Dallas County reports low COVID and flu activity amid increased surveillance efforts

In a recent meeting of the Dallas County Commissioners Court, public health officials provided updates on the current status of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, highlighting a significant decline in COVID-19 cases and low activity levels for flu and RSV.

The health department reported that COVID-19 is no longer classified as a reportable condition, yet monitoring continues due to the potential for future outbreaks. Current data indicates that while national COVID-19 activity remains at medium levels, Dallas County is experiencing low levels of activity, although there is a noted increase. Officials emphasized the importance of ongoing surveillance, including wastewater testing, to track any emerging variants.

Vaccine availability remains a priority, with health officials maintaining access at various sites, including brick-and-mortar locations and satellite clinics. Efforts to increase outreach have been implemented, including rescheduling events that had previously been canceled. The department aims to conduct at least one outreach event per week to boost vaccination rates.

In addition to COVID-19, the meeting addressed the status of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Flu activity is currently low, with only 1.3 percent of tests returning positive results. Similarly, RSV cases are also at low levels, as indicated by both testing and wastewater surveillance data.

A concerning update was provided regarding measles, with over 1,000 cases reported nationally, the majority of which involve unvaccinated individuals. Texas accounts for a significant portion of these cases, with 718 reported statewide. However, health officials noted that the spread of measles appears to be slowing.

Overall, the meeting underscored the importance of continued vigilance in public health efforts, particularly in monitoring and responding to infectious diseases. As the situation evolves, officials remain committed to ensuring community health and safety through proactive measures and public outreach.