Explore

Pennsylvania Department of Health Confirms Seventh Measles-Associated Death Amid Outbreak

Pennsylvania Department of Health Confirms Seventh Measles-Associated Death Amid Outbreak

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed the seventh measles-associated death in the state, involving an unvaccinated resident of Montour County. This death contributes to a total of 1,542 confirmed measles cases across 46 counties in Pennsylvania as of 2026. The DOH is actively responding to the ongoing measles outbreak, with approximately 300 staff members working to provide information and access to the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Since the outbreak began in late April, DOH nurses have administered over 11,300 MMR vaccine doses through pop-up clinics and state health centers. Additionally, healthcare providers statewide have seen a significant increase in MMR vaccinations, administering over 56,000 doses in September and 61,000 in October, compared to a typical monthly average of 25,000 doses. The DOH continues to collaborate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to review cases and coordinate response efforts.

WHO and Partners Bolster South Sudan's Ebola Preparedness Amid Rising Importation Risk

WHO and Partners Bolster South Sudan's Ebola Preparedness Amid Rising Importation Risk

South Sudan is intensifying its preparedness efforts against a potential outbreak of the Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD), with its national readiness level reaching 72.5 percent by the end of October. This comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa increased the estimated risk of BVD importation into South Sudan from 67 percent in June to 99 percent in October 2026. The heightened risk is attributed to porous borders, cross-border trade, population movement, humanitarian displacement, and major transport corridors, particularly along the western and southern border areas with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where an ongoing BVD outbreak is occurring. Health authorities, with WHO support, are implementing measures such as strengthened surveillance, enhanced screening at healthcare facilities, expansion of alert management systems, reinforced laboratory preparedness, rapid response capacities, infection prevention and control, and community engagement. Between May an...

WHO Reports Progress in Tuberculosis Fight Amid Funding Challenges, Urges Increased Investment

WHO Reports Progress in Tuberculosis Fight Amid Funding Challenges, Urges Increased Investment

The World Health Organization (WHO) released its Global Tuberculosis Report 2026, indicating continued progress in reducing TB cases and deaths globally. In 2025, an estimated 10.6 million people developed TB, and 1.1 million died from the disease. This represents a 35% drop in deaths since 2015, meeting the first mortality milestone of WHO’s End TB Strategy, albeit five years later than planned. The report highlights that domestic funding for TB increased by 14% to US$ 5.6 billion between 2024 and 2025, which helped offset a similar decline in international financing. Despite these gains, the global TB incidence rate has only fallen by 14% since 2015, far short of the 50% reduction target for 2025. TB remains the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, with the burden heavily concentrated in 30 countries. Significant disparities exist across regions, with incidence rising in the Americas for the fifth consecutive year in 2025.

Los Angeles Public Health Responses Show Evolving Equity Focus in Disease Outbreaks

Los Angeles Public Health Responses Show Evolving Equity Focus in Disease Outbreaks

Los Angeles has demonstrated an evolving approach to health equity in its public health responses to disease outbreaks over time, according to a recent analysis. Historically, responses to diseases like tuberculosis in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were marked by significant racial and economic discrimination, with public health officials often blaming immigrants and poorer communities and restricting their access to care. Decades later, the HIV/AIDS epidemic saw Los Angeles emerge as a national leader in equitable responses at the city level, passing landmark anti-discrimination laws, though county-level responses were slower. Most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic saw health equity explicitly integrated into public health strategies in Los Angeles and California, with policies aimed at directing resources to communities with the greatest need. Despite these advancements, underlying structural factors continue to create uneven impacts, indicating that while equity is emphasized, sustained effort is...

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.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Hosts Mental Wellness Event in San Antonio to Combat Stigma and Expand Resources

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Hosts Mental Wellness Event in San Antonio to Combat Stigma and Expand Resources

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) recently hosted 'Nurturing Our Well-Being: A Celebration of Mental Health' at its Dixon Health & Wellness Center in San Antonio. The free event attracted over 200 community members and was designed to promote mental wellness, reduce the stigma associated with mental health challenges, and connect individuals and families with essential health and community resources. Activities included chair yoga, drum circles, and dance fitness classes, alongside opportunities for attendees to engage with MHM and partners like the San Antonio Police Department Mental Health Unit. The initiative is part of MHM’s broader commitment to supporting whole-person health. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), over one in five U.S. adults experienced a mental illness in 2022, highlighting the critical need for such community-based support and awareness efforts.

New Jersey Department of Health Alerts Residents to Measles Exposure Risk from Non-Resident Visitor

New Jersey Department of Health Alerts Residents to Measles Exposure Risk from Non-Resident Visitor

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has issued an alert regarding potential measles exposures in several locations across New Jersey. This alert follows the identification of a measles case in a non-New Jersey resident who visited multiple sites while infectious. The NJDOH is urging individuals, particularly parents, guardians, healthcare providers, and caregivers, to be vigilant about measles symptoms and to ensure their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccinations are up to date. Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily through the air and can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a rash that typically appears three to five days after initial symptoms. The rash usually starts on the face and spreads downwards. The NJDOH has specified several locations and timeframes where exposure may have occurred, including LegionsCon at Hanover Marriott, Sonesta Simply Suites Parsippany...

Aedes aegypti Mosquito Poses Significant Daytime Disease Threat in U.S.

Aedes aegypti Mosquito Poses Significant Daytime Disease Threat in U.S.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito, also known as the yellow fever mosquito, is a significant daytime feeder and a highly effective vector for diseases such as dengue fever, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever. Unlike many other mosquito species that are active at night, Aedes aegypti is most active during the early morning and late afternoon. This species has adapted to human environments, often living indoors or near homes, and preferentially targets human ankles and feet. Female Aedes aegypti can lay eggs in minimal amounts of standing water, even as little as a bottle cap full, making their eradication challenging. While native to Africa, these mosquitoes have spread globally and are now a concern in U.S. states like Texas, Florida, and California, which have temperate climates and large human populations.

Conduent HCI Releases 2025 Food Insecurity Index, Identifying High-Risk U.S. Communities

Conduent HCI Releases 2025 Food Insecurity Index, Identifying High-Risk U.S. Communities

Conduent Healthy Communities Institute (HCI) has released its 2025 Food Insecurity Index, a tool designed to identify U.S. communities at the highest risk for experiencing food insecurity. This index is part of Conduent's SocioNeeds Index® Suite, which provides analytics on social determinants of health to improve community health outcomes. The index calculates a national value from 0 to 100 for every zip code and county in the U.S., with higher values indicating greater estimated food insecurity. The methodology incorporates validated indicators related to education, financial stability, household environment, and personal transport expenditures. To help communities pinpoint areas of highest need, locations are also ranked from 1 (low need) to 5 (high need) based on their index value relative to similar locations within their region. The data used for this index is sourced from Claritas Pop-Facts® 2025, Claritas Consumer Spending Dynamix 2025, and the American Community Survey 2019-2023. It is important t...

Ohio State University Study Links Wastewater Bacteria to Chronic Disease Indicators in Communities

Ohio State University Study Links Wastewater Bacteria to Chronic Disease Indicators in Communities

A recent study conducted by The Ohio State University has identified connections between bacteria found in wastewater and various chronic disease indicators, health behaviors, and socioeconomic conditions within communities. The research, published in the journal Environmental Research, analyzed 27 wastewater samples from nine treatment plants serving eight Ohio cities in 2022, encompassing over 1.3 million residents across urban and rural areas. Researchers evaluated human gut bacteria in these samples and compared the findings with public health data. They observed distinct bacterial profiles across cities, with several types of bacteria correlating with community rates of obesity, high blood pressure, asthma, smoking, depression, physical activity, and unemployment. Notably, a bacterial group called Desulfovibrio was associated with eight health measures, including stroke and chronic diseases. Rural communities generally showed a higher abundance of these bacteria and higher rates of several chronic hea...

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.

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan Reports Significant Progress in Clean-Cooking Access at COP31

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan Reports Significant Progress in Clean-Cooking Access at COP31

President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania announced substantial advancements in clean-cooking access within her country during a roundtable discussion at the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey. She reported that access to clean cooking solutions in Tanzania has increased from 16% in 2022 to 28.6% by March 2024, with an anticipated rise to 35% by the end of 2026. This progress is attributed to various government initiatives, including rural electrification, reduced electricity tariffs for cooking, and subsidies for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) equipment. Additionally, tax incentives for clean-cooking technologies, collaborations with development partners, and private investments have played a crucial role. By March 2026, the government had facilitated the distribution of over 346,000 subsidized LPG cylinders, more than 49,000 induction stoves, and 7,000 electric cookers. The Cook Fund program, in partnership with development organizations, has also provided clean-cooking solutions...