NSW Health has paused wastewater reporting. They are updating sampling, lab processing, and analysis methods. This major overhaul strongly indicates they are preparing to integrate with the upcoming ACDC National Wastewater Surveillance Program rollout.
(2/3) NSW COVID-19 Whole Genome Sequencing: 15 October 2026
🔸Last updated: 3 October 2026
🔹 NB.1.8.1: ~64%
🔹 XFG: ~20%
🔹 BA.3.2: ~5%
🔹 JN.1: ~5%
🔹 All others: ~6%
🧵(1/3) NSW respiratory surveillance reports: 15 October 2026
Week ending 10 October 2026
🔸COVID positivity rate: 2.5% (+0.3%)
🔸Number of laboratories reporting COVID: 2 out of 4
🔹COVID: 459 (-5.9%)
🔹Influenza: 3,732 (-21.3%)
🔹RSV: 545 (-15.8%)
Source: https://health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/reports.aspx
"People with long COVID have a ‘drastically’ different oral microbiome"
A study of 771 people hospitalised with COVID found those with severe Long COVID had altered mouth and airway bacteria, linked to brain fog, lung and gut problems. It's unclear if changes came before or after infection. Earlier research (2023) found COVID can reduce oral microbiome diversity.
Study: https://publications.ersnet.org/content/erj/early/2026/07/09/1399300301162-2026
COVID-19: Research updates, October 13
• New study finds COVID-19 linked to a significant increase in dementia risk among older adults with type 2 diabetes.
• SARS-CoV-2-specific monoclonal antibody AER002 fails Long COVID trial.
• FDA clears new Phase 2 trial of botanical drug FRP-003 for Long COVID.
Source: https://thesicktimes.org/2026/10/13/research-updates-october-13/
Archive: https://archive.li/cAWJR
The long-term consequences of COVID infections can’t be ignored forever.
"Long COVID Diagnostic Score Under Fire: Researchers Warn Validation Study Overstates Accuracy"
A Long COVID diagnostic tool might not be as accurate as a study claims. Researchers say comparing people with severe symptoms to healthy people makes it easier to get impressive results. The real challenge is telling Long COVID apart from other conditions with similar symptoms.
Archive: https://archive.li/NIWsg
Study: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11606-026-10852-2
🇹🇭Thailand: COVID-19 cases decline for 3rd consecutive week.
Reported weekly cases:
🔸W30: 9,276
🔸W31: 7,938
🔸W32: 12,188
🔸W33: 11,913
🔸W34: 15,505
🔸W35: 15,409
🔸W36: 17,473
🔸W37: 15,973
🔸W38: 34,842 (data dump of backlog data)
🔸W39: 12,300
🔸W40: 9,066
🔸W41: 8,867 (-2.1%)
"Cardiovascular Changes in Pregnant Women After Mild COVID-19 Infection: An Examination of Endothelial and Autonomic Functions"
A study of 80 pregnant women, including 36 who were diagnosed with mild COVID-19 infection, found reduced blood vessel function, increased fat around the heart and higher inflammation markers.
However, researchers found some differences may be linked to how far along the women were in their pregnancies.
New Zealand: Wastewater COVID-19 Surveillance: Week Ending 4 October 2026
Wastewater Variant Analysis - Updated: 6 Sep 2026
🔹XFG: (~26.9%)
🔹PQ.16.1.1 (~26.2%)
🔹NB.1.8.1 (~19.1%)
🔹RF.5: (~12.6%)
🔹BA.3.2 (~5.3%)
🔹Recombinant (~5.0%)
🔹JN.1 (~4.9%)
Source: https://poops.nz
🇳🇿New Zealand COVID weekly update: 14 October 2026
5 October to 11 October 2026:
🔹New cases: 56 (-6.6%)
🔹Deaths: (data removed from dashboard)
22 September to 28 September 2026:
🔸Hospitalisations: 14 (+7.6%)⚠️
Queensland Weekly Respiratory Surveillance Report: 6 Oct - 12 Oct 2026
Reported cases:
🔹COVID: 244 (-3.1%)
🔹Influenza: 2,650 (-3.1%)
🔹RSV: 273 (-9.0%)
Hospitalisations:
🔸COVID: 16 (-36.0%)
🔸Influenza: 255 (+8.0%)⚠️
🔸RSV: 19 (-9.5%)
COVID infections can cause long lasting damage, and the risks accumulate with every reinfection.
USA: "About 120 Sick, 30 Hospitalized After Mass Illness at Tennessee Walmart Distribution Center"
"Food poisoning is suspected, but officials have not confirmed what caused the illnesses. No particular food, meal or source has publicly been identified as responsible."
Archive: https://archive.is/B0veq
For those asking about Australia's National Wastewater Surveillance Program, I've emailed the Australian CDC today to ask if surveillance has started and when the public dashboard will be available.
I'll share any updates once I hear back. Now we wait!
Australia: "Covid vaccine prevented thousands of Victorian hospitalisations, deaths"
Researchers found Victoria's vaccination strategy during the Delta COVID outbreak prevented over 300,000 infections, 33,000 hospitalisations and almost 5,000 deaths in just 2 months, between September and November 2021.
Archive: https://archive.is/IsAZH
"Study finds driving with COVID-19 raises crash risk by 25%"
Published: Apr 24, 2025
"The study analyzed public health and transportation data from seven states from 2020-2023. The results showed a significant association between acute COVID-19 infections and an increase in vehicle crashes."
Source: https://www.aha.org/news/headline/2025-04-24-study-finds-driving-covid-19-raises-crash-risk-25
"NSW Health issues urgent lyssavirus warning after 43 people bitten by bats over two week period."
"Between September 28 and October 10, 43 people were assessed by NSW Health after they were scratched or bitten by bats, with most incidents taking place in coastal parts of the Hunter, Mid-North Coast, Northern NSW and The Central Coast."
Australia: 222 workers died from workplace injuries in 2025, the highest annual toll since 2012.
There were also 147,200 serious workers' compensation claims in 2024–25, averaging over 400 a day.
Vehicle incidents caused 41% of workplace fatalities, followed by falls from heights (13%).
Source: https://data.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/reports/key-whs-statistics-australia/latest-release
itswilwheaton: "I got my updated COVID and flu vaccines. Thanks, science! Thanks, medicine! Thanks, @dollyparton!"
