NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) estimates the proportion of Omicron cases in the state is 88.5% for the week ending December 25. They do note that the estimate for the Omicron proportion is preliminary and subject to change as more sequencing data are reported.
COVID-19 cases, emergency department visits and hospitalizations are sharply increasing throughout Louisiana. These alarming increases are attributable to the Omicron variant, which spreads faster than other variants and is now the dominant strain in our state.
Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube
Individuals not fully vaccinated account for 64% of new cases from December 16 through December 22. Furthermore, those not fully vaccinated account for 79% of COVID-19 hospitalizations on December 28.
LDH recommends getting vaccinated and boosted, masking indoors as well as outside when distancing is not possible, and limiting your exposure to those not in your household.
- Sweden reports 14 percent increase in COVID-19 cases, Proportion of omicron infections rising
- Antibodies identified that can neutralize omicron
- Successful weight-loss intervention before COVID-19 infection associated with 60% lower risk of severe disease in patients with obesity
- Mexico: Rickettsiosis cases and deaths up in Baja California this year
- Medellín: Alert issued for increased cases of leptospirosis
- Colombia: Chagas disease kills two, sickens 7 soldiers in Cesar
- Denmark reports increase in gonorrhea cases despite the pandemic
- Idaho reports 1st flu related death in Gooding County man
- Paraguay reports 3 Omicron cases in travelers from Cancun
- Pennsylvania issues health advisory: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infections in children
