All articles tagged with #outbreak
An unvaccinated 40-year-old Pennsylvania woman with asthma and COPD died from an active measles infection, underscoring how measles can be deadly for people with underlying health problems amid Pennsylvania’s outbreak (693 confirmed cases this year; the state’s third measles-related death) as the U.S. faces its largest measles outbreak since 1991.
New York City health officials ordered the immediate cleaning of 10 South Bronx cooling towers, including at Yankee Stadium and Lincoln Hospital, after preliminary testing found Legionella DNA in 10 of 24 towers as part of a Legionnaires' outbreak that has sickened nine people and caused one death. Because PCR cannot distinguish live from dead bacteria, culture tests are pending while authorities push for remediation. High summer temperatures raise risk; older adults and people with underlying conditions are most vulnerable. Residents in ZIP codes 10451 and 10456 should monitor for fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing up blood and seek care early.
Bangladesh is grappling with a severe measles outbreak that has killed more than 1,000 people since March, despite a vaccination drive that reached about 20 million children. Experts say national averages mask local immunity gaps, with underestimations of the number of susceptible children and disruptions to routine immunization contributing to continued transmission. Most deaths are among infants under 15 months who had not yet received the first measles vaccine, and pneumonia is a common complication. Health officials are planning another round of vaccinations and emphasize targeted, community-level outreach to reach vulnerable populations, potentially extending vaccination to older children to close immunity gaps.
A 40-year-old Jefferson County woman in Pennsylvania died from measles complications, the state’s third measles-related death this year amid the U.S.’s worst outbreak in 35 years. Pennsylvania has confirmed at least 676 measles cases across 37 counties with 124 hospitalizations, and fewer than 1% of confirmed cases were fully vaccinated. Nationwide, more than 3,000 cases have been reported this year as health officials monitor the ongoing outbreak.
The CDC has declared the largest US outbreak of the intestinal parasite cyclospora over, with more than 12,000 cases across 21 states and two deaths (in Michigan). The outbreak was linked to lettuce imported from central Mexico by Taylor Farms, prompting a voluntary recall and the removal of the supplier’s lettuce from menus (including Taco Bell). While deaths are uncommon and cases have significantly declined, investigators continue to probe the outbreak’s source.
A drug-resistant MRSA outbreak linked to inflatable bouncy castles at an outdoor gathering in eastern Ireland in 2025 sickened 48 children and teenagers and sent 15 to hospital, including four admitted, with no deaths; most cases involved rapid skin infections after hours of play in wet conditions, suggesting close contact on inflatables facilitated transmission; this was the largest reported community-acquired MRSA outbreak in Ireland, affecting ages 5–16 (median 12).
DRC reports 7,022 Ebola cases from the Bundibugyo strain, with 3,398 deaths and 837 in isolation or treatment; the outbreak began in Ituri and has spread to a seventh province (South-Ubangi), marking the country’s 17th Ebola epidemic with no approved vaccine or treatment available.
Five people in the South Bronx have Legionnaires’ disease, including one death, as NYC health officials probe a new cluster in Melrose and Morrisania; cooling towers are being tested and must be drained and disinfected if positive, while clinicians are advised to consider Legionnaires’ disease in patients with compatible symptoms. The outbreak is the second NYC cluster in recent months, and authorities say the illness is not contagious and is treatable with antibiotics.
Four Pennsylvanians fully vaccinated with two MMR doses have fallen ill with measles in a statewide outbreak that has reached 676 cases, including 295 in Lancaster County; three are adults and one is a child, and none were hospitalized. Health officials note that while breakthrough infections are rare, they can occur as transmission rises. The measles vaccine remains about 97% effective after two doses, and doctors say illness tends to be milder in those who are vaccinated. The outbreak has spurred continued emphasis on vaccination and public health monitoring.
The measles outbreak in southwest Wisconsin has grown to 155 confirmed and 6 probable cases, with 62 in Iowa County, 20 in Grant County, and 73 in Lafayette County (6 probable in Lafayette). Health officials urge residents to check their vaccination status via the Wisconsin Immunization Registry and get an MMR vaccine if unvaccinated; the vaccine is available through doctors, clinics, health departments, and some pharmacies, with programs to help the uninsured. Two doses of MMR are recommended by age 4, and those born before 1957 are considered immune.
Pennsylvania reports four breakthrough measles cases (three adults, one child) from Centre, Jefferson, Lancaster, and Lycoming counties in the ongoing outbreak, with none hospitalized; officials emphasize that breakthrough infections are rare and two doses of MMR provide 97% protection. The outbreak has grown to 676 confirmed cases and 124 hospitalizations across 37 counties with two deaths, and vaccination efforts continue via pop-up clinics and health centers, having administered thousands of MMR doses; high vaccination rates (nearly 93% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated) help shield schools and vulnerable populations.
An Irish community event in fall 2025 saw 48 children develop aggressive skin and soft-tissue infections after attending three crowded bouncy castles; genomic testing identified a rare, PVL-producing MRSA strain (t016-ST22-MRSA-IV) resistant to multiple antibiotics. The outbreak, the largest in Ireland and the first linked to bouncy castle use, spread rapidly in humid, crowded conditions with prolonged play. Four children were hospitalized; all recovered. Officials advised thorough decontamination of equipment and a decolonization protocol for affected families. The outbreak was declared over after 40 days with no new cases.
The CDC says the nation’s largest cyclospora outbreak is over, with infections greatly declining and the Taylor Farms shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico no longer sold; more than 12,000 sickened and two deaths have been reported across 21 states, though other outbreaks with unidentified sources remain under FDA investigation.
Ohio reports 133 measles cases across 15 counties in 2026, marking its third outbreak this year, as nationwide cases reach a 35‑year high driven by declining vaccination rates; officials urge vaccination with the MMR vaccine (97% effective with two doses) and note weekly fluctuations with exposures tied to events in several counties.
A multistate salmonella outbreak is linked to Evergreen Fresh Sprouts broccoli sprouts, sickening 22 people across four states (including Idaho, Montana and Washington) as of Sept. 9. The sprouts were sold to co-ops, restaurants and food-service buyers and are being recalled; consumers should discard any affected product or return it, and sanitize surfaces touched. The CDC notes the true number of cases is likely higher, as many people don’t seek care, and mentions a separate, active alfalfa/radish sprout outbreak under investigation.