UMB Public Health December Update
Dear UMB Community,
We are into the holiday season, and it has been a while since my last communication, so I wanted to provide an update about some public health issues and resources
- The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has advised that mpox (monkeypox) cases are decreasing, but the risk has not disappeared. If you are at risk for mpox (in this outbreak, risks are highest if you have close contact with someone with mpox; men having sex with men; and group sex), you should consider vaccination. It has gotten easier and more convenient, with Nomi Health now one of the partners of MDH. You still need to preregister on the MDH website at this link.
- COVID-19 is still with us, but models are suggesting that we are not likely to have a holiday season like last year’s. Projections show that Maryland might see an increase in cases in January, but not much worse than this past summer. MDH has advised that the dominant variants in Maryland may be resistant to some of the monoclonal antibody treatments but should still be susceptible to the currently available antiviral medications.
- Please continue to stay up to date on your vaccination, stay home if you are sick, and wear a mask if you come back with any mild residual symptoms.
- If you report your COVID-19 situation (symptoms, exposure, or positive test results) using our online report form, you will get an email with guidance on what to do. (If you receive an error message, please use a different browser. If the problem persists, email umboccupationalhealth@som.umaryland.edu)
- Please update your COVID-19 vaccine record in our online portal, which permits you to add booster information as well as primary vaccine info. This will help us understand immunity levels on campus as well as monitor vaccination status for clinicians who have vaccination requirements.
- Home test kits are no longer being provided by the federal government but are widely available for purchase in pharmacies, supermarkets, and online. Near campus, Nomi Health is still an option for COVID-19 testing, and students can get asymptomatic testing at Student Health by scheduling at this link.
- Students and employees with symptoms can schedule an appointment for evaluation at University of Maryland Immediate Care (UMIC), which could include testing for COVID-19, influenza, or other viruses, by calling 1-667-214-1899.
- If you have flu-like symptoms, guess what? It might well be flu and not COVID-19 this year. Influenza rates are very high now in Maryland. Please consider seeking a medical evaluation to get tested for influenza and COVID-19. There are medications available for both illnesses that can be prescribed early in the course of illness.
- Speaking of influenza, have you gotten a flu shot yet? It can help protect you and others. Students can schedule a flu shot at UMIC at this link. Employees can schedule a flu shot by calling 1-667-214-1899.
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has hit Maryland hard over the past several months, but rates are decreasing. RSV is more likely to affect the very young and very old, and there’s no specific treatment for the virus. Fortunately, the same steps we take to prevent COVID-19 and influenza will help prevent RSV transmission. You can learn more about RSV rates in Maryland at this new MDH tracking site.
I hope you enjoy the holiday season in good health.
Stay healthy,
Marianne Cloeren, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine
UMB Public Health Officer