US flu markers show more rises as COVID levels decline Test positivity for flu rose to 25%, with emergency department visits very high and affecting all age-groups. CIDRAP

In its regular weekly snapshot on respiratory virus activity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that illness levels remain high, mainly due to impacts from the flu season.

Analysis shows significant financial burden of long COVID in US Approximately 93% to 95% of these costs come from productivity losses. CIDRAP

...

Using current estimates of US long-COVID burden (assuming the probability of long COVID is 6% and symptoms last 1 year), cases cost an average of $2.01 billion annually. The economic burden of long COVID already surpasses that of carpal tunnel, Lyme disease, and psoriasis, the authors said, and is likely to continue to grow.

...

Michael Bloomberg steps in to help fund UN climate body after Trump withdrawal

WHO chief to cut costs, reset priorities after US exit, document shows

How did health insurance coverage changes affect older adults? Two studies take a look With lawmakers in Washington, D.C. and state houses getting ready to make major health policy decisions, a pair of new University of Michigan studies shows how past policy decisions have affected older ... University of Michigan Medical Xpress

With lawmakers in Washington, D.C. and state houses getting ready to make major health policy decisions, a pair of new University of Michigan studies shows how past policy decisions have affected older Americans with modest or low incomes.

Flu activity remains high in most regions of the U.S. as a winter wave of respiratory illness sweeps across the country. The post-holiday surge in flu cases and hospitalizations is straining many hospitals, leading to overflowing emergency rooms and prompting some facilities to limit patient visitors.

This trend is expected to continue for the several more weeks, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its latest FluView weekly surveillance report for the week ending Jan. 11.