This cross-sectional study examines the prevalence of ever and current post–COVID-19 condition (long COVID) and self-reported limitations of activity due to symptoms of post–COVID-19 condition among US adults. | eng

In most persons, human parvovirus B19 (B19) causes a mild respiratory illness, but infection can result in adverse health outcomes in persons who are pregnant, immunocompromised, or who have chronic hemolytic blood disorders. During the first quarter of 2024, several European countries reported increases in B19 activity. In the United States, there is no routine surveillance for B19. To assess increases in B19 activity in the United States, trends in testing and results from two independent populations were examined: 1) the presence of immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibodies, a marker of recent infection, in clinical specimens ordered by physicians and 2) B19 nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) in pooled donor source plasma from a large commercial laboratory during 2018-2024. The proportion of IgM-positive clinical specimens reached 9.9% in the second quarter (Q2) of 2024 after remaining <1.5% during 2020-2023 and was higher than Q2 peaks in 2018 (3.8%, p<0.001) and 2019 (5.1%, p<0.001). The prevalence of B19-NAAT-positive donor pools (512 donations per pool) reached 20% in June 2024 after remaining <2% during 2020-2023 and was higher than peaks in 2018 (6.7%, p<0.001) and 2019 (7.3%, p<0.001). Considering the B19 activity increase in the United States in 2024, promotion of measures to prevent respiratory viruses and monitor for adverse B19-related outcomes by health care providers and public health authorities might reduce adverse health outcomes in pregnant persons and others at increased risk.

The iodine status of women of childbearing age in the United States has declined dramatically over the last 25 years (1,2). In fact, using criteria from the World Health Organization, certain subgroups may be classified as iodine deficient (3). Given this dramatic decline in iodine status and the critical role of iodine in fetal neurologic development, in October 2006 the American Thyroid Association recommended iodine supplementation for all pregnant and lactating women in the United States and Canada (4). | We were interested in determining the percentage of women of childbearing age in the United States taking supplements and the percentage taking supplements containing iodine. We looked at data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2001–2006. NHANES is a stratified, multistage survey that provides a representative sample of the noninstitutionalized U.S. population (5). Information collected includes the use of any vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements within the previous 30 days. Product names are obtained and are compared to a database containing information including vitamin and mineral content. | The reported use of any supplement and use of a supplement containing iodine within the previous 30 days is presented in Table 1 for nonpregnant women of childbearing age (15‱44 years) and pregnant and lactating women. Less than half of nonpregnant women were taking any supplement compared to three fourths of pregnant women and two thirds of lactating women. Only one fifth of nonpregnant and pregnant women and 15% of lactating women were taking a supplement that contained iodine. Although the prevalence of supplement use was much higher among pregnant and lactating women compared to nonpregnant women, the prevalence of taking a supplement containing iodine was similarly low among all groups. This indicates that a lower percentage of supplements consumed by pregnant and lactating women contained iodine compared to supplements consumed by nonpregnant women (26% and 22%, vs. 47%, respectively).