The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a significant decline in U.S. flu indicators, marking the sixth consecutive week of improvement. However, flu activity remains elevated nationally, and experts believe we may see ongoing high levels in the upcoming weeks.

Currently, the national outpatient visits for flu-like illnesses stand at 3.3%, surpassing the baseline for 17 weeks straight. Encouragingly, five regions have reported going below their local thresholds. Only seven jurisdictions are still experiencing high to very high flu activity, a notable decrease from the previous 20 regions last week. Meanwhile, flu test positivity has dropped to 10.7% from last week's 13.3%.

Though hospitalizations and deaths from the flu are trending downward, CDC officials confirmed eight more pediatric flu fatalities, bringing the total to 159 children this season. This year's flu season has been categorized as high severity, with alarming figures indicating at least 44 million infections, 580,000 hospitalizations, and 25,000 deaths recorded so far.

In developments related to COVID-19, wastewater levels continue to decline significantly, now categorized as low risk according to the latest CDC data. The most affected regions remain in the South, and deaths related to COVID last week accounted for just 0.9% of total mortality, compared to 1.5% for flu.

Furthermore, variant surveillance shows that the LP.8.1 variant is on the rise, now making up 55% of cases, while levels of the declining XEC variant sit at 21%. LP.8.1 is derived from the KP.1.1.3 lineage, raising concerns among health officials.

In an exciting advancement for sexual health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first at-home, over-the-counter test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. The Visby Medical Women's Sexual Health Test, designed for both symptomatic and asymptomatic women, boasts an impressive accuracy rate of 98.8% for negative and 97.2% for positive chlamydia results. Users can receive results in as little as 30 minutes, directly communicated through an app.

Courtney Lias, PhD, director of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostic Devices at the FDA, emphasized that home-testing access is crucial for patients who may feel anxious about seeking traditional testing. “Enhancing access to STI tests is a vital move towards early diagnosis, which can lead to more treatment options and decreased infection rates,” Lias remarked in an FDA press release.

According to recent CDC statistics, over 2.2 million cases of gonorrhea and chlamydia were reported in the U.S. this year alone, with trichomoniasis affecting approximately 2.6 million Americans. This comprehensive testing approach could significantly transform public health strategies for managing STIs, enabling quicker diagnoses and more effective control of these infections.

Stay alert and informed: your health matters!