Read AMA Morning Rounds®’ most popular stories in medicine and public health from the week of Dec. 30, 2024–Jan. 3, 2025.
CDC data show there were 91 outbreaks of norovirus reported during week of Dec. 5
The AP (12/28, Snow) reports, “The most recent numbers from the” CDC “show there were 91 outbreaks of norovirus reported during the week of Dec. 5, up from 69 outbreaks the last week of November.” The “numbers from the past few years show a maximum of 65 outbreaks reported during that first week of December.”
After relatively slow start to respiratory virus season, COVID-19 levels in U.S. are ramping up
CNN (12/31, McPhillips) reported, “After a relatively slow start to the respiratory virus season, COVID-19 levels in the United States began ramping up just ahead of the winter holidays.” CNN added that “in previous years, COVID-19 levels have typically started to rise in early November and reach their seasonal peak by the end of December.” This year, however, “levels were nearly the lowest they’ve ever been through October and all of November, according to wastewater surveillance data from the” CDC. The “trends started to shift in early December, though, with levels rising from low to high by the middle of the month.”
CDC reports worst year for gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships in over a decade
The Washington Post (12/31, Sampson) reported, “Hundreds of people on cruise ships have been sickened in five separate outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness this month, according to the” CDC. Norovirus “is to blame in three of those outbreaks; the cause of the most recent two is still unknown, the CDC says.” This comes as “the CDC counted 16 stomach illness outbreaks on cruise ships this year, the most since 2012, which also saw 16.” On Tuesday, “the most updated data showed that 1,894 passengers and 245 crew got sick with stomach bugs this year.”
On average, each cigarette someone smokes can take about 20 minutes off their life expectancy
CNN (1/1, Howard) reports, “Each cigarette someone smokes, on average, can take about 20 minutes off their life expectancy overall, according to new research based on British smokers.” The investigators, “after accounting for socioeconomic status and other factors...estimated the loss of life expectancy per cigarette at about 17 minutes for men and 22 for women, they wrote in an editorial published...in the journal Addiction.” The study “includes mortality data on men from the British Doctors Study and data on women from the Million Women Study.”
Experts say increase in kidney stone cases among children likely reflects dietary habits, lifestyle
The Washington Post (1/2, Malhi) reports, “Kidney stone cases are rising among children, and some medical professionals implicate a familiar culprit: ultra-processed foods.” Meanwhile, “other experts trace the increase to genetics, poor diet and insufficient water intake,” and “some health experts predict the problem will worsen.” While “some research suggests that genetic predisposition may play a role...experts say the increase more likely reflects dietary habits and lifestyle,” including “salt-laden diets.”
You may also be interested in: What doctors wish patients knew about ultraprocessed foods.
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Table of Contents
- CDC data show there were 91 outbreaks of norovirus reported during week of Dec. 5
- After relatively slow start to respiratory virus season, COVID-19 levels in U.S. are ramping up
- CDC reports worst year for gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships in over a decade
- On average, each cigarette someone smokes can take about 20 minutes off their life expectancy
- Experts say increase in kidney stone cases among children likely reflects dietary habits, lifestyle
