Nordlund said the CDC reported the cases to state health officials who have jurisdiction over the location of the convention. Participants said many in the crowd did not wear masks, social distance or other precautions recommended by the CDC ahead of the pandemic.
Less than 100,000 Confirmed cases of coronavirus Last week across the U.S. — the lowest levels in nearly two years — were reported. But public health experts warn that most cases go unmonitored, with many Americans testing at home and choosing not to report the results. The virus is also one of the top 10 causes of death this year, with deaths concentrated among the elderly and immunocompromised.
Experts reported an outbreak of coronavirus cases at a CDC conference — a first A group of detectives Held in person over four years – explains Persistence A budding virus. A four-day conference for Epidemiological Intelligence Service officials and alumni held last week near CDC headquarters in Atlanta drew about 2,000 participants who could be fully vaccinated.
“This is, unfortunately, the new normal,” Jay Verma, an infectious disease specialist at Weill Cornell Medicine, wrote in a text message. “While it is unsettling to see the widespread spread of Covid-19 at the CDC’s premier public health conference, it is yet another clear example of the global situation”.
Verma said individuals and organizations should continue to take coronavirus precautions to protect themselves and the most vulnerable as needed. “I believe that organizers of large conferences, especially health professionals, should, at a minimum, make abundantly available high-quality masks and toilet paper and ensure that there is adequate ventilation and/or air disinfection,” he wrote.
About 35 people connected to the conference tested positive on Tuesday, Nordlund said.
“Conducting a rapid investigation now will help us understand the outbreak and refine future public health guidance as we move out of the public health emergency and into the next phase of COVID-19 surveillance and response,” he wrote. “Whenever there are large gatherings, especially indoors, at conferences, even during periods of low social transmission, there is potential for the spread of COVID-19.”
According to an email shared with The Washington Post, conference attendees received an email from the CDC.
“If you attended the conference in person, you may have been exposed to someone with Covid-19,” the email said. “If you experience symptoms, we recommend following CDC guidance for isolation and testing.”
The Biden administration is scaling back its response to the pandemic, with most federal vaccination mandates and the coronavirus public health emergency lifted next week. Although the risks of infection have been greatly reduced, public health experts say they are cautious about future variations, noting that the virus continues to evolve.
For example, A new Omicron sub-variant, XPB.1.16, nicknamed Arcturus, has become more widespread across the United States. The latest CDC tracker shows the variation created Nearly 12 percent of cases nationwide For the week ended April 29, it was up about 7 percent from the week ended April 15. Currently most infections in the United States are from XBB.1.5, the Omicron subtype.