Infectious diseases, including COVID-19, continue to pose a significant public health threat, and identifying new cases and tracking disease trends are crucial for effective prevention and control measures. In recent studies, researchers have used various data sources, such as internet search trends, emergency department visits, and online surveys, to assess the impact of public health interventions and recruit study participants. These studies cover a variety of topics from passive surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 on buses to highlighting the feasibility of using online platforms to understand infectious disease trends in real time.

Association of COVID-19 vaccination prioritization and hospitalization among older Washingtonians

Soon after COVID-19 vaccines became available, Washington prioritized Washingtonians aged 65 and older (65+) for COVID-19 vaccination. We sought to explore whether reduced COVID-19 hospitalizations could be discerned in real-world conditions following vaccination prioritization for that population. We found that vaccination prioritization of those aged 65+ was associated with a substantial and statistically significant decrease in COVID-19 hospitalizations, potentially saving between 98 and 146 older Washingtonians’ lives. Our study suggests that, in the United States, local policymakers might see brisk declines in hospitalization rates among those prioritized for vaccination.

Passively sensing SARS-CoV-2 RNA in public transit buses

For this study, researchers developed a method to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the air filters of public buses, revealing that air filters could be used as passive sensors to track the transmission of respiratory infectious diseases in urban transport infrastructure. The study found that SARS-CoV-2 RNA was present in 14% of public bus filters tested in Seattle, Washington, from August 2020 to March 2021. This method could provide a unique way to track the geographically relevant transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through public transit rider vectors, pooling samples of riders over time in a passive manner without installing any additional systems on transit vehicles.

Medicare data reveal wide regional variety of COVID-19 fatality risk

Evidence shows some Americans are at much greater risk than others for severe COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalization, and death; less is known about which regions are especially vulnerable. This research examined Medicare beneficiary data from across the US to develop an index measuring the risk of severe COVID-19, by capturing the age and likelihood of key chronic illnesses. The analysis and map showed the concentration of highest-risk people ranged from less than 2 percent to just over 22 percent, with the highest rates found in certain regions in Florida and Arizona. This suggests potential value in coordinating public health efforts across local political entities.

The risk of hospitalization and mortality after breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection by vaccine type

This research examined the risks of hospitalization and mortality in fully vaccinated individuals who had breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections. The study analyzed a cohort of 19,815 patients who had received either the Pfizer, Moderna, or Janssen vaccines. It found those who received the Moderna vaccine had the lowest hazard rates, followed by the Pfizer vaccine. The top risk factors for severe breakthrough infections were age over 50, male gender, chronic lung disease, and moderate or severe renal failure, severe liver disease, leukemia, chronic lung disease, coagulopathy, and alcohol abuse. These results at a population level will be helpful to public health policymakers.

Association of public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic with the incidence of infectious conjunctivitis

While local mitigation strategies for infectious conjunctivitis have been successful, population-wide decreases in spread are rare. This research investigated an association between the adaptation of public health measures for COVID-19 and decreased emergency department visits for infectious conjunctivitis as well as internet search interest. 1156 emergency department encounters for conjunctivitis from January 2015 to February 2021 were studied. It found that following widespread implementation of pandemic public health interventions including social distancing and travel restrictions, emergency department encounters for conjunctivitis decreased by 37.3%, while search interest decreased by 34.2%, providing evidence of a sustained population-wide decrease in infectious conjunctivitis.

Capturing COVID-19–like symptoms at scale using banner ads on an online news platform

Identifying new COVID-19 cases is challenging because testing kits and other equipment are limited in many parts of the world. This study assessed the use of an online news platform to recruit volunteers willing to report COVID-19–like symptoms and behaviors. An online epidemiologic survey used banner ads to recruit 87,322 respondents across a 3-week span at the end of April 2020 in the U.S. and Japan. Of the total, 22.3% reported at least one COVID-19 symptom, and symptom reporting rates positively correlated with per capita COVID-19 testing rates. It showed that news platforms can be used to collect infectious disease symptoms at scale and with populations older than those found through social media platforms.