All articles tagged with #health department
A Richmond gastroenterologist woke to a bat in her mouth and shared the incident online, turning it into a viral warning: if a bat is found in your home, trap it for rabies testing and contact your local health department rather than trying to kill it; the bat tested negative for rabies, and authorities say prompt action is key in potential exposures.
A Dunkin’ Donuts employee aboard the Staten Island Ferry was filmed washing his bare feet in a kitchen sink, prompting a NYC Health Department probe into food-safety practices near food prep; witnesses called the scene revolting, and Dunkin’ has not commented.
The Upper East Side Legionnaires’ disease cluster has claimed nine lives, surpassing last year’s Harlem outbreak; officials say the source has been eliminated, no new confirmed cases for over three weeks, one person remains hospitalized, and grieving families have filed lawsuits against the city.
The Franklin County Health Department has confirmed several cases of Legionnaires’ disease. Legionella bacteria are present in water systems and do not spread person-to-person. Officials are collaborating with state health agencies to identify a common source, while advising the public to reduce risk by cleaning water-mist devices, keeping water heaters at 140°F, and flushing and maintaining water systems.
A fourth death has been linked to Manhattan’s Legionnaires’ disease outbreak. The city’s health department reports 76 total cases and seven people still hospitalized; investigators continue inspecting cooling towers tied to the exposure, and a attorney for the widow of an 88-year-old man who died plans to pursue a suit against the building owner.
Tal Bagels on Broadway between 90th and 91st Street was closed by the NYC Health Department after a July 17 inspection scored 157 violation points, including contamination in the food prep/storage area, cross-contamination risks, mice, roaches, and sewage disposal issues. The shop had previously earned an A rating in June 2025, and it may reopen once the cited conditions are fixed, with a reopening window from 24 hours to several weeks; staff were seen cleaning as of Sunday noon.
Montgomery County Health Department confirms a rabies case in a Fultonville horse, linked to a raccoon variant. Five people are being treated for potential exposure, with vaccine-related costs estimated at $15,000–$20,000 for the department. Additional animals on the farm are quarantined and tested; pre-exposure vaccines exist for both animals and people and remain far cheaper than the post-exposure vaccine series.
The Dearborn County Health Department reports 37 chlamydia cases so far in 2026, up from 28 for all of 2025, and urges sexually active residents or those with unprotected sex to get screened. Chlamydia often has no symptoms, so routine testing is important for early detection and treatment, which is typically antibiotics. The department is offering free, confidential testing and can be scheduled at 812-537-8844.
A former Long Island nurse, Julie DeVuono, earned about $1.5 million by selling fake COVID-19 vaccine cards to parents of 162 schoolchildren between 2019 and 2022; she pleaded guilty in 2023 to forgery and money laundering, and the New York Department of Health imposed a $544,000 civil penalty—the largest for vaccination fraud in its 125-year history.
NYC health officials are investigating a Legionnaires’ disease cluster in Carnegie Hill and Yorkville on the Upper East Side, with two confirmed cases and more potential cases awaiting testing. Residents who have been in the area since late June should seek medical care if they develop flu-like symptoms, as timely antibiotics are crucial. Legionnaires’ spreads via water systems, not person-to-person, so investigators will sample cooling towers and other sources and order remediation if any tests are positive. No deaths have been reported in this cluster, which follows Harlem’s much larger outbreak last year, and authorities note it remains safe to use air conditioning during the current heat wave.
The Hardee’s in Circleville (300 W. Main St.) closed in late April after a long history of health-department violations dating back more than a decade, including a 2022 inspection with critical issues and a 2023 shutdown by local officials; it’s not yet clear if the closure is permanent.
Milwaukee's Health Department says three people are under monitoring for Ebola and are considered at very low risk, with no suspected cases or public health threat. The response follows standard communicable-disease procedures, including regular updates with state and federal partners and ongoing monitoring as needed.
Northern Kentucky health officials are tracing potential tuberculosis exposures after a confirmed case linked to Lloyd Memorial High School; a hotline (859-363-2120) has been set up, and officials say the ongoing exposure risk is lower now that summer break has started, though contact tracing remains challenging.
Raynham's 2 Jerks BBQ is set to reopen on Saturday after a norovirus outbreak prompted a weekend health-related closure, with owners following safety measures under oversight before resuming service.
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.