Epidemiology Surveillance Report
2022 Year in Review
|
|
|
A Communicable Diseases Update for
Providers in
Alleghany, Botetourt, Covington, Craig, Roanoke City and County, and Salem
|
|
2022: A Year in Review
This issue of the RCAHD Epidemiology Surveillance Report reflects disease activity reported through December 31, 2022 to allow time to complete investigations and develop data reports for the month.
|
|
To optimally protect the community’s health, Virginia’s healthcare professionals and laboratories are required to report over 70 conditions. The full list of reportable conditions is available on the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) website.
This newsletter is intended to provide timely updates about reportable conditions in the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts for our local partners in public health.
|
|
|
Please let us know what information is useful to you and how we can improve.
In this issue:
- Summary of Reportable Diseases in 2022
- Summary of Sexually Transmitted Infections in 2022
- RCAHD Spotlight on Select Respiratory Diseases
|
|
Summary of Reportable Diseases |
|
- The ongoing hepatitis A outbreak in our districts is among the most noteworthy communicable disease updates of 2022. This outbreak which began in 2021 continues to impact the health of RCAHD residents, with a total of 93 cases reported in 2022 compared to a baseline of 3-5 cases per year prior to September 2021.
- In addition, COVID-19 remains a threat to the health of RCAHD residents as new variants continue to emerge. Other notable threats to the public’s health include sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis C, and drug overdoses.
Reportable diseases (excluding sexually transmitted infections)
for which five or more cases have been reported to the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts:
Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2022 (fields with 1-4 cases suppressed)
|
|
*Invasive Group A Streptococcus will be highlighted in an upcoming newsletter |
|
2022 Summary of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) |
|
STIs were on the rise in 2022
Across the country, across the state, and unfortunately, across our districts, we have seen increases in many STIs, most notably in syphilis.
- Taking a more granular look at the data, gonorrhea and chlamydia are both most commonly reported in women between 20-34 years of age.
- In contrast, HIV and syphilis are most commonly reported in men, with men who have sex with men being at the greatest risk for these diseases.
-
Over 50% of cases of syphilis are reported in persons aged 25-24 years while over 75% of cases of HIV are reported in persons aged 35-54 years.
RCAHD STI Cases 2021-2022
|
|
Spotlight: Select Respiratory Illnesses in 2022
|
|
The fall of 2022 brought the rising threat of a “tripledemic” of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and COVID-19 cases. While there were surges in each of these diseases, they fortunately hit different populations at different times.
- RSV (a common, highly contagious virus) typically causes cold-like symptoms in young children, however it can be very serious in infants, older adults, and individuals who have certain underlying medical conditions. RSV peaked the first week of September in Virginia.
- Because influenza in not a reportable disease, syndromic surveillance for “Influenza-like illness”, or ILI, is a commonly used indicator to monitor influenza activity. ILI peaked in late November in the United States. It is not uncommon to have two ILI peaks in a given flu season, so we strongly recommend that all consider getting vaccinated for influenza.
- CDC Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report
- Finally, with respect to COVID-19 activity, the recent Omicron variant XBB.1.5 emerged as the fastest-increasing at year-end. For the past two years, we have experienced huge surges in COVID-19 activity in January. So far, the expected surge appears to be much more muted than the prior two years.
|
|
|
|
Is this information useful?
We welcome your feedback on how this newsletter can be structured to better serve your work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
