All articles tagged with #health department
Philadelphia health officials shut down Smiles at Rittenhouse Square after unsafe dental practices prompted a potential exposure to HIV and hepatitis; the dentist's license was suspended, patients are advised to get tested, and a hotline with testing resources is available.
NYC health officials warned that an unvaccinated diner who visited Norma’s Restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen on April 25 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. may have exposed patrons to measles. The NYC Department of Health says the overall public risk is low due to high vaccination coverage, but there have been five confirmed measles cases in NYC this year. Measles is airborne and can linger for up to two hours; vaccination with the MMR vaccine offers the best protection and helps maintain herd immunity. The restaurant reported no ongoing risk, and the health department is notifying those potentially exposed.
City health inspectors shuttered The Spotted Dog at 1154 First Ave after a health inspection tallying 113 violation points, citing rats, flies, improper food temperatures and other hazards. The restaurant, which hosts a Culture In A Bowl pop-up, lacked a certified food protection manager on site and allowed staff to eat or smoke in prep areas. It must fix all violations before reopening; it previously closed in March 2025.
At the Houston Rodeo, Tina Knowles’s Mama Tina’s Gumbo drew crowds, but a patron reported chills, fever, nausea and vomiting blood, prompting a temporary health-department closure; inspectors flagged off-site cooking, non-food-grade buckets, missing temperature logs, and thawed seafood, with the stall later cleared to reopen.
Health inspectors temporarily closed Mama Tina’s Gumbo after finding thawed seafood and food stored in buckets, with authorities requiring corrective actions and a follow-up inspection before reopening.
The New York City Department of Health confirmed the city’s first severe mpox (clade I) case, travel-related with no known local transmission. Clade I can cause more serious symptoms and higher fatality; vaccination with two doses of JYNNEOS is advised for at‑risk groups, including men who have sex with men and travelers to affected areas. Since January 2026, about 45 NYC residents have tested positive for mpox, with 16 cases in the last month, marking a shift from the milder clade II outbreak in 2022.
Sussex County health officials are investigating a countywide mystery stomach illness with vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, chills, and fever. No definitive source or link has been identified, testing is not being conducted countywide, most patients recover in 1–3 days, and residents who think they’re affected are advised to see their doctor and report symptoms via [email protected]. Updates will follow as the probe continues.
Mayor Mamdani named Stanley Richards, a former inmate and longtime prisoner advocate, as the head of the NYC Department of Correction—the first formerly incarcerated leader of the agency—while appointing Dr. Alister Martin to head the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The changes come as Rikers Island operates under federal oversight amid a plan to replace the jail with four borough-based facilities by 2027, a shift that comes with a broadened power structure for the court-ordered monitor, ballooning costs, and ongoing labor and budget challenges.
A Spring Hill woman died as Tennessee health officials investigate a cluster of histoplasmosis cases, a rare fungal infection; authorities warned doctors to be on alert for more cases amid the health department’s probe.
A Florida doctor, Lily J. Voepel, faces disciplinary action after her office was found to have unsafe practices that led to at least three patients contracting hepatitis C, resulting in a temporary license suspension, fines, and mandatory training to improve infection control.
The Long Beach Health Department is planning to lay off or reassign up to 40 employees due to a nearly $4 million federal funding cut and an overall $11 million budget deficit, which has led to program closures and concerns about impacts on public health services.
More than 40 people, including patrons and staff, were infected with norovirus at Faccia Luna restaurant in State College, PA. The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed the outbreak, leading to the restaurant's temporary closure. Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the virus, which is highly contagious and can spread easily. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea, typically lasting one to three days. The public is advised to practice good hygiene to prevent further spread.
A norovirus outbreak at Faccia Luna, a popular restaurant in State College, Pennsylvania, led to a temporary three-day closure for deep cleaning by the state health department. The restaurant has since reopened, with officials confirming that the illnesses were due to norovirus, not food poisoning. Norovirus is highly contagious and a leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea in the U.S. The health department continues to investigate the source of the outbreak.
Faccia Luna Pizzeria in State College, PA, was temporarily closed after customers and employees fell ill with norovirus, confirmed by the Pennsylvania Health Department. The restaurant has since been cleaned and reopened, with ongoing investigations into the outbreak's source. Norovirus is highly contagious and can spread through contaminated food, water, or surfaces. The health department is working with local authorities to ensure safety and prevent further cases.
A norovirus outbreak at Faccia Luna restaurant in State College, Pennsylvania, led to illnesses among dozens of customers and staff, prompting a temporary closure for sanitization. The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed the virus as the cause, with symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. The restaurant owner, Bill McFadden, stated that the virus likely spread from an infected individual rather than the food itself. Health authorities are investigating the outbreak's transmission source.