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US CDC confirms six measles-related deaths in 2026

US CDC confirms six measles-related deaths in 2026

Nov 12 (Reuters) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed six measles-related deaths in the US this year, according to the agency's website on Thursday, as the country grapples with its worst resurgence of the virus in decades.
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Pennsylvania, Wisconsin report measles-linked deaths as cases rise

Pennsylvania, Wisconsin report measles-linked deaths as cases rise

By Kunal Das and Kamal Choudhury Nov 13 (Reuters) - Health officials in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin reported a measles-associated death each on Friday as the worst outbreak in decades spreads across the US.
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US had eliminated measles. RFK Jr. helped bring it back | Opinion

US had eliminated measles. RFK Jr. helped bring it back | Opinion

Thanks to anti-vaccine non-scientists like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., vaccinations are down and measles cases are up.
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Florida Reports Over 500 Dengue Cases This Year, Marking Largest Outbreak in 15 Years

Florida Reports Over 500 Dengue Cases This Year, Marking Largest Outbreak in 15 Years

Florida is currently experiencing its largest dengue outbreak in over 15 years, with more than 500 locally acquired cases reported this year. As of October 31, the state also recorded 382 international travel-associated cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that dengue fever is caused by any of four dengue viruses, transmitted by infected mosquitoes, and not spread person-to-person. While about three-quarters of infected individuals remain asymptomatic, symptoms typically appear 4-10 days after a mosquito bite and can include high fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, and muscle pain. Severe dengue, which can be life-threatening, affects about 1 in 20 infected people. Florida's climate and environment provide ideal conditions for the Aedes species mosquitoes that transmit the virus.
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US faces loss of measles-free status as experts meet for review

US faces loss of measles-free status as experts meet for review

By Jennifer Rigby and Julie Steenhuysen LONDON/CHICAGO, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Global health experts will determine in the coming days whether the United States has lost its official measles-free status, a public health achievement it has held since 2000 now in jeopardy after outbreaks across the
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The US and Mexico are on the verge of forfeiting a major health victory. Here's what to know

The US and Mexico are on the verge of forfeiting a major health victory. Here's what to know

International health experts are meeting to assess whether the U.S. and Mexico have lost their measles elimination status
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Pennsylvania reports seventh measles-linked death as cases rise

Pennsylvania reports seventh measles-linked death as cases rise

Nov 13 (Reuters) - Pennsylvania health officials on Friday reported the state's seventh measles-associated death this year as the worst outbreak in decades spreads across the US.
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Exclusive-CDC chief says agency will not change measles response if US loses elimination status

Exclusive-CDC chief says agency will not change measles response if US loses elimination status

By Yasmeen Abutaleb WASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will not fundamentally change its response to measles outbreaks even if the US loses its measles elimination status this month, CDC Director Dr Erica Schwartz told Reuters on Tuesday.
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World Health Organization Officials Evaluate Revoking U.S. Measles-Free Status Amid Rising Cases

World Health Organization Officials Evaluate Revoking U.S. Measles-Free Status Amid Rising Cases

Officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) are currently meeting to assess whether to revoke the United States' measles-free status. This evaluation comes as the number of measles cases in the U.S. has surpassed 5,000. The significant increase in cases is attributed to a decline in the administration of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccines. The U.S. had previously achieved measles elimination, a status indicating the absence of continuous disease transmission for at least 12 months. The current surge in infections raises concerns about the re-establishment of endemic measles transmission within the country, prompting the WHO's review.
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More parents are rejecting this shot for newborns. Why babies need it

More parents are rejecting this shot for newborns. Why babies need it

Two new studies found an accelerating trend of parents refusing vitamin K shots at birth and, at the same time, more reports of babies bleeding.
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CDC Issues Guidelines for Adult Measles Vaccination Amidst Outbreak Concerns

CDC Issues Guidelines for Adult Measles Vaccination Amidst Outbreak Concerns

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidance regarding measles vaccination for adults, particularly in light of ongoing outbreaks. The CDC outlines four primary forms of evidence to confirm immunity: written vaccination records, laboratory results showing immunity, laboratory confirmation of a past measles infection, or birth before 1957. Adults lacking any of these forms are considered to have insufficient evidence of immunity. The recommended vaccine is the MMR shot, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Depending on individual circumstances, adults may require one or two doses. Special consideration is given to those who received an inactivated measles vaccine between 1963 and 1967, as it was not reliably protective, and revaccination with the live vaccine is advised. The CDC emphasizes that measles can be spread from four days before the rash appears to four days after, highlighting the importance of timely vaccination and checking immunity status, especia...
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WHO Urged to Declare Climate Change a Public Health Emergency Amidst Intensifying El Niño and Rising Fatalities

WHO Urged to Declare Climate Change a Public Health Emergency Amidst Intensifying El Niño and Rising Fatalities

Public health researchers and professionals are urgently calling for the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the health impacts of climate change a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This appeal comes as the world faces an unprecedented El Niño season, with a recent report forecasting 451,000 additional heat-related deaths from June 2026 to February 2027, a figure comparable to COVID-19 fatalities in the first six months of the pandemic. Extreme climate events, including heatwaves, floods, and wildfires, have already caused significant loss of life and displacement globally, with over 50,000 heat-related deaths reported in European cities last summer, over 65% directly attributable to climate change. The WHO's International Health Regulations provide a mechanism for such a declaration, which would galvanize political will, mobilize financing, and provide evidence-based recommendations for an urgent public health response.