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Public Health

All articles tagged with #public health

health9 hours ago•2 min saved

Dallas County Reports First Measles Case of 2026, Exposure at Three Venues

Dallas County has confirmed its first measles case of 2026, with potential exposure at three sites: Turrentine Jackson Morrow Chapel in Allen (Aug 14, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.), Gloria’s Restaurant in Fairview (Aug 14, 12:30–5 p.m.), and The Revel Patio Grill in Frisco (Aug 15, around 8 p.m.–midnight). Officials urge unvaccinated or at-risk individuals who were at those locations to monitor for symptoms and ensure their MMR vaccination is up to date, as measles is highly contagious but preventable.

via FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth|

#dallas-county #exposure #health

health12 hours ago•6 min saved

Bat-in-mouth scare triggers rabies alert as Maryland redistricting effort stalls

A Richmond doctor woke to a bat in her mouth and, after trapping the animal and seeking urgent guidance, had the bat tested for rabies; authorities say bat exposures require prompt testing and treatment, and the bat in this case tested negative, underscoring the need to contact local health departments quickly. Separately, a Maryland court blocked a Democratic-backed redistricting amendment from appearing on the November ballot, delaying efforts to redraw congressional districts and prompting a potential appeal to the state Supreme Court.

via WTOP News|

#bat #health #public-health

health14 hours ago•14 min saved

Tuolumne County Reports First 2026 West Nile Case, Urges Mosquito Precautions

Tuolumne County’s public health department confirms the first human West Nile Virus case of 2026; the adult patient was hospitalized and no further details were released. Officials note that most infections are mild but severe disease can occur, especially in older adults or those with weakened immune systems, and emphasize prevention: use DEET-based repellent, wear long clothing at dawn and dusk, and drain standing water. California reports its highest West Nile activity in five years, with August–September as peak season.

via myMotherLode.com|

#california #health #mosquito-prevention

health16 hours ago•4 min saved

Nicotine Vapes Shown More Effective Than Patches or Gum for Quitting Smoking, New Review Finds

An updated Cochrane review of 80 randomized trials (29,861 participants) finds nicotine-containing e-cigarettes more effective for six‑month smoking cessation than nicotine-replacement therapies (like patches or gum) and often outperform counselling. About 8–10% quit with nicotine vapes versus ~6% with NRT, with roughly 2 extra quitters per 100 compared with non-nicotine devices and about 5 per 100 more than counselling. Harms appear not greater, but long‑term outcomes are uncertain since most studies follow participants for six months and newer devices may be more effective. The review did not assess health benefits of switching or outcomes after quitting vaping. Policy notes: Australia restricts nicotine vapes to quitting schemes; New Zealand is more permissive in encouraging vaping to reduce smoking. Overall, vaping may be a valuable quit aid for those who fail other therapies.

via The Conversation|

#cochrane-review #health #nicotine-replacement-therapy

politics17 hours ago•42 min saved

Florida moves to drop four school vaccine rules, sparking clash with Trump-era policy

Florida health officials unveiled a proposed rule to drop four school vaccine requirements—chickenpox, Hepatitis B, Hib, and pneumococcal disease—for attendance at public and private schools, though those vaccines would still be required under state law; the proposal, now in a public-comment period, reflects Surgeon General Ladapo’s anti-mandate stance and comes amid President Trump’s efforts to revise the national childhood vaccine schedule, which still endorses several vaccines.

via Yahoo News Canada|

#florida #ladapo #politics

health19 hours ago•12 min saved

Rabies Alert After Bat Encounters in Idaho Falls and Rigby

IDAHO FALLS — Eastern Idaho Public Health warns residents after two incidents in Idaho Falls and Rigby where bats tested positive for rabies, with domestic pets exposed; authorities urge anyone who may have touched a bat or whose pet interacted with one to seek prompt medical or veterinary advice, keep rabies vaccinations current, and never handle bats with bare hands. Public health can coordinate free testing if exposure is identified (208-533-3152).

via East Idaho News|

#bats #health #idaho-falls

health23 hours ago•4 min saved

Measles Deadly Toll in Pennsylvania as U.S. Outbreak Reaches Decades-High Levels

Two unvaccinated residents in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, have died from measles, marking the first U.S. deaths this year as the nation faces its worst outbreak since 1991 with 2,777 cases. Health officials warn about the disease’s potential severity amid declining vaccination rates and ongoing political debates over vaccines. Pennsylvania has about 400 cases this year, with roughly 35,000 people vaccinated in response to the surge.

via 6abc Philadelphia|

#health #measles #outbreak

world1 day ago•23 min saved

DRC Ebola Outbreak Could Be History’s Deadliest Amid Funding Gaps

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is accelerating toward what could become the worst on record, with doctors and aid groups warning that funding shortfalls and rampant misinformation are hampering the response and risking more lives without increased international support.

via The Washington Post|

#democratic-republic-of-the-congo #disease-outbreaks #ebola-virus

health1 day ago•44 min saved

Massachusetts records second West Nile case of the season in Middlesex County

Massachusetts health officials reported the state’s second human case of West Nile virus this year, in Middlesex County, prompting a high-risk level for several Boston-area communities. Mosquitoes testing positive since mid-June and the first case—a man in his 90s—underscore the peak-season risk, and authorities urge precautions such as EPA-registered repellents, avoiding outdoor activity at dusk and dawn, and wearing long sleeves and pants to reduce bites.

via The Boston Globe|

#health #massachusetts #middlesex-county

public-health1 day ago•44 min saved

Gulf Coast sees third fatal Vibrio case as Florida reports uptick in vibriosis

Florida health officials report a third death from Vibrio vulnificus infections in the past month, with 17 confirmed vibriosis cases across 12 counties. The flesh-eating bacteria live in warm coastal waters and can cause severe illness from seawater exposure or raw shellfish. Cases tend to spike after hurricanes that leave standing water; the latest fatality occurred in Bay County. Officials advise caution with open wounds and seafood and to seek prompt medical care for wound infections.

via Yahoo|

#florida #florida-department-of-health #gulf-coast

environment1 day ago•3 min saved

Proximity to a Defunct Nuclear Site Linked to Autoimmune and Metabolic Disorders

A Risk Analysis study surveying 475 residents within 15 miles of California's Santa Susana Field Laboratory—an old nuclear reactor and rocket-testing site and Superfund site—finds higher rates of autoimmune, endocrine, and metabolic disorders among those living closer to the facility, expanding beyond prior cancer-focused research, while noting limitations due to self-reported diagnoses and the need for further verification.

via Gizmodo|

#california #environment #environmental-health

health1 day ago•3 min saved

Rains spark mosquito surge; Sumter County ramps up control efforts

Recent rainfall and Florida’s summer weather have boosted mosquito activity in Sumter County. Mosquito Control monitors populations and conducts targeted treatments when thresholds are exceeded, while residents are urged to remove standing water, protect against bites with clothing and EPA-registered repellent, check and repair screens, and report concerns or sign up for AlertSumter spray notices.

via Villages-News.com|

#health #mosquito-control #public-health

health1 day ago•5 min saved

Maryland measles spike sharpens push for childhood vaccination

Maryland health officials declared a measles outbreak in St. Mary’s, Carroll and Cecil counties after 14 new confirmed cases in unvaccinated residents, bringing the year's total to 31 cases; health experts say measles is highly contagious and can have serious consequences, especially for immunocompromised people, urging vaccination for children at 12 months and again at 4–6 years.

via WTOP News|

#health #maryland #measles

health1 day ago•8 min saved

Colorado's 10-measles outbreak cost nearly $500K to contain

A Colorado 10-case measles outbreak required 6,876 hours of public-health work and cost about $491,175 to contain, with a week-by-week accounting of exposure events, quarantines, testing and school disruptions that show how costly outbreak response can be.

via The Washington Post|

#colorado #health #measles

health1 day ago•4 min saved

Lancaster County measles deaths trigger Pennsylvania vaccine push after 35-year gap

Two unvaccinated Lancaster County residents died from measles, the first measles-associated deaths in Pennsylvania in 35 years, as 393 cases are reported statewide—the most since 1992—prompting Gov. Shapiro to urge vaccination and officials to emphasize the MMR vaccine and herd immunity; no additional details about the deceased were released.

via WGAL|

#health #lancaster-county #measles