Tue Aug 26 10:30:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**COVID-19 on the Rise Nationally, Measles Outbreaks Spark Concern**

**Minneapolis, MN – August 23, 2024** – COVID-19 activity is increasing across the United States, according to the latest data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Test positivity rates have climbed to 9.9%, with some regions, particularly the south-central states, experiencing levels as high as 15%. The CDC’s modeling suggests COVID infections are likely growing in all states.

Emergency department visits for COVID-19 are also up 15.2% compared to the previous week, with the South, Southeast, and West seeing the highest rates. Young children are experiencing the highest rates of ED visits among all age groups. Hospitalization rates have shown a slight upward trend since July, though the rate of deaths from COVID remains low.

The CDC was unable to provide wastewater data for COVID, influenza A, or RSV due to technical issues but expects to resume updates soon.

Alongside the rise in COVID-19, multiple measles outbreaks are raising concerns among health officials. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) yesterday announced the end of a large measles outbreak in the southwestern part of the state, after two incubation periods passed with no new cases. The outbreak began in January and initially had links to the West Texas outbreak. The state confirmed 87 illnesses linked to the outbreak, 80% of them in children and 90% in people who were not vaccinated. Eight patients were hospitalized.

However, a measles outbreak in Oconto County, Wisconsin has grown to 14 cases, with officials stating that the virus is now spreading locally. The Pennsylvania Department of Health also issued an alert regarding potential measles exposures in four counties due to an out-of-state traveler who visited the state while contagious.

The CDC recommends that all children ages 6 to 23 months be vaccinated against COVID-19.

[Summary of the other topics]

– Cumulative incidence of long COVID among reinfected and non-reinfected participants was 11% and 8% in the post-index year, respectively.
– COVID-19 can cause a patient’s blood vessels to age around 5 years, which is seen most strongly in women.
– Rising temperatures, longer summers, milder winters, and changing rainfall patterns are creating more favorable conditions for mosquito populations.
– NYC has now reported 4 deaths among 101 Legionnaire’s cases, and 15 people are currently hospitalized.
– A patient likely contracted plague from a flea bite while camping near South Lake Tahoe.

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