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Record-high vaccine exemptions trigger concern as kindergarten MMR rates dip
3 days ago•Source: The Guardian
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SC Rabies Outbreak: 13 People, 4 Pets Exposed Across Three Counties
South Carolina health officials say 13 people and four pets have been exposed to rabies after three animals—an Aiken County horse, an Anderson County skunk, and a Charleston County raccoon—tested positive; two dogs exposed in Anderson and two in Charleston will be quarantined under the Rabies Control Act. The state requires vaccination for dogs, cats, and ferrets, and there have been 72 rabid-animal cases statewide this year.
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FDA raises egg recall to top risk amid Salmonella outbreak
cidrap.umn.edu•7 days ago
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2026 Cyclospora Outbreak Becomes Largest U.S. Foodborne Illness Event Linked to Lettuce
A 2026 multistate Cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Fresh Farms has sickened over 9,400 people across 17 states as of Aug. 13, marking the largest Cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history. The piece notes that one of the worst overall foodborne incidents was a 1994 salmonella outbreak linked to ice cream from a Minnesota factory, infecting an estimated 224,000 people. It also notes that about one in six Americans contract a foodborne illness annually, that norovirus is the most common pathogen, and that public health networks like PulseNet (created in 1996) help detect outbreaks, while policymakers push for new food-safety policies.
CDC data show surge in kindergarten vaccine exemptions to 4.2%
CDC data for the 2025-26 school year show kindergarten vaccination exemptions hit a record 4.2%, up from 3.6% and higher than 2020-21, with most exemptions for non-medical reasons. Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) coverage dipped to 92.4% (below the 95% herd-immunity target), while varicella vaccination fell to 93.4% with the two-dose rate edging up to 92.2%, underscoring ongoing measles risk amid suboptimum vaccination levels.
Candida Auris: Drug-Resistant Fungus Spreads Through Arizona and 27 States
A drug-resistant fungal infection caused by Candida auris is spreading across Arizona and other states, with Arizona reporting over 300 cases since 2022 and Pima County cases rising from 31 in 2024 to 59 in 2025. The fungus spreads through contact with affected patients or contaminated surfaces, and its symptoms vary by infection site, making detection challenging. Hand washing is the best prevention, and nationwide data show rising infections in 27 states.
LA's Typhus Crisis: When Rats Outpace the City
LA is facing a dramatic surge in flea-borne typhus spread by rats and their fleas, driven by a growing urban rat population, garbage-filled streets, and a homelessness crisis. With cases rising from single digits in the early 2000s to record highs (about 220 cases in 2025 and 187 in 2024) and hospitalizations making up a large share of patients, public-health officials say they’re overwhelmed and underfunded. Tightened state rules on anticoagulant rodenticides and reduced pest-control tools compound the problem. The article argues for more resources and policy changes to finally curb the medieval disease threatening Angelenos.
US Faces Widespread Spread of Candida auris Across 26 States
CDC tracking shows 3,437 reported Candida auris cases across 26 states as of July 25, 2026. This drug‑resistant yeast can cause serious infections in healthcare settings, spreads via contact and contaminated surfaces, and may resist standard antifungal treatment. High‑risk patients with severe illnesses or invasive devices are most susceptible. Containment hinges on patient screening, strict hand hygiene, isolating infected individuals, and using effective disinfectants to curb transmission.
Florida issues dengue alerts as locally acquired cases rise; how to guard against mosquitoes
The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County issued Aug. 3 alerts for dengue after a locally acquired case; three locally acquired dengue cases were reported between July 26 and Aug. 1, with four confirmed in 2026 across Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties. Officials emphasize preventing mosquito-borne illness by eliminating standing water, using repellent (especially at dusk and dawn), securing entrances with screens, wearing long sleeves and pants, cleaning rain gutters, replacing outdoor water, and requesting mosquito inspections.
Dayton Park Sprayed After West Nile Virus Detected in Mosquitoes
Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County will spray a section of Wegerzyn MetroPark in Dayton at dusk after traps tested positive for West Nile Virus; no human cases have been reported; spraying uses the Duet adulticide and covers the area around 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave tonight; for more information call (937) 225-4362.
Coastline Health Gap: Deprivation and Migration Drive Midlife Multimorbidity
A BMJ Public Health analysis of two long-running UK birth cohorts finds that living near the coast in adolescence is not by itself linked to later multimorbidity. Instead, adults who stay in coastal areas or move there are more likely to develop multiple chronic illnesses by midlife, driven by deprivation and selective migration that concentrates poor health in coastal communities. After adjusting for neighborhood deprivation, the gap narrows, but migration patterns still leave coastal regions with higher shares of disadvantaged residents. The study calls for coordinated investment in health care, transportation, education, and employment to address coastal health inequalities.
Two Ohio Leprosy Cases in 2026 Spotlight Rare Local Transmission
Ohio has recorded two leprosy cases in 2026 (Hamilton and Summit counties), part of six cases in the past decade; leprosy remains rare in the U.S. with about 225 cases annually and is curable with antibiotics over six months to two years. Early diagnosis and exposure screening help prevent spread. General public risk is low, though armadillo contact and soil exposure have been noted as possible local factors.
Public Health on the Backfoot: Outbreaks Emerge as Trump-era Policies Reshape US Health Agencies
A Futurism-backed Yahoo piece argues that the Trump administration’s dismantling of public health offices, policy rollbacks, and budget cuts weakened key agencies like the CDC and FDA, helping fuel resurgent outbreaks of cyclospora, salmonella, measles, and botulism. The article notes the CDC has lost about a quarter of its staff since early 2025, delays in a food-traceability rule, and reduced vaccination coverage, warning that these changes could have lasting public-health consequences.