Iowa news
Polk County’s first monkeypox case is confirmed; health officials say risk to general public is low
Polk County’s first confirmed case of monkeypox was reported by county health officials Monday, marking the second reported case in Iowa. The person is isolated, receiving outpatient care and in touch with health department staff. Iowa’s first probable case of monkeypox was reported July 2 in an adult from the north central part of the state. The patient was likely infected during international travel, and health officials said the risk to the general public is low. (Des Moines Register)
Koerselman awarded Iowa Hospital Association scholarship
Allison Koerselman, an employee of Lakes Regional Healthcare, has been awarded a $3,500 scholarship from the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation, which is supported by the Iowa Hospital Association. Koerselman is studying radiation sciences at the University of Iowa. She is among 60 students from Iowa who have received assistance this year from the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program. (Dickinson County News)
As drug overdose deaths rise in Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds plans messaging campaign for young Iowans
Gov. Kim Reynolds said Iowa plans to step up efforts to educate younger Iowans on the powerful narcotic fentanyl as drug overdose deaths have continued to climb in the state. Iowa saw 470 drug overdose deaths last year, up from 419 in 2020 and 350 in 2019. That includes a 64% increase in overdose deaths caused by opioids, of which fentanyl is becoming a much larger share. (Des Moines Register)
National news
COVID-19 hospitalizations hit highest national average since March
COVID-19 hospitalizations have steadily increased to reach the highest national average since early March, with more than 33,000 people in U.S. hospitals with coronavirus on a given day. Hospitalizations are up 18% nationwide over the past 14 days, with a daily average of 37,472 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of July 11, according to the HHS. Southern states have seen the greatest jumps over the past 14 days. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
A new dominant omicron strain in the U.S. is driving up cases — and reinfections
For much of the pandemic, the only silver lining to coming down with COVID-19 was that you likely wouldn’t catch it again for a while, though there isn’t exactly a definitive answer on how long that period of immunity typically lasts. But increasingly, more people appear to be contracting the virus multiple times in relatively quick succession, as another omicron subvariant sweeps through the U.S. The BA.5 variant is now the most-dominant strain of COVID-19 in the country, according to the CDC. And although it’s hard to get an exact count — given how many people are taking rapid tests at home — there are indications that both reinfections and hospitalizations are increasing. (Iowa Public Radio)
Biden admin may offer 2nd COVID-19 booster shot to all adults due to BA.5 subvariant
The Biden administration is considering a plan that would allow all adults to get a second COVID-19 booster shot. The plan stems from concerns from White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci and other top Biden administration officials about the rise in hospitalizations, fueled by the extremely contagious omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha did not confirm the administration would adopt such a plan, but said federal health officials have been discussing the possibility of offering boosters for all adults “for a while.” (NBC News)