All articles tagged with #outbreak
Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak has surpassed 1,000 cases, marking the largest U.S. surge since 1991. The outbreak, which began in April, has resulted in 207 hospitalizations and five deaths, all among unvaccinated individuals. While the CDC reports 3,887 cases nationwide, experts warn that falling vaccination rates and low community immunity could prolong the crisis into winter.
Pennsylvania has recorded 1,004 confirmed measles cases in 2026, marking the largest U.S. outbreak in over 30 years. The state leads the nation in infections, surpassing Texas and South Carolina, with 198 hospitalizations and five deaths. Cases are concentrated in Lancaster County, but have spread to 39 counties, including a new case in Allegheny County. Experts warn the surge will continue into winter due to low vaccination rates and limited local health infrastructure.
The Georgia Department of Public Health confirmed five new measles cases among siblings in Jasper County on September 30, 2026. All affected individuals were unvaccinated or under-vaccinated, with at least one having recent out-of-state travel history. This cluster brings the state’s 2026 total to 21 cases, up from 10 in 2025. Officials are conducting contact tracing, noting these cases are unrelated to a separate Cobb County daycare outbreak.
The measles outbreak in Pennsylvania has crossed the 900-case threshold, marking a significant escalation in the state's ongoing public health crisis. This milestone reflects a continued surge in infections, driven by low vaccination rates and community spread. Health officials are intensifying efforts to contain the spread through widespread vaccination campaigns and public awareness initiatives.
Wisconsin has recorded 192 measles cases in 2026, with 180 linked to a southwest outbreak and 12 tied to out-of-state travel. Nearly all cases involve unvaccinated individuals, and five have required hospitalization.
CDC updated its measles dashboard but continues to omit four Pennsylvania deaths even as cases surge; lawmakers demand an immediate briefing while experts warn the death count is likely underreported, complicating contact tracing, with Pennsylvania at about 731 cases and reports of new presentations including congenital measles.
Fiji has declared a national emergency to tackle a surging HIV epidemic, expanding testing, treatment and prevention efforts and introducing a syringe-and-needle program. About 1 in 60 adults live with HIV, with 2,016 new diagnoses in 2025; only 39% know their status and 22% are on antiretroviral therapy, prompting a multi-year health-system response. UNAIDS welcomed the move, urging urgent action while highlighting the ongoing need to combat stigma and drivers like needle sharing and unsafe sex.
Pennsylvania's measles outbreak has reached 792 cases this year, with roughly 100 new cases in the past week, making it the nation's largest outbreak in 2026 and centered in Lancaster County; four deaths are linked to the outbreak, though one infant who tested positive died from a splenic rupture attributed to a laceration, not measles, prompting debate over death tallies; exposures have occurred in Philadelphia at CHOP and the Philadelphia Airport; vaccination efforts have intensified with free MMR clinics and a surge in doses administered as authorities push to 95% herd immunity.
Florida is battling a dengue surge, including the state’s first dengue-related death in nearly a century: an 80-year-old Hillsborough County woman who developed symptoms and died after complications linked to local dengue infection. The case underscores ongoing local transmission as 2026 reports show about 332 dengue cases in Florida, with 152 locally acquired. Health officials urge mosquito precautions such as EPA-registered repellents, long-sleeved clothing, and removing standing water. Dengue has four virus types, and past infection with one type does not protect against others, with prior infections potentially increasing the risk of severe disease; climate change is expanding dengue’s reach, suggesting the U.S. risk could continue to grow.
A measles case tied to an Aug. 27 Amtrak trip from Sedalia to Chicago exposed at least 251 people in Jackson County, Missouri, prompting quarantines for 10 unvaccinated individuals and a broad contact-tracing effort spanning Missouri and Kansas, underscoring falling vaccination rates and the need for herd immunity to prevent further spread.
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmit dengue are expanding their range in warm, urban areas, with Florida’s Hillsborough County reporting a local outbreak (134 cases) and a dengue-related death. The spread is driven by warmer temperatures, rapid urban growth, and travel, meaning more U.S. cases are now acquired locally or after travel. While most dengue infections are mild, a minority can progress to severe disease and even death. There is no general antiviral cure or vaccine for everyday travelers; prevention hinges on avoiding mosquito bites and eliminating standing water.
Amid Pennsylvania’s largest measles outbreak in decades, a Philadelphia Inquirer feature follows traditional midwife Roberta Devers in Lancaster County. With the outbreak linked to the deaths of two Amish infants and two adults, state officials report 731 cases across 38 counties and have run 124 pop-up vaccination clinics delivering over 4,100 MMR doses. The piece highlights how Amish communities, guided by “medical pluralism” and limited access to conventional care, are rethinking vaccination; Devers argues for extending vaccine authority to traditional midwives, while state law currently restricts midwives from administering vaccines. The story underscores a broader shift in vaccine attitudes as public health efforts push for broader immunity.
Pennsylvania’s health secretary is urging the CDC to publicly recognize four measles-related deaths as part of the state’s ongoing outbreak response. The state has expanded MMR vaccinations and is seeking federal Epi-Aid assistance, with a stated plan to withdraw the request if the CDC does not acknowledge the four deaths on its public dashboard and share timely, accurate information.
Florida confirmed its first dengue fever death of 2026 amid a surge in locally acquired cases. Gay Small, 80, of Hillsborough County, died on Sept. 4 from complications of dengue after a mosquito bite near Bayshore Boulevard. The Florida Department of Health said locally transmitted dengue cases have risen, with intensified mosquito-control efforts in the Tampa Bay area. Dengue can range from mild to severe, and warning signs include severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding, or breathing difficulties, which require urgent medical care.
The Florida Department of Health confirmed a Hillsborough County woman died from dengue fever—the state's first dengue-related death this year—as locally transmitted cases surge in the Tampa Bay area. Through Sept. 12, Florida logged about 152 dengue cases in the summer (134 in Hillsborough; Pinellas and Miami-Dade each with seven), with the CDC reporting over 330 cases statewide in 2026. Experts say hotter summers and more rain are fueling mosquitoes; local crews are reducing the vector population, but residents must eliminate standing water to prevent further spread. The death occurred Sept. 4 at Tampa General Hospital and involved dengue infection with septic shock and multi-organ failure.