Analysis

US COVID activity remains elevated as some indicators decline Though most indicators showed downward trends, deaths were up compared to the previous week. CIDRAP

The nation's COVID activity remains high, but there are more signs of decline in many areas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest updates.

Test positivity showed another small decline and is at 16.4% nationally, but is higher in the Midwest and Middle Atlantic. Emergency department visits declined 10.2% from the previous week, but are still at the moderate level in some of the southeastern states....

Global cholera deaths rise sharply The analysis also found high levels of community deaths in some countries, which highlights serious gaps in treatment. CIDRAP

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Forty-five countries reported cases last year, one more than in 2022. Though cases were up 13%, deaths rose 71% compared to the previous year. More than 4,000 people died from their infections from a disease that is preventable and treatable, the WHO said.

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Wearable activity trackers could offer early clues on COVID-19 For COVID-19 diagnosis, wearables were accurate 88% of the time. CIDRAP

A new study from researchers at the University of South Australia reveals that wearable activity trackers, such as Apple Watches and Fitbits, show promise in detecting early signals of disease—particularly atrial fibrillation associated with stroke and COVID-19. The study is published in the journal JMIR mHealth and uHealth.

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