On Jan. 21, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the United States' first known case of novel coronavirus -- what would later come to be known as COVID-19.

Respiratory viruses are continuing to spread across the United States and such activity "is expected to continue for several more weeks."

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging hospitals to accelerate advanced testing of people they suspect may have bird flu.

In 2023, the 10 leading causes of death remained the same as in 2022. The top leading cause in 2023 was heart disease, followed by cancer and unintentional injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rates of norovirus in that CDC system have reached levels at or above last season's peak in all regions of the country. Norovirus test positivity rates look to be the worst in the Midwest, in a grouping of states spanning Kansas through Michigan.

New CDC data indicates a rise in cases of norovirus, often colloquially referred to as "stomach flu." Test positivity has spiked.

Seasonal flu tends to spike from December to February. People who become infected tend to get a sore throat, cough, runny nose, headaches, body aches and sometimes fever. Many people describe flu symptoms as feeling like they’ve been hit by a truck.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says hospitals treating people for the flu should test them for avian influenza within 24 hours.

President Donald Trump, on his Inauguration Day, January 20, announced the start of the process of ending the US membership of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The government will review, rescind, and replace the 2024 US Global Health Security Strategy as soon as practicable, the order says.

Of the vaccines that are recommended for people over 65 in general, I most strongly recommend the flu and COVID vaccines. The pneumonia vaccine is not critically important for the cruise, even though I generally recommend it for healthy people over 65. Cruise ships are notorious for COVID and flu transmission.

Frigid temperatures and light snow in parts of Oklahoma, with single-digit lows and sub-zero wind chills in some areas early Tuesday. Meteorologist Travis Meyer has your forecast.