All articles tagged with #public health emergency
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency on October 5, 2026, due to a surging measles outbreak. The state has recorded 108 cases this year, with 92 occurring in rural areas since mid-July. This is the first such declaration in the US since the 2025 surge began. The emergency expands who can administer MMR vaccines and requires rapid reporting of vaccinations.
New York State declared a disaster emergency on October 5 due to a sharp rise in measles cases, with the state reporting 108 infections through early October. The outbreak is concentrated in unvaccinated individuals, with Lewis County recording 13 cases and Otsego County leading the state with 20. Governor Kathy Hochul expanded vaccine access to include pharmacists and paramedics to accelerate response efforts.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a disaster emergency on October 6 to combat a measles resurgence, expanding vaccine access and suspending consent requirements for vaccination records. The state has recorded 108 cases this year, with 92 occurring in rural areas since mid-July. This move coincides with a lawsuit against the federal government over vaccine guidelines and follows a national surge that has seen over 3,880 cases reported in the US.
Florida is experiencing its largest dengue fever outbreak on record, with nearly 200 locally acquired cases confirmed across six counties. Hillsborough County accounts for the majority of infections, including the state's first dengue-related death this year. In response, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties have declared local states of emergency to expedite mosquito control operations. While experts warn that the true number of cases may be higher due to underreporting, health officials are urging residents to eliminate standing water and use repellents to prevent further transmission.
Florida has confirmed 190 locally acquired dengue cases, with Hillsborough County accounting for 170. Three counties declared states of emergency to expedite mosquito control, while experts warn that underreporting and climate change may be driving the unprecedented surge.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has recorded over 6,000 confirmed Ebola cases and nearly 3,000 deaths, marking the deadliest outbreak in the nation's history. The crisis, driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain, has expanded to 60 health zones across six provinces. With no approved vaccine or treatment available, the situation is complicated by armed conflict, unpaid healthcare workers, and a case fatality ratio exceeding 48%.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing its deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain. As of October 2026, confirmed cases have exceeded 9,000, with at least 4,381 deaths. The outbreak, declared a public health emergency of international concern in May, has spread to eight provinces. A lack of approved vaccines or treatments for this specific strain, combined with armed conflict and delayed detection, has allowed transmission to accelerate faster than any previous Ebola crisis.
Fort Bend County has begun evening aerial spraying to curb a surge in mosquitoes after declaring a public health emergency; planes will target designated areas each night through Thursday, while residents are advised to follow the 4 Ds of mosquito safety (avoid dusk and dawn, drain standing water, wear long sleeves/pants, and use CDC-approved repellents like DEET).
A Bundibugyo strain Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo has escalated into a regional crisis, driven by illegal gold mining and deforestation that bring workers into contact with wildlife; with hundreds infected and cases spilling into Uganda, WHO has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern as armed conflict and mistrust hinder containment and no approved vaccines exist for this strain.
The Ituri province in DR Congo faces a fast-spreading Ebola outbreak with more than 900 suspected cases and 223 deaths; the military governor says the response is under-resourced and must include qualified personnel, secure treatment centres, and adequate food, warning that delays could lead to catastrophe as WHO raises the alarm and Africa CDC mobilizes funds and cross-border coordination continues.
The Congo outbreak has about 220 suspected Ebola deaths, with Uganda reporting two new infections bringing its total to seven, and Congo’s suspected cases surpassing 900 mainly in Ituri. The WHO has declared the outbreak a public-health emergency of international concern, while a vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain has no approved treatment yet—though Oxford researchers are pursuing one that could enter trials in a couple of months. Response is hampered by fear, attacks on treatment centers, and distrust of authorities, with two Ugandan health workers and three Red Cross volunteers among those affected.
MSF urges that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is stretching relief efforts due to resource shortages, with no approved vaccines or drugs yet; WHO has declared a public health emergency, and transport disruptions and conflict hinder response as over 200 deaths and around 850 suspected cases are reported, underscoring the need for faster case confirmation and improved discharge planning.
The World Health Organization has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo caused by the Bundibugyo virus a public health emergency of international concern. With confirmed infections and hundreds more suspected, the outbreak appears to be spreading undetected and has crossed borders to Uganda, while healthcare workers are heavily affected. There are no approved vaccines or treatments for this strain, making expanded diagnostics and cross-border surveillance a priority to prevent wider spread.
The World Health Organization has designated the Ebola outbreak in Africa as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), calling for urgent international coordination, enhanced surveillance, vaccination and treatment efforts, and cross-border containment to prevent wider spread.
Colombia is grappling with a mosquito-borne yellow fever outbreak that has killed more than 70 people since 2024. The government declared a national health emergency last year; from 2024 to January 2026 there were 161 confirmed cases and 73 deaths, including 13 cases and 10 deaths in 2026. Yellow fever symptoms resemble flu—fever, headache and nausea—though severe cases can cause multi-organ failure and internal bleeding; about 15% of patients develop severe illness and roughly half of those die, according to the WHO. The outbreak is being monitored as part of global disease surveillance.