The University of Kansas Health System is treating 77 total COVID patients today, the same as Friday. Other significant numbers:
- 18 with the active virus, 13 Friday
- 0 in ICU, 1 Friday
- 0 on ventilators, 0 Friday
- 77 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 77 Friday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Juergen Richt, director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic
Animal Diseases at Kansas State University
- Case of bird flu confirmed in Kansas by K-State researchers. Cases already discovered in Missouri.
- Last bird flu outbreak was 2014-2015, 49 million birds had to be destroyed to contain the spread
- Chicken farm and poultry processing workers most at risk. Proper PPE a must.
- Last outbreak caused significant price increases for eggs and chicken
- Safe for most consumers to eat eggs and chicken since cooking each food destroys any virus
- People who buy live chickens and slaughter these animals by themselves could be at risk of getting the virus
- Those with chickens and hens in their yard advised to keep them in the coop to avoid contact with wild migrating birds
- There is word of a possible COVID transmission from a White Tailed Deer to a human. Only hunters need to take precautions when processing the deer meat. Cooking the meat will make it safe for eating
- No current COVID vaccine approved for pets. Only mink and some zoo animals.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director, Infection Prevention and Control
- Even with COVID restrictions being lifted, still best for immunosuppressed people to wear N95 mask
- Even seven months after a COVID booster, you still have protection from severe illness, hospitalization, and death from the virus
- We will probably all need an annual COVID booster, similar to an annual flu shot
- Make sure to frequently wash your hands while cooking and avoid undercooking food to avoid COVID and all disease transmission
Tuesday, March 15 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. The luck of the Irish is with many of us this week, but so still is COVID. With mask mandates easing, the big question now is how do you and your family stay safe and healthy celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at a bar, restaurant or watching the big parade? We’ll have the best advice.
ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:
Zoom link: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628
Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628
TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI
Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital
YouTube.com/kuhospital
Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.
