Latest news with #BisolaOjikutu
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Health
- Boston Globe
West Nile Virus risk elevated to ‘high' in Boston, officials say
'Residents should take precautions like using mosquito repellent and avoiding outdoor activities from dusk to dawn,' said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Boston's public health commissioner. 'BPHC will continue to monitor the situation closely and ensure that our residents have the information that they need to remain safe.' Advertisement Most people who become infected with West Nile Virus show no signs or symptoms of illness, but some may experience headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and body aches that can last a few days to several weeks, officials said. People over the age of 50 and those who are immunocompromised should avoid being outside during dusk and dawn, the peak times for mosquito activity, health officials said. Officials encouraged residents to check around their homes for areas and items with standing water that may attract mosquitoes, such as bird baths, unused flower pots, unused kiddie pools, and old tires. Residents should also clean out their gutters and make sure window and door screens fit properly and have no holes, officials said. Nick Stoico can be reached at
Miami Herald
16-06-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
A traveler infected with measles flew into Miami. What are the next steps?
Miami has detected another case of measles, one of the most contagious diseases in the world, as the country nears record levels of infection. Health officials have confirmed that a person infected with measles arrived in Miami earlier in June from Boston. The travelers flew into Miami International Airport on JetBlue flight 639, according to the Boston Public Health Commission. The flight, which departed from Boston Logan International Airport at 9:12 p.m. June 8, arrived in Miami at 1:14 a.m. June 9, flight tracking website data shows. Boston health officials said they're working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify and notify passengers who may have been exposed. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can spread through coughing, sneezing and by touching infected surfaces. It produces a rash over the skin and flu-like symptoms. While most people can recover at home, the disease can lead to serious and sometimes deadly complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling. The disease was eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 following an effective vaccination program, with the country seeing sporadic travel-related cases. It's rare for people who are vaccinated against the disease to get sick. But measles has made a comeback as child vaccination rates continue to decline in the country and the disease is circulating more globally, with the U.S. this year recording its first measles deaths in more than a decade. 'This case of measles highlights the importance of obtaining the MMR vaccine to protect ourselves and our community. The MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles infection and also protects against mumps and rubella,' Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston, said in a statement. So far, the country has recorded 1,197 cases of measles this year, just shy of the 2019 record of 1,274, with nearly all of the cases involving people who are unvaccinated, according to CDC data. The U.S. has recorded three measles deaths in 2025. In this latest confirmed measles case, the person visited several places in Boston, including a hotel and a museum, while infectious from June 7 through June 8 before getting on a flight to Miami, according to the measles alert. The notice doesn't state whether the person was vaccinated or unvaccinated, where the person was infected, or if the individual lives in Florida or elsewhere. The Miami Herald has contacted the Florida Department of Health and the Boston Public Health Commission to learn more about the infected person's status, and whether they traveled anywhere else in South Florida. The Miami Herald has also contacted Miami International Airport and JetBlue to see what precautions the airport and airline have taken following the confirmed case. Measles can be transmitted four days before the start of symptoms, according to the Florida health department. Symptoms can appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus, and are at first similar to a normal cold and can include cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes and a high fever up to 105 degrees. The rash typically appears three five days after the first symptoms. How many measles cases has Florida recorded? So far, Florida has recorded at least three confirmed measles cases this year, according to preliminary data from the state's infectious disease surveillance system, which goes up to June 7 and is the most available data, as of Monday, June 16. The most recently reported case, recorded in June, involved a person between the ages of 25 and 29 who lives in Leon County, part of the state's Panhandle. The person was infected in the U.S., but not in Florida, the data shows. The report's preliminary data is based on when the case was reported to the state, with cases assigned based on the county where the person lives, regardless of where the person got sick, hospitalized, diagnosed or exposed. The Miami Herald hasn't been able to confirm if the June Leon County measles case is different from the Boston to Miami traveler case. Florida's other two confirmed measles cases this year were recorded in South Florida. One involved a Miami-Dade teen, the other was a child under 5 in Broward County. Last year, the state recorded at least a dozen cases of the rash-causing disease, some of which were linked to an outbreak at a Broward elementary school. What else to know about measles in the U.S. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR, which helps protect against measles infection, is considered to be highly effective in reducing infection and is one of the shots required to attend K-12 school in the U.S., though some students may have a religious or medical exemption. Several health experts the Miami Herald has previously spoken to have attributed the country's growing measles outbreak, in part, to fewer parents vaccinating their kids after COVID as politics, misinformation and personal freedom have muddied vaccination guidance and reduced trust in what the family doctor recommends. MORE: Why fewer kids are getting vaccinated in Florida — and how that could affect outbreaks The CDC says the MMR vaccination rate among kindergartners in the U.S. ' is now below the 95% coverage target—much lower in some communities — and is decreasing.' Florida, for example, has seen a decline in overall mandatory school vaccinations for measles and other infectious diseases among kindergartners in recent years, as the Herald has previously reported. The CDC said it has also noticed an increase in 'measles activity' globally in recent years, 'meaning more chances of an unvaccinated person infected with measles abroad returning to the United States.' Because measles is highly contagious, it can 'easily spread in unvaccinated or under-vaccinated communities,' according to the CDC. The CDC says that the best way to protect against measles is to get the MMR vaccine or the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine, which also protects against chickenpox. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about the vaccine or are unsure if you were vaccinated. People who believe — or were notified — that they were exposed to someone with measles should call their doctor for guidance. Don't show up to the doctor's office unannounced.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Boston overdose deaths decreased by double digit percentage in 2024; lowest in 10 years
Overdose deaths in Boston decreased by a notable 38% last year, according to a new data analysis released by the city's Public Health Commission. It was the lowest number of related deaths since 2015, reflecting 'the continuation of an encouraging downward trend,' the commission said, that has also played out nationally. Drug overdose deaths nationwide fell by nearly 27% during 2024, provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows — welcome relief from the crisis that at its worst claimed more than 107,000 lives in 2022. Read more: More and more Mass. children were being harmed by overdoses. That changed last year Many public health officials and those working in substance use have attributed the decrease to the increased availability of harm reduction tools, such as naloxone and fentanyl test strips, as well as the ever-changing illicit drug supply itself. Last month, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration released its annual threat assessment showing average fentanyl purity is falling. Meanwhile, drug traffickers are introducing new contaminants into the street supply, often unknown to people who use the drugs. An especially promising sign within Boston's 2024 overdose data is the significant drop in deaths of Black and Latino residents, specifically men, who in recent years were disproportionately impacted by the opioid crisis. Read more: There's a new opioid antidote. But Mass. health officials are hesitant to endorse it While overdose death rates for white people were dropping, they increased for people of color. For example, in 2023, Black and Indigenous men across Massachusetts had the highest opioid-related death rates, compared to a 16% drop in the death rates among white men. But 2024 in Boston told a different story: opioid-related mortality in the city fell by 59% for Black men and 52% for Latino men. Overall, Black and Latino residents experienced an overall 58% and 48% decrease, respectively. The city called the numbers 'an encouraging sign.' Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Boston's public health commissioner, said the new data reinforces the city's commitment to 'eliminating racial and ethnic disparities and to ensuring equitable access to services for people with substance use disorders.' 'While we are encouraged by these data, we still have work to do,' she said. Last year, the city of Boston distributed over 23,000 doses of naloxone — the overdose reversal medication — via street outreach, public health vending machines, kiosks and community grants. Read MassLive's series on deadly pill press machines The Boston Public Health Commission conducted over 25,000 engagements with people and made over 2,000 treatment placements, often driving patients directly to a detox or treatment facility, the city said. In a statement, Mayor Michelle Wu said the new data represents 'the impact of our collective efforts to combat the opioid crisis, but emphasizes our continued support to communities who are disproportionately affected.' RFK Jr. says US ending COVID shot recommendation for healthy children, pregnant women Dangerous allergen triggers nationwide chicken soup public health alert Biden's cancer renews debate about prostate screenings for older men Listeria alert: Premade wraps at Big Y, Price Chopper trigger health warning Read the original article on MassLive.
Boston Globe
29-05-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Drug overdose deaths in Massachusetts plummet to lowest levels in a decade
'These data reinforce our commitment to eliminating racial and ethnic disparities and to ensuring equitable access to services for people with substance use disorders,' said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, commissioner of public health for the city of Boston, in a statement. 'While we are encouraged by these data, we still have work to do. One life lost to overdose is one life too many.' Advertisement Public health officials and those who work with people with substance use disorders point to a constellation of forces behind the decline. These include expanded treatment and prevention efforts, the increased availability of Advertisement Yet another significant factor could also be at play: changes in the illicit drug supply. Fentanyl, Still, addiction specialists cautioned that it's too early to tell if the state has turned the corner on the overdoses crisis, which has claimed more than 20,000 lives in Massachusetts in the past decade. The illicit drug supply is changing constantly, with new and addictive substances being mixed into street drugs. Over the past two years, for instance, New England has seen a troubling trend in which dealers are selling drugs mixed with a variety of substances. A counterfeit Xanax pill can be laced with cocaine, fentanyl, and Other treatment specialists are worried about whether the recent gains can be sustained if Congress prevails in its efforts to offset trillions in tax cuts with cuts to Medicaid and other federal health plans, including those addressing the drug crisis. The Republican budget bill that passed the House last week could Advertisement Allyson Pinkhover, director of substance use services at Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, is concerned. More than 70 percent of the 824 patients that received treatment at the health center last year were enrolled in Medicaid, she said. Those left without insurance will be less likely to seek services and some treatment programs may shut down or limit services, she said. 'The [proposed] cuts to Medicaid are a direct threat to the years of progress that we've made‚" Pinkhover said. 'Every fiber of my being wants to be excited about this [reduction in overdoses], but there's a feeling in your gut that it's fragile, that it won't last.' And despite the recent progress, drug fatalities remain historically high. Nationwide, 80,391 people died of drug overdoses in 2024, and overdoses remain 'This is a really meaningful reduction, but it's not the time to take our hands off the steering wheel,' said Dr. Miriam Harris, an addiction expert at Boston Medical Center and assistant professor of medicine at Boston University. 'Too many people are still dying and the unregulated drug supply is too dynamic to declare victory.' Advertisement Even so, the Commonwealth is showing progress in reducing While members of the Black and Hispanic community are still dying of overdoses at disproportionate rates, their share of overall overdoses has begun to decline. People who identify as Black or Hispanic represented 27.5 percent of opioid-related overdoses over the 12-month period ending last June, compared with 30.6 percent in the same period in 2023, according to 'The sharp drop in overdoses across all racial and ethnic groups is a promising sign that the Healey-Driscoll Administration's targeted investments in overdose prevention strategies are working and should continue,' said Deirdre Calvert, director of the state's Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, in a statement. 'In particular, our efforts to reduce unintentional exposure to fentanyl, often caused by a contaminated drug supply, have raised awareness of the risk of overdose and increased uptake of naloxone, drug testing, and other evidence-based harm reduction strategies.' Chris Serres can be reached at
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Significant decrease' in overdose deaths in Boston during part of 2024, health officials say
New data shows a 'significant decrease' in opioid-related overdose deaths from May to August 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023, city health officials said Wednesday. From May to August 2024, opioid-related overdose deaths among Boston residents were down 39% overall, Boston Public Health Commission officials said. The greatest decreases were seen among Black and Latinx residents, who saw a 56% and 28% decrease in overdose deaths, respectively, officials said. The new analysis is preliminary and represents only a portion of 2024, but city health officials called it an encouraging sign of progress. 'The use of evidence-based strategies, including increasing access to naloxone, decreasing substance use stigma, and expanding mobile outreach has played an integral part in continuing this promising trend,' Boston Public Health Commissioner Dr. Bisola Ojikutu said in a statement. 'To maintain this momentum, it is imperative that we continue to provide our communities with resources, support, and education to make lasting progress in the fight against substance use and overdose,' Ojikutu said. According to the Commission's Live Long and Well population health equity agenda, unintentional drug overdose is the leading cause of early death in Boston, and it disproportionately impacts Black and Latinx communities. Black and Latinx residents account for 40% of Boston's total population, but from May to August 2024, they accounted for 52% of all overdose deaths. The Commission is also evaluating various factors that contribute to the decline in overdose deaths, such as increasing access to naloxone, a medication that quickly reverses an opioid overdose, officials said. In 2024, the Health Commission distributed nearly 22,000 doses of naloxone across Boston. The Health Commission also launched a campaign to educate the public about ways to protect loved ones from overdose and granted $1 million in funding to five community organizations to distribute naloxone, provide overdose education, and link people to care. Recently, city officials installed four public health vending machines across the city and eight indoor naloxone distribution kiosks. Those locations, as well as other places that offer free or over-the-counter naloxone, can be found using the map at Organizations can also request free naloxone at that website. 'Having naloxone means you are prepared for when emergencies happen, which is especially important if you know your loved ones use substances,' Leah Randolph, executive director and co-owner of Commonwealth Mental Health & Wellness Center and leader of the Massachusetts Black Alcohol and Addictions Council, said in a statement. 'Naloxone saves lives, and ensuring more people have access to it is a critical step in combating the overdose crisis,' Randolph said. 'However, we must also prioritize training in highly impacted communities to ensure everyone knows how and when to use this life-saving resource effectively.' The Commission's Recovery Services Bureau continues to provide outreach, treatment and programs in the community. The Bureau's Post Overdose Response Team, comprised of harm reduction specialists and first responders, conducts in-person, home-based outreach after 911 overdose calls, and offers support, education, and referrals to resources, officials said. In 2024, the team completed 285 visits, officials said. The Health Commission has been steadily increasing prevention services throughout Boston by expanding community outreach, housing and mental health services, harm reduction, and support groups, health officials said. Harm reduction and treatment referrals are available through the Commission's AHOPE and PAATHS programs. AHOPE offers lifesaving harm reduction services including syringe exchange; drug checking to identify the presence of fentanyl and xylazine; naloxone distribution; and screening for HIV, hepatitis, and other bloodborne illnesses that can be spread through intravenous drug use, officials said. The PAATHS program connects people to a variety of treatment services including detox, medication for opioid use disorder, and outpatient treatment programs. For support with substance use disorders, call the PAATHS program at 1-855-494-4057 or call 3-1-1. For more information, visit This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
