Viral Update: Illness and Volume Trends and Helpful Resources for Our Community

Our goal is to share information and resources with our larger community as we all work together to care for patients facing viral illnesses.  

Viral Trends and Hospital Volumes

ED Volumes: ED volumes have markedly increased over the past few weeks. Overall viral activity is increasing. COVID activity remains elevated.

Measles: The possibility of domestic and international imported cases remains. We will see more cases. The US confirmed case count is up to 1,491, the highest since measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000 and on track to the highest since 1992. See additional information and helpful resources below as we remain vigilant about infection prevention.

Influenza: National Influenza activity has increased slightly over the past few weeks, there are sporadic local cases.

RSV: RSV positives remain low.

SARS-CoV-2: Wastewater and our local ED data show that COVID remains high but may be past peak. The surge is largely being driven by pediatric patients with a lower likelihood of past infection or vaccination.   

Mpox: The outbreak in Central and East Africa has been downgraded by WHO and is no longer considered an international health emergency. Mpox testing is available at Seattle Children’s – if you feel your patient may have Mpox and want them tested, please call Mission Control at 206-987-8899.   

Other Respiratory Viruses: Seasonal coronavirus, adenovirus, HMPV and parainfluenza virus detections were very low last week. Rhino/enterovirus are the most common positives. Rhinovirus positives tend to be elevated throughout the year.

Mycoplasma: Mycoplasma activity is low though we anticipate an increase now that school is back in session.

Pertussis: There has been an increase in pertussis activity state and nation-wide over the course of the year.

Norovirus and Rotavirus: Norovirus and rotavirus activity is low after one of the worst years since before the pandemic.

Special Pathogens Team Update

Seattle Children’s has a special pathogens team that is continuously monitoring worldwide outbreaks to keep our staff, patients and community providers informed.

There is currently an outbreak of Ebola virus disease, a viral hemorrhagic fever, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

If you are treating a patient with recent (within the last month) travel to areas in Africa affected by hemorrhagic fevers and suspect a related illness, please contact your local public health department immediately.

If you are referring an ill patient that needs urgent evaluation to Seattle Children’s, please call Mission Control at 206-987-8899 before sending the patient.

Measles Resources

• Webinar Recording: Measles Community Response
• Measles One-Pager for Healthcare Providers (PDF) (AAP)
• Measles - For Healthcare Professionals (CDC)
• Measles Specimen Collection Instructions for RT-PCR (DOH)
• Measles Specimen Collection Instructions for Serology (DOH)
• Immunization Schedules (CDC)
• Safety Information for Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccines (CDC)
• Recognizing Measles in Your Patients (Pediatric Pandemic Network)
• Vitamin A and Measles Vaccine Talking Point (Pediatric Pandemic Network)
• Measles FAQ for Families & Caregivers (Pediatric Pandemic Network)

How You Can Help

• To help maintain ED volumes, consider reminding families of your clinic’s resources and procedures for urgent and after-hours patient needs to help direct them to the most appropriate site of care.
• Encourage families to review our ED vs. Urgent Care guide to find the most appropriate care setting – we have options for in-person and virtual urgent care, orthopedic urgent care, and psychiatric urgent care.
• Families should be prepared that, if viral testing is deemed clinically appropriate, it will typically be performed using a panel that identifies only influenza, RSV, and COVID-19.
• Before sending your patient to the ED, contact our Mission Control team with as much notice as possible at 206-987-8899. This helps us plan for your patient’s arrival, especially if there are concerns for communicable diseases.

Additional Resources

• View the respiratory virus data dashboard for the latest Seattle/King County trends for COVID, RSV and influenza-related ED visits.
• Read the situational summary on H5 Bird Flu to stay updated on the current Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) outbreak.
• View these resources on vaccine guidance for the most current COVID vaccination recommendations.
• Review the latest viral activity on the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System dashboard.