Influenza
The Indiana Department of Health’s last influenza update, covering the week Jan. 15-21, reflected minimal levels of influenza-like illness statewide.
There have been 163 influenza-associated deaths in Indiana during the 2022-23 flu season; 117 of those deaths were people aged 65 and older. The duration of the 2022-23 flu season is determined by the corresponding Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report reporting weeks. Reports of influenza for the 2022-23 flu season started Oct. 8, 2022.
Based on specimens tested by the IDOH Laboratory, the most common influenza strains circulating this season are H1N1 and H3N2.
Find locations offering the flu vaccine here.
COVID-19
Monroe County reported seven COVID-19 cases and zero deaths for the week Jan. 15-21. The county recorded 173 COVID-19 cases since the beginning of January 2023, according to the IDOH.
Indiana reported 544 COVID-19 cases for the week ending Jan. 21, down 91 cases from the previous week, there were four COVID-19 related deaths in Indiana.
The IDOH reported 65 hospital admissions statewide, down 21 from the previous week.
Currently, students can receive free PCR COVID-19 tests through drop-off testing on the IU-Bloomington and IUPUI campuses.
The Pfizer bivalent booster for ages six months to four years and the Moderna bivalent booster for ages six months to five years were approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in December 2022. The CDC now recommends eligible individuals six months and older receive an updated Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
In September 2022, the CDC endorsed the use of updated COVID-19 Pfizer boosters for individuals ages 12 years and older, and Moderna boosters for individuals ages 18 years and older. According to the CDC, updated COVID-19 boosters better protect against Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants.
[Related: First on-campus naloxone box installed at student health center
Mpox
The IDOH reported zero new mpox cases in Indiana since Jan. 18. There have been 286 total mpox cases in Indiana reported since June 2022.
According to the IDOH mpox dashboard, Monroe County has reported less than five mpox cases since counting began in June 2022. Nationwide, the CDC reported 30,093 total mpox cases in the U.S. since counting started in June 2022. There have been 26 total mpox-related deaths in the U.S.
Following a drop in cases after August 2022, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services announced it would not renew mpox as a public health emergency after Jan. 31.
In November, the World Health Organization announced it would be using the new preferred term “mpox” as a synonym for monkeypox. WHO stated both terms will be used simultaneously for a year in order to phase out the term “monkeypox.”
According to IDOH, the JYNNEOS mpox vaccine is recommended for people who have been exposed to mpox and individuals who may be more likely to get mpox. Individuals can search for a location to receive the mpox vaccine here.
IU Health Positive Link is currently offering mpox vaccines for all high-risk adults. Individuals can call the Positive Link vaccine hotline to schedule an appointment.
