Stay Healthy During the Holidays | CDC


What to Know About Getting COVID-19, Flu, and RSV Vaccines at the Same Time
CDC recently posted an article on what you need to know about receiving COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines (if eligible for an RSV vaccine) at the same time. Getting multiple vaccines at the same time is safe and can help keep you up to date, especially if you might not be able to make multiple visits to your provider. Whether you choose to get vaccinated at the same visit or at separate visits, the most important thing is that you get all vaccines recommended for you to protect against these illnesses. 
Getting Flu, COVID-19, and RSV Vaccines at the Same Time | CDC


Take Steps to Stay Healthy During the Holidays 
Gathering with loved ones to celebrate the holidays is an important tradition for many, but it is also a time when many viruses are more likely to spread. You and your loved ones can take action to help prevent respiratory virus illnesses during the holidays and at other times:

• Get recommended vaccines against respiratory viruses.
• Get tested if you have signs or symptoms of a respiratory illness.
• Talk to your doctor about whether you should get treated with antiviral medication if you have a higher risk for serious illness.
• Use everyday healthy behaviors, including staying home when sick.

Take Steps to Help You Stay Healthy During the Holidays | CDC


V-safe
Adults 60 years and older and people between 32-36 weeks pregnant can now register for V-safe after receiving an RSV vaccine to tell CDC how they feel after vaccination.

V-safe is a safety monitoring system that lets you share with CDC how you or your dependent (family member, friend, or a person who relies on you for support) feels after getting an RSV vaccine. V-safe originally launched in December 2020 to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

To use V-safe, you’ll need to create an account using a computer, smartphone, or tablet by visiting vsafe.cdc.gov. After you register, V-safe will send you personalized and confidential health check-ins via text messages or emails to quickly and easily share how you feel after getting your vaccination. The data collected through V-safe help CDC inform the public about what to expect following vaccination.

V-safe is one of several systems that CDC uses to closely monitor the safety of vaccines.
V-safe | CDC

CDC Provides New Respiratory Virus Resources
CDC recently released the following webpages on the CDC website regarding respiratory viruses.

• Take Steps to Help You Stay Healthy During the Holidays
• Vaccination Trends—Adults
• CDC Digital Media Toolkit: 2023-2024 Flu Season

CDC Provides Respiratory Virus Guidance Updates
​To help ensure the public is getting accurate and timely information about respiratory virus vaccination, CDC created a new Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard and a Weekly RSV Vaccination Dashboard. These dashboards complement the existing CDC Weekly Flu Vaccination Dashboard. The three dashboards are available under a new RespVaxView webpage and allow visitors to monitor vaccination trends more easily. The Updated Virus information is also available on the CDC Facebook page to share using your HCC accounts as applicable.

Respiratory Viruses Outlook
Influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), SARS CoV-2, and other seasonal viruses that circulate heavily in the fall and winter cause significant morbidity and mortality. Each season is slightly different, depending on the strains of the viruses circulating and immunity to the viruses. This year, the CDC predicts the severity of the respiratory virus season will be similar to last year, but more severe than pre-pandemic levels, estimated by the number of hospitalizations due to severe disease caused by influenza, RSV, and SARS CoV-2.     Respiratory Viruses Outlook Blog

 
Health Workers Report Harassment, Poor Mental Health Symptoms, and Difficult Working Conditions
More than double the number of health workers reported harassment at work in 2022 than in 2018. This may include threats, bullying, verbal abuse, or other actions from patients and co-workers that create a hostile work environment. This finding has important implications for health worker mental health, according to a new CDC Vital Signs report. Health worker burnout was at crisis levels prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new Vital Signs issue reports that the pandemic presented unique challenges that may have further impaired health worker mental health and increased health workers’ intent to leave their jobs. This report is the first to describe and compare self-reported well-being and working conditions for health workers, other essential workers, and all other workers before the pandemic (2018) and after the start of the pandemic (2022). It shows that health workers have continued to face a mental health crisis. From 2018 to 2022, U.S. health workers experienced greater declines on a range of mental health outcomes than other workers.
Press Release for More Information


CDC National Report Highlights PHEP Role During COVID-19 Response
​CDC’s national report on Response Readiness in the Time of COVID-19: The PHEP Program’s Role and Impact is now available online. This national report is a high-level snapshot of select activities that PHEP recipients conducted between July 2021 and June 2022 and an assessment of how those activities contributed to the national COVID-19 pandemic response. The report also provides an at-a-glance summary of the comprehensive Operational Readiness Review (ORR) data that recipients submitted during PHEP Budget Period 3. The report describes key strengths, challenges, and next steps for recipients and CDC.