Tag

Outbreaks

All articles tagged with #outbreaks

health22 days ago•14 min saved

Kent meningitis B outbreak prompts urgent NHS warning and vaccination push

An outbreak of meningitis B in Kent has prompted urgent NHS warnings as cases rise to 27 (two deaths), with links to Canterbury Christ Church University and a London student; authorities are arranging antibiotics for those exposed and rolling out a targeted MenB/MenACWY vaccination drive for University of Kent students. The NHS stresses that meningitis B is serious and can progress rapidly, so seek urgent care if experiencing symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, or a non-blanching rash. Vaccines are available and catch-up doses are offered to those up to age 25, which is especially important for new university entrants.

via The Independent|

#health #meningitis #outbreaks

health23 days ago•14 min saved

Kent meningitis B outbreak prompts NHS warning and student vaccination drive

Health chiefs are investigating 27 meningitis cases linked to an outbreak in Kent, including infections at Canterbury Christ Church University and a London student, with two deaths. Preventive antibiotics are being offered to visitors to a Kent club linked to the outbreak and a vaccination drive for University of Kent students is underway. Meningitis B (Neisseria meningitidis group B) can progress quickly to sepsis; symptoms include high fever, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, rash and sensitivity to light. If meningitis is suspected, call 999 or go to A&E; vaccines exist as part of the UK schedule, with catch-up opportunities up to age 25 for those who missed school vaccination.

via The Independent|

#health #meningitis #nhs

health26 days ago•70 min saved

Measles resurges in the U.S., signaling cracks in public health readiness

Measles has reappeared in the United States after elimination in 2000, with outbreaks spreading across about 30 states and roughly 1,300 infections by March 2026. The resurgence is driven by falling MMR vaccination rates below the 95% herd-immunity benchmark, creating unvaccinated pockets that risk serious illness, hospitalizations, and long-term complications. The outbreaks carry heavy economic costs and serve as a warning about the nation’s ability to respond to broader infectious threats, as public trust in health institutions continues to erode.

via Live Science|

#health #herd-immunity #measles

health29 days ago•12 min saved

Measles comeback exposes cracks in U.S. public health

Measles has reappeared in the U.S. after being eliminated in 2000, driven by falling MMR vaccination rates that have dropped below the 95% herd-immunity target in many areas. By March 2026 there were about 1,300 cases this year across at least 30 states, ongoing outbreaks and hospitalizations, and three deaths in 2025. The resurgence signals not only health risks but broader vulnerabilities in public trust and in our ability to respond to infectious threats, with potential loss of elimination status in North America and large economic costs. Public health efforts now must focus on vaccination, rapid case detection, and maintaining trust in health institutions to prevent wider spread.

via The Conversation|

#health #measles #outbreaks

health1 month ago•7 min saved

Measles Bounces Back, Exposing Cracks in US Public Health

Measles has re-emerged in the US after decades of rarity, driven by vaccination gaps that push local pockets below the 95% herd-immunity threshold. Outbreaks have spread from Texas in 2025 to Utah/Arizona and South Carolina in 2026, with about 1,300 cases by March 2026 (2,283 in 2025 and 3 deaths). The resurgence risks hospitalizations, pneumonia, SSPE, and substantial economic costs, and it highlights eroding public trust in vaccines and health institutions, as well as the possibility that the U.S. and neighboring countries could lose elimination status.

via Ars Technica|

#health #herd-immunity #measles

health1 month ago•2 min saved

UKHSA probes Legionnaires' disease clusters across London

The UK Health Security Agency is investigating a rise in Legionnaires' disease in north-west and south-west London to determine if cases are linked and identify possible sources, with case-by-case interviews and checks of large water systems; cooling towers and large water systems are being instructed to treat with high-dose chlorine.

via BBC|

#health #legionella #legionnaires

health1 month ago•45 min saved

California's measles outbreaks persist in pockets of unvaccinated communities

California is fighting multiple measles outbreaks concentrated in pockets of unvaccinated communities, with seven counties reporting 21 cases this year. Containment requires rapid case investigation and contact tracing, and costs have run into the hundreds of thousands per cluster. Many cases are travel-related, and local health departments face funding cuts that strain vaccination programs and public health infrastructure. Officials emphasize vaccination to protect communities as outbreaks persist nationwide.

via Yahoo|

#california #health #measles

health1 month ago•8 min saved

Unvaccinated Pockets Spark California Measles Outbreaks, Straining Public Health

California faces multiple measles outbreaks driven by pockets of unvaccinated communities, with seven counties reporting 21 cases this year. Outbreaks in Shasta and Riverside are largely linked to travel, and containment requires rapid contact tracing and quarantines, but federal funding cuts have strained public health departments, complicating vaccination efforts and surveillance.

via cbs8.com|

#california #health #measles

health1 month ago•181 min saved

US measles elimination review delayed to November amid 2025 outbreak surge

An international review of whether the United States has eliminated measles has been postponed from April to November as U.S. and PAHO officials gather comprehensive data, including genome sequencing, on the 2025 outbreaks; PAHO scrapped the April session and will address the status at its November meeting. The delay is intended to allow thorough, transparent analysis, not signal delays, and the review timeline remains one year from the start of the major 2025 outbreak, even as US measles cases in early 2026 already exceed typical annual totals.

via CNN|

#cdc #elimination #health

health1 month ago•20 min saved

Measles resurges, and hospitals confront a learning curve after years without cases

Hospitals across the U.S. are re-encountering measles, with Mission Hospital in Asheville failing to isolate two infected twins promptly, exposing at least 26 people and drawing CMS Immediate Jeopardy sanctions. Many clinicians have never seen measles, making diagnosis and isolation difficult; outbreaks in North and South Carolina and Texas threaten measles elimination status. Health workers rely on the three Cs—cough, coryza, conjunctivitis—and CDC isolation-room guidance, while clinics pre-screen patients and advocate vaccination amid debates over federal messaging and vaccine policy. Public health officials warn of uneven immunization, with local schools showing gaps, and urge expanded vaccination to curb spread.

via Daily Kos|

#health #hospitals #measles

health1 month ago•7 min saved

Measles resurges as US tops 1,100 cases in two months

CDC data show the US has logged more than 1,100 measles cases in two months, with 1,136 cases reported in the first eight weeks of the year — about six times the yearly average. About 96% of cases are in unvaccinated or under-vaccinated people, many children. Outbreaks are active across several states, notably South Carolina (≈979 cases since October), plus spread in North Carolina, Utah-Arizona, and Florida near Ave Maria University. Health officials warn the disease remains vaccine-preventable and emphasize expanding vaccination coverage, as the US risks losing its measles elimination status.

via CNN|

#health #measles #mmr

health1 month ago•48 min saved

Measles resurges, challenging hospitals unaccustomed to diagnosing it

Measles outbreaks are flaring in multiple states, and many frontline clinicians have never treated the disease, making rapid recognition and isolation difficult for hospitals as cases rise and public health guidance and vaccination efforts scramble to keep up.

via Yahoo|

#health #hospitals #measles

health1 month ago•19 min saved

Measles Resurgence Tests Hospitals' Readiness

Measles is resurging in the U.S., challenging hospitals and clinicians who have rarely treated the disease. In Asheville, Mission Hospital’s delayed isolation of two infected twins led to a CMS Immediate Jeopardy designation and exposure of at least 26 others. Nationwide, over 3,000 cases have been reported since 2025, with North Carolina chalking up 20+ cases and South Carolina’s outbreak exceeding 900. Many clinicians must rely on unfamiliar 'morbilliform' presentations and the three Cs (cough, coryza, conjunctivitis) to diagnose quickly, while vaccine hesitancy and mixed public-health messaging complicate response efforts. Hospitals are expanding isolation precautions and vaccination campaigns as officials track outbreaks through dashboards and state health agencies.

via KFF Health News|

#health #hospitals #measles

health1 month ago•2 min saved

Georgia Reports Second Measles Case This Year in Unvaccinated Resident

Georgia health officials confirm the state's second measles case of the year in an unvaccinated Bryan County resident who recently traveled out of state; exposed individuals are being notified and should contact a healthcare provider before visiting. Measles is highly contagious and can linger in the air for up to two hours; vaccination with the MMR vaccine is the best protection. CDC data show 982 U.S. cases in 2026 as of Feb. 19, underscoring ongoing outbreaks in unvaccinated communities.

via WSB-TV|

#georgia #health #measles

health2 months ago•7 min saved

Measles resurges worldwide as herd-immunity gaps widen

Measles is re-emerging globally as vaccination coverage dips and exposure rises: the US logged thousands of cases last year and several countries lost their measles-free status, with the 95% herd-immunity target in sight but not yet achieved. Vaccines remain highly protective, though not 100%, so breakthrough infections can occur (typically milder) during outbreaks or travel-related exposures, highlighting the need for high vaccination coverage to prevent sustained transmission.

via Nature|

#health #herd-immunity #measles