September 14th, 2023: State Of Alaska Releases Updated Covid & Flu Information

Hello,  The Alaska Department of Health COVID-19 and Influenza Update has been updated with data through September 9, 2023 and can be viewed here.  COVID-19:  COVID-19 transmission continues to occur in many communities across Alaska. Most COVID-19 in Alaska at this time is caused by virus variants belonging to XBB.1.16 and sub-lineages. To learn more about COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in Alaska, visit the Cases Dashboard. While many infections with the virus that causes COVID-19 are not detected or reported, changes over time in the number of reported cases still provide useful information about the trajectory of COVID-19. The COVID-19 Dashboard was updated for the last time on 9/12/2023 but will continue to be available on the COVID-19 Data Hub. On May 11, 2023, the federal Public Health Emergency ended. Impacts for Alaska are described in the April 24, 2023, Epidemiology Bulletin, Implications of the Ending of the Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. CDC no longer reports all cases of COVID-19 but focuses on hospitalizations and deaths to demonstrate disease trends. This is the last COVID-19 and Influenza report; starting in October, we will transition to a combined weekly report displaying data for several respiratory viruses. Influenza (Flu"): Influenza is typically tracked weekly from October to May; however, in Alaska notable flu activity can occur throughout the year so we provide monthly updates from June-September. Starting in October, the regular Flu Snapshot will be adapted to also display data for other respiratory viruses. See the Alaska Influenza Snapshot to learn more about influenza cases. Influenza testing and case reporting practices during the current influenza season are likely different compared to practices that existed during influenza seasons before the COVID-19 pandemic. Interpretations of influenza case data should focus on trends and the timing of influenza activity rather than on comparing the number of reported cases across seasons. There has been some influenza circulating this summer. Information and Resources: COVID-19 in Alaska COVID-19 Vaccines Alaska Vaccination Information Subscribe to DOH email or text updates for DOH press releases, blogs, and more.