Latest news with #AileenMarty
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Florida disease-tracking chart returns: Measles, mpox, hepatitis surveillance now available
Disease-tracking information in Florida is available again, allowing residents to learn about outbreaks in their county once more. Florida Department of Health surveillance data, which previously made public the number of current cases of each vaccine-preventable disease by county, had been removed from the state website for several months. The removal, disclosed earlier this month by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, came shortly after a measles case was reported in Miami in March. Measles is among the most contagious diseases in the world, and case counts in the United States are spiking with more than 1,000 reported in 2025. Florida's chart, which contains current trends for communicable diseases, has long been relied upon by epidemiologists and medical professionals for tracking purposes. It includes up-to-date information on outbreaks in Florida, such as measles, mpox and Hepatitis A. Department of Health spokeswoman Isabel Kilman did not respond to the South Florida Sun Sentinel's multiple requests for an explanation of why the chart had been removed, but she told the Tallahassee Democrat that the website was undergoing an upgrade. It doesn't appear that any functions of the chart have changed. Here are some key tracking points the chart now reveals about vaccine preventable diseases: A child in Broward County less than 4 years old contracted measles in April, marking the second case in South Florida in two months. The child acquired the disease outside of the U.S. Broward leads the state in new cases of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox). Thirteen cases of mpox have been reported in Florida so far this year, three in Broward County. In 2022, Florida was part of a nationwide outbreak of monkeypox. 14 cases of leprosy (Hansen's Disease) have been reported in Florida in 2025. In August 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned travelers that leprosy cases in Florida were surging. At the time, Florida was among the top reporting states with nearly 30 cases. The BCG vaccine, while primarily for TB, can offer some protection against leprosy, particularly if someone in the household has leprosy. The state has been grappling with a massive rise in pertussis (whooping cough). There have been 614 cases reported in Florida since January. To date in 2025, the CDC has reported over 8,000 cases of whooping cough, a more than two-fold increase from the same time last year. The CDC recommends whooping cough vaccines for people of all ages. Already in 2025, 63 cases of Hepatitis A have been reported in the state. Florida has grappled with a spread of Hepatitis A for several years, predating the pandemic. In 2019, Florida experienced a statewide outbreak with more than 2,000 cases reported. Dr. Aileen Marty, a professor at Florida International University and an expert in infectious disease and disaster medicine, said surveillance plays a vital role in public health. 'It's important for clinicians and families to know when something is spreading for which we have a prevention,' said Marty, with Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. 'Having good and timely information makes a huge difference in diagnosing a case earlier and helping parents make decisions or take action.' Tracking disease spread has become more critical as vaccination rates have dropped. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, only 88.1% of kindergartners in Florida were vaccinated against measles in the 2023-2024 school year. Herd immunity for measles requires a 95% vaccination rate. Florida's rate is one of the lowest in the nation. Florida's pediatricians say that real-time surveillance helps them guide parents in making informed decisions about vaccination. 'We end up playing catch-up after a child contracts a vaccine-preventable illness, and then we start looking at who else is vulnerable and start offering vaccines,' said Jennifer Takagishi, professor of pediatrics and division chief of General Academic Pediatrics at the University of South Florida. Florida's surveillance chart tracks close to 100 diseases, indicating the age range, county, diagnosis status and whether the person acquired the disease inside Florida, inside the U.S. or outside the U.S. Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles confirmed in Broward child under 4 in April, officials say
There was one case of measles in Broward County in April, according to state records, at the same time a link to those records was briefly removed from the state website. A child between the age of 0 (used to refer to newborns) and 4 contracted measles from outside of the U.S. in April in Broward County, according to the Florida Department of Health (DOH) Reportable Disease Frequency Report. Measles is considered one of the most contagious infections for humans, according to Dr. Aileen Marty, a professor at Florida International University and an expert in infectious disease and disaster medicine. If a person with measles comes in contact with a group of unvaccinated people, there is a 90% chance of the unvaccinated person becoming ill, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. A link to the state report, which tracks the spread of infectious diseases across the state's 67 counties, was removed from DOH's main website earlier this year, according to a story in the South Florida Sun Sentinel. According to the article, published on May 9, the last time that chart was available was in March. The website was getting upgraded at the time, DOH spokesperson Isabel Kilman told the USA TODAY Network – Florida. But now, the tracker, which can be found as a link on the FLHealthCHARTS website, shows a measles case in Broward County in April. It occurred one month after a high schooler at Miami Palmetto Senior High School in Miami-Dade County was diagnosed with the highly-contagious disease. There are no alerts on the the Florida Department of Health in Broward County website or the state DOH website about the measles case in April. Kilman could not confirm to a USA TODAY Network – Florida reporter that the department did contact tracing with the case in Broward County, but did say if its epidemiologists had a reason to believe people came in contact with someone with measles, they would be notified. Contact tracing is the process of identifying people who have recently been in contact with someone diagnosed with an infectious disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. In a statement sent by email, DOH said it could not disclose personal information about the case because of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. It establishes federal standards protecting sensitive health information from disclosure without patient's consent, according to the CDC. "The Department works closely with schools and school systems to ensure that students, faculty, and parents are informed when appropriate. Anyone who may have been in contact with an infected individual is promptly and directly notified to ensure the safety and well-being of the community," the statement says. The exact age of the child is unknown, as the state's data provides a range from 0 to 4 years old. But a spokesperson for Broward County Schools said the district's Coordinated Student Health Services Department reported it has not had a documented case of measles this year. Last year, the county saw a measles outbreak that resulted in nine infections. DOH's response at the time was criticized after Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo contradicted federal and medical professional guidance to contain the spread. As previously reported, measles infections in the U.S. have topped 1,000 in 2025. While Texas remains the epicenter battling the largest number of cases, the presence of measles has been confirmed in 30 states by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as of Friday, March 9. Recently, a person infected measles may have spread the virus at a Shakira concert in New Jersey, according to news reports. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, only 88.1% of kindergarteners in Florida were vaccinated against measles in 2023-2024. Herd immunity for measles requires a 95% vaccination rate. Whether someone gets measles are a child or as an adult, it affects the body's immune response, Marty said. Measles can cause viral pneumonia or in some cases bacterial pnuemonia, because it diminishes the immune system. It's rare, but some children that contract measles will, years later, manifest serious neurologic problems, she added. "If you look at what's been going on in the United States, for example ... We won't know the total toll of that outbreak for six to 10 years because of this sort of under-the-radar type of problem that manifests so much later," she said. Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@ This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Broward measles case in April adds to growing national resurgence
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Is measles spreading in Florida? Hard to know. State's disease-tracking data no longer available
Do you want to know how many measles cases have been confirmed in your county this year? How about whether the recent tuberculosis case reported at a high school is confined to one school or spreading throughout South Florida? Florida Department of Health surveillance data, which previously made public the number of current cases of each vaccine-preventable disease by county, has been removed from the state website. State and local health officials did not respond to numerous requests for an explanation or point to another location on the state's health department website where the information is available to the general public. The last time that chart was available was in March after a Miami Palmetto Senior High School student was diagnosed with measles, becoming the first case in Florida in 2025. The chart containing current trends for communicable diseases had long been relied upon by epidemiologists and medical professionals for tracking, and included up-to-date information on outbreaks in Florida, including monkeypox and Hepatitis A. Awareness of the spread of both diseases, at the time, led to a vaccination effort and a public health response to curb the outbreaks. 'It's important for clinicians and families to know when something is spreading for which we have a prevention,' said Aileen Marty, an expert in infectious disease with Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. 'Having good and timely information makes a huge difference in diagnosing a case earlier and helping parents make decisions or take action.' While the real-time case reporting of diseases no longer exists, the Florida Department of Health does offer a monthly report through March of total cases in the state of four out of more than 50 communicable diseases. For diseases like measles, leprosy or monkeypox, the county-level data on the state website is available only through 2023. Parents must now rely on their child's school to inform them of a confirmed case of measles or another vaccine-preventable disease. Schools are required to send a notification letter to parents of students and staff who may have been exposed. This letter typically includes information about the outbreak, what parents should do if their children are not vaccinated, and how to contact the health department for further guidance. Of course, diseases like measles are not limited to children, so relying on schools to inform the community doesn't protect adults who may not have children, or those who live in neighborhoods with school-age children with whom they interact regularly. Laws protecting health information prevent medical professionals from sharing information with the community as well. 'We are keeping people in the dark. They no longer have the ability to know that a disease is circulating,' Marty said. 'It's not just about prevention. The earlier you diagnose something makes a difference.' Measles has been particularly problematic this year: The U.S. is on track to surpass 1,000 measles cases in 30 jurisdictions as the viral illness — once so rare that most young doctors don't recognize the symptomatic rash — makes a comeback. Three children have died this year from the disease. Along with the Miami case reported in a high schooler this year, Florida had an outbreak of nine cases in Broward County in February 2024. The lack of publicly available surveillance information in Florida comes as fewer children are getting vaccinated. In the 2023-24 school year, only 88.1% of Florida kindergartners completed required vaccines that protect against severe illnesses, including measles, polio and chickenpox, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public health experts recommend a vaccination rate of at least 95% for highly contagious diseases like measles to maintain community-wide immunity. Florida's is one of the lowest rates in the nation. Many students use religious exemptions to opt out of the mandatory vaccinations required to attend public school. New information posted on the Florida Department of Health website notes: 'Communities with a higher proportion of religious exemptions to vaccination are at increased risk of vaccine-preventable disease transmission.' The website also says: 'The proportion of children age 5-17 years with new religious exemptions are increasing each month.' 'There's been a dismantling of a lot of the Department of Health websites and people who are working on them,' said Jennifer Takagishi, professor of pediatrics and division chief of General Academic Pediatrics at the University of South Florida. 'The number of the employees has decreased significantly, so data tracking is becoming much more difficult.' Takagishi said the lack of information makes it challenging for pediatricians. 'We end up playing catch-up after a child contracts a vaccine-preventable illness, and then we start looking at who else is vulnerable and start offering vaccines,' she said. If available, real-time surveillance would help pediatricians to allow parents to make informed decisions. 'If we know measles is in the community and make families aware of it, they realize, 'Oh, this is something that can actually happen to my child or my family,' and then they might be more willing to get the vaccine,' Takagishi said. The CDC has also removed some health data from its website. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed executive orders instructing federal health agencies to take down certain data sets and information on adolescent health, infectious diseases, reproductive care, and HIV, as well as references to unconscious bias and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Researchers and clinicians spoke out, stating they had lost access to critical data and information they need to study, treat, and prevent diseases. A federal judge ordered some of the information to be restored. The CDC is tracking measles cases by state, but its surveillance offers only that Florida has between one and nine cases this year. In the last month, a Fort Lauderdale high school and Miami's federal detention center have each confirmed an active case of tuberculosis, a deadly but treatable infectious disease. The Florida Department of Health said tuberculosis testing would be offered to students and school staff who were identified as possibly having close contact with the individual. But whether there are more cases in South Florida is unknown. Florida recorded 681 cases of TB in 2024, about 9% more than the previous year, federal data shows. Tuberculosis case numbers for 2025 are not on federal or state websites. 'What's happening is there's a downstream effect,' Takagishi said. 'Families don't have the data, physicians don't have the data, and the health systems don't have the data that they need to really keep our community safe.' South Florida Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@
Miami Herald
09-04-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Miami-Dade mayor should veto the fluoridation vote
The fluoride wars that have been raging in Florida for months recently reached Miami-Dade County. Now Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who has said she supports keeping fluoride in water, must decide by Friday whether she'll veto an 8-2 county commission vote on April 1 to end the decades-long practice of adding fluoride to the water to improve dental health. Vetoes should be used sparingly. In this case, a veto is appropriate. As we have said before, the scientific consensus remains that tiny amounts of fluoride in drinking water is both safe and helpful to dental health. The American Academy of Pediatrics says it helps reduce tooth decay and lessens cavities in children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called it one of the greatest achievements in public health in the 20th century, and says added fluoride continues to show no risk in the tiny amounts used in drinking water. Miami-Dade adds 0.7 milligrams per liter, the CDC's recommended amount. Concerns cited by opponents often focus on studies looking at much higher amounts, of 1.5 milligrams per liter or more. Miami-Dade has fluoridated its water since the 1950s. As Dr. Aileen Marty, a professor at Florida International University's medical school, said during a hearing in Miami-Dade: 'I want to be very clear that the levels that are in Miami-Dade County's water are safe. Not only are they safe... they're necessary for the health and well-being of the children and adults in this county.' Removing fluoride from our drinking water is likely to penalize families of limited income the most, those without easy and affordable access to dental care. And make no mistake: Dental care is health care. Poor oral health can lead to serious health issues like heart disease and diabetes. The debate over fluoridation grew after a federal judge in September ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to further address regulating it. The ruling came out of a report by the National Institutes of Health that indicated a link between high exposures — double the standard amount — and developmental delay in kids. In Miami-Dade, some of those opposed to fluoride have echoed the national discussion, likening its addition to the public water supply to forced medical treatments. Rejecting fluoride would be a victory for medical freedom, they said. Unfortunately, this has become a political issue. Mistrust of public health systems reared its head during the COVID pandemic. And Robert Kennedy Jr., the secretary of health and human services under President Trump, claims fluoride can lead to health problems. On Tuesday, he said he plans to tell the CDC to stop recommending fluoridation, and that he is assembling a task force on the issue. But how much value should anyone give Kennedy's medical opinion? He's been a years-long vaccine skeptic, yet on Sunday, after visiting Texas families who lost children to measles, he publicly advocated on X for the MMR vaccine. The fluoride issue arose in Miami-Dade when Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez sponsored legislation to remove it from the water. He held a March 11 hearing when Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and other fluoridation critics spoke. The commission voted April 1; Ladapo was allowed to address them again right before the meeting. On Monday, Levine Cava held a roundtable discussion with pro-fluoride medical professionals, the first time advocates had been allowed extended time to address the issue in County Hall. Commissioners were not invited. There have been mixed decisions in local governments across Florida. Collier County voted to stop fluoridating water in February; Seminole County did the same this week. But the Central Florida town of Bartow voted to keep fluoride. So did Delray Beach in Palm Beach County. There's also a Florida Senate bill being considered by the Legislature, SB 700, to ban fluoride in the water supply. Even if Levine Cava vetoes the legislation, commissioners could override her decision with nine of the commission's 13 votes. Because there were three commissioners absent during the April 1 vote to remove fluoride from the water supply in 30 days, it's unclear whether there would be enough votes to do so. Miami-Dade commissioners ignored much of the scientific consensus on fluoride. With a veto, Levine Cava could bring it back to the county. Click here to send the letter.
