Latest news with #BostonPublicHealthCommission
Boston Globe
12-07-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Two mosquito samples in Boston test positive for West Nile Virus
Last month, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced that the virus was detected in the state for the first time this year in a sample collected in June in Shrewsbury. Since then, there have been nine more positive samples across the state, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's There are no confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus in Boston so far this summer, the commission said. In 2024, there were 19 human cases of the virus in the state, according to the Massachusetts DPH dashboard. Advertisement Most people who are infected with the virus do not experience signs or symptoms, but some may develop headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and body aches lasting for a few days to several weeks. Those older than 50 are at higher risk of experiencing serious symptoms. To reduce the risk of West Nile Virus, the Boston Public Health Commission said people should avoid mosquito bites. The commission recommended regularly emptying out and cleaning vessels containing standing water, like bird baths, kiddie pools and flowerpots, which attract mosquitoes for breeding. Advertisement Residents can also wear long clothing and high socks, and insect repellents, like DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535, and picaridin. Residents should also avoid spending too much time outside from dusk to dawn, when there is prime mosquito activity, and to make sure windows and doors do not have holes. More information, including all West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (another mosquito-transmitted disease) positive results, can be found on the Arbovirus Surveillance Information webpage at Jessica Ma 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.
CBS News
14-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Boston health officials warn public of possible measles exposure
Health officials in Boston say a traveler with a confirmed case of measles visited Boston from June 7 to June 8. Who may have been exposed to measles? The infectious person visited several places in Boston, including: Westin Boston Seaport District Hotel (including restaurants in the hotel) 5:30 p.m. on June 7 to 1:30 p.m. on June 8 The Museum of Fine Arts Boston from 1-6:30 p.m. on June 8 Logan Airport Terminal C from 5-11:15 p.m. on June 8 The person then flew on JetBlue Flight 639 to Miami. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed. Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, commissioner of Public Health for the city of Boston, said there is no indication the traveler used public transportation in Boston. When to see a doctor The Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine is 93%-97% effective in protecting people against measles, and health officials say people who have been vaccinated are at low risk for getting the disease. "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," said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, commissioner of Public Health for the city of Boston. She said about 94% of children in the Boston area have been vaccinated. Ojikutu said the Boston Public Health Commission is notifying the public and leading contact tracing as well as working with locations the traveler visited, MassPort, and the CDC. "As we collect more information, we will notify the public and individuals directly," she said. Measles begins with flu-like symptoms and is followed by a red, blotchy rash. In people with darker skin, the rash may appear brown or dark purple, Ojikutu said. Symptoms may appear seven to 21 days after exposure. People who are not vaccinated against measles and who may have been exposed are urged to contact their doctors. For the latest information and guidance, visit
Politico
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Summer safety in the city
PLAYING IT SAFE — On the campaign trail, Mayor Michelle Wu has touted Boston's low homicide rate. The city saw the lowest number of murders in more than half a century last year. The challenge, as the mayoral election starts to ramp up, is keeping it that way. Standing alongside city safety officials and civic leaders, Wu rolled out the city's summer safety plan that officials said focuses on crime prevention and intervention as well as increased community engagement. Under the plan, the mayor's Community Safety Team will shift under the purview of the Boston Public Health Commission's Office of Violence Prevention, and a $1 million donation from the Cummings Foundation will help fund programs like 'Boston After Dark,' a series of free, Friday night events for teens. 'Any incident of violence is too much in our communities, and we know that for families in our neighborhoods, the numbers don't reset every year in their daily lives,' Wu told reporters. 'Overall, we still see that the numbers, if you just look at the statistics, are below the five-year average and that the progress is continuing,' — that these two years will likely be the lowest two years in some time.' Still, Tuesday's press conference made evident how challenging holding that trend can be. Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox opened the event by addressing a shooting that had occurred less than two hours earlier, where a man grabbed an officer's gun near Massachusetts General Hospital and shot himself in the foot. Homicides are up compared to this time last year. According to Universal Hub, eight people have been killed in the city so far this year, up from four during the same time last year. City officials are bracing for the typical summer uptick, he said Thursday, when roughly a third of the city's shootings typically take place. Wu's chief challenger, Josh Kraft has criticized the mayor over other safety concerns in the city, including an uptick in petty crime in downtown Boston and a higher number of violent crimes in the area than in years past. An upward trend in the city's homicide rate would give Wu's critics new fodder to undermine her claim that Boston is the safest city in the country. But Democratic state Rep. Russell Holmes, who's backing Wu in the mayoral race, largely brushed those concerns at Tuesday's event. 'I don't take credit when homicides are down, and I don't take credit when they're up,' Holmes told Playbook. 'But this is much more than the homicide number.' GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@ TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey announces the results of Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation's regulatory review at 10:15 a.m., chairs a Governor's Council meeting at noon at the State House and hosts a Jewish American Heritage Month celebration at 3:30 p.m. Auditor Diana DiZoglio speaks at a CREW Boston reception for women in government at 5:30 p.m. in Boston. Sen. Ed Markey hosts a walking tour at 10:15 a.m. and press conference at 10:45 a.m. on canceled federal grants for coastal resilience in Chelsea. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on GBH's 'Boston Public Radio' at noon. MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The Conversation with Dasha Burns arrives on Sunday, June 1 — and we're dropping a first look. Each week on her new podcast, Dasha will sit down with one of the most compelling — and sometimes unexpected — power players in Washington. This isn't just a podcast. It's a new kind of political interview show for a moment when politics feels more personal, more chaotic and more consequential than ever. Catch the video and audio trailer out this morning to see what Dasha's digging into this season. And subscribe to the podcast, wherever you listen or watch. DATELINE BEACON HILL — Senate budget panel trims House spending bill by Sam Drysdale and Chris Lisinski, State House News Service: 'Six days after the House approved a $530 million supplemental budget (H 4151) to replenish a string of state programs, the Senate gave initial approval to a scaled-back version appropriating nearly $190 million for child care services that could soon run out of money. The bill, which needs another Senate vote before the House can respond, leaves decisions about hundreds of millions of dollars for an unspecified future date as lawmakers deliberate several other major spending bills.' — Healey says 250,000 people in Massachusetts could lose insurance under GOP's proposed cuts by Katie Lannan, GBH News: 'Elected officials in Massachusetts are warning that cuts approved by the U.S. House last week could cost 250,000 Bay Staters their health insurance and tear a hole in the fabric of the state's broader health care system. … Healey's office said that Massachusetts would lose $1.75 billion in federal funding under the bill for its Medicaid program, known as MassHealth, and for the Massachusetts Health Connector insurance marketplace.' MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS — ICE begins detentions at immigration courts in Boston and Chelmsford by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: 'At least three individuals were detained at immigration courts in Massachusetts on Tuesday — the first local immigrants to be detained in and around courts overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice's Executive Office of Immigration Review. Similar arrests are being seen elsewhere around country, signaling a tactic change to a long-standing practice when it comes to immigration enforcement.' ICE ON THE ISLANDS — The Department of Homeland Security appeared to confirm reports Tuesday that several people were deported from Nantucket as part of an operation that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials were carrying out on the island. 'ICE is removing illegal aliens from ALL states, communities and worksites across this country,' DHS posted on X, above a video from the Nantucket Current that showed several people in life vests sitting on a U.S. Coast Guard boat along with officers wearing what appeared to be bulletproof vests. Local reports also said that ICE officers made several arrests Tuesday on both Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Neither ICE nor Nantucket police immediately responded to requests for comment Tuesday night. State Sen. Julian Cyr said it was 'sad' and 'shameful to see the immigrants who make our communities function, particularly in these most busy summer months, be targeted, harassed, and in some cases, forcibly removed from their families and lives just for a political agenda.' FROM THE HUB — Are Boston's school buses still the safest choice for students? by Christopher Huffaker, The Boston Globe: 'City officials recently said the district's buses are involved in about 400 crashes per year, though most are minor. Across the state, 19 people died in school bus-involved crashes in the last decade; across the country, more than 100 die that way each year. More than a dozen personal injury claims have been filed against the transportation company Transdev, and its drivers, since it began operating BPS school buses in 2013, according to a Globe review of court data. Still, experts say school buses remain one the safest modes of transportation to take students to and from school.' FROM HARVARD YARD — Trump administration pursues termination of Harvard contracts by Juan Perez Jr., POLITICO: 'The Trump administration is pressuring federal agencies to terminate their contracts with Harvard as the university and government continue a high-stakes battle over the future of billions of dollars that serve as a critical resource for the elite institution. The General Services Administration proclaimed the Ivy League university engages in racial discrimination in its admissions and other aspects of campus life, prompting the administration to help agencies carry out a 'review for termination or transition of their federal government contracts' with Harvard, according to a letter sent Tuesday.' — As Trump targets elite schools, Harvard's president says they should 'stand firm' by Steve Inskeep, Obed Manuel and Reena Advani, WBUR. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — China to Springfield: The MBTA's 11-year struggle to get new Red and Orange Line cars by Andrea Perdomo-Hernandez, WBUR: 'Eleven years and a billion dollars after the MBTA signed a deal with a Chinese company for new and improved train cars on the Orange and Red lines, the job still isn't done. The rollout has been plagued by malfunctioning equipment on the trains. Costs have risen and the initial delivery date of 2023 for many cars has been pushed out to 2027. And now President Trump's tariffs on goods from China could further complicate completion of the work. Brian Kane, executive director of the MBTA Advisory Board, said in retrospect, the T could have saved time and money by going with a company that was already established here.' FROM THE 413 — Gaming Commission grants Western Massachusetts $3.2 million in casino mitigation funds by Jim Kinney, The Springfield Republican: 'The Massachusetts Gaming Commission granted Tuesday more than $3.2 million in community mitigation funds for Western Massachusetts. Grants include $200,000 for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to do a traffic study on the impact of cars headed through Springfield and neighboring towns headed to MGM Springfield.' — Districts make funding pleas at Northampton Youth Commission-led meeting with state education boss by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: 'School districts across the Pioneer Valley made their case for more support to rural and western school districts, appealing directly before Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler during a visit he made to Northampton High School on Tuesday. Tutwiler made the trek from Boston to Northampton at the request of the Northampton Youth Commission, an official city body consisting of high school students that advocates for youth in the city.' THE LOCAL ANGLE — Teachers union rips new graduation guidelines by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: 'The state's largest teachers union is pushing back against plans to use MCAS test results to help gauge whether students meet high school graduation requirements. The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted last week to approve the 'limited use' of MCAS scores to determine if students are satisfying the competency determination for a high school diploma.' — Worcester schools budget proposal: $586 million, no layoffs planned, uncertainty remains by Jesse Collings, Telegram & Gazette: 'The proposed Worcester Public Schools budget for the next school year is set at $586 million, an increase of $33.8 million, or 6.1% over last year. The district announced earlier this month that the proposed budget would be within striking distance of $600 million, and the budget is currently undergoing a series of public hearings before it will ultimately be voted on by the School Committee.' — Quincy, Massachusetts, residents sue city, mayor over plan for religious statues on public building by Alex Svenson, WCVB: 'A multifaith group of Quincy, Massachusetts, residents and taxpayers filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in Norfolk Superior Court to stop the planned installation of two large religious statues at the entrance of the city's new public safety building, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced.' — Taunton High bans cell phones Emma Rindlisbacher, Taunton Daily Gazette: 'Starting next school year, cell phones will be banned at Taunton High, due to a policy passed by the School Committee at their Wednesday, May 14 meeting. According to the new policy, after students arrive at the high school, they will 'place their phone, AirPods/earbuds, and smartwatch inside their Yondr pouch and lock it in front of school staff;' and will not unlock the pouch until after the end of the school day.' — Dartmouth could ban homeless encampments, allow guns in town hall by Matthew Ferreira, The Standard-Times: 'On June 3, Dartmouth voters at Town Meeting will decide whether or not to pass a bylaw which could ban homeless encampments in town, and whether town-owned buildings like Town Hall should be exempt from a new law barring firearms from municipal buildings.' MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE — Stefany Shaheen launches 2026 campaign for New Hampshire 1st Congressional District by Adam Sexton, WMUR: 'Highlighting her work as a health care advocate for her daughter, who has Type 1 Diabetes, Shaheen says she can no longer stay on the sidelines of politics, and she points to the Trump Administration and Secretary of Health & Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as motivating factors in her decision to enter the race in the 1st Congressional District.' HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Joe Gravellese has started a new position as community development planner for the City of Revere. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Alan Khazei, Rich Thuma, Jeff Santos and Ellen Weinstein Pildis.
CBS News
02-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Community Healing Response Network offers support, resources to Boston residents after traumatic incidents
When Boston Mayor Michelle Wu addressed reporters about the death of a five-year old boy who was hit by a bus and killed in Hyde Park, her voice shook with emotion. Expressing sympathy for the boy's family and his community, she assured residents that the city's Community Healing Response Network would be available to anyone who needed help to process the trauma. CHRC, which operates under the Boston Public Health Commission, involves hospitals, health care providers, faith leaders, community groups, and the responders themselves; roughly 30 people who live in the city and undergo training to provide emotional support and (with CPR and Stop The Bleed training) assistance during medical emergencies. Most often, they respond to incidents of gun violence but also report to crime scenes and deadly accidents when the victims are 18 and younger. "Sometimes people just need you to be there," explains CHRC Director Donald Osgood. "This work for me is very important." "Psychological first aid" Osgood grew up in Boston. A father and grandfather, his first "psychological first aid" training came when he decided to volunteer. He mentions, good-naturedly, "I was a knucklehead when I was a young fellow." Osgood knows how it feels to survive violent crime. He was stabbed twice in the late 1980's (in one attack, he was stabbed multiple times) and was shot in 1990. Eventually, he transformed his life into one of advocacy and purpose. "I wanted to give back," he explains. He has been working in violence prevention in Boston for the past 20 years. "My God-given gift is to be present for people during these times," he says when asked about his work at CHRC. "It's rewarding and sad at the same time because we're meeting people when something crazy has taken place in their lives." Osgood says that he leans on his faith and his therapist. He is glad that the stigma around mental health is changing. "None of the things I do were around when I was young... Back then there was no thought to it. We didn't talk about trauma." He and the team of responders offer what wasn't available when he was a young man. "There was nothing in place, so I went through all those different emotions myself," he explained. Building relationships in the neighborhoods Osgood says that because responders live in the neighborhoods they serve, people are often more willing to trust them and open up. Relationships matter. It's not unusual for him--or another network responder--to receive a call from a community member about an incident even before Boston Police reach out to the network. When responders arrive, they make themselves available to people who may need basic items like water or tissues. They watch and listen. They help people in heightened states of anxiety begin to calm down. They offer support at the scene and, sometimes, weeks or months after the incident. Osgood says it is not unusual for a family member to brush off help in the hours immediately after a traumatic event, only to decide it's necessary later. Days, weeks, or even months later, he says, the network responders are there to help. The goal, whenever someone calls, is to connect them with resources that foster healing. Marilyn Forman, a leader in two community associations who also serves as the Director of Community Organizing and Resident Engagement at Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation partners with CHRC. She says it is a critical, much-appreciated resource when people are hurting. "They're compassionate because they're from the neighborhood," Forman said. "They understand the grief and what you're going through. And part of your healing is about connecting and talking." "They never leave you" When an entire neighborhood is processing the same grief, talking with someone who is trained to assist can be especially valuable. "You have your family. You have your friends. But they're going through it too. So when the response team shows up, they're trained to be that ear and to listen to how people are offer the different supports and resources to help people. And they never leave you. That's what makes the biggest difference." Osgood says, in Hyde Park, CHRC will work with the neighborhood association when the time is right to put together "healing circles" for the community. Asked what feels most gratifying in his work, he looks out at families playing in the South End's Titus Sparrow Park. "Seeing kids smile. Seeing a mom who may have gone through something heavy walk away--at least with a smile on her face knowing that it doesn't feel good today, but we're going to get through it," Osgood said. "And we have people working with us to help us get through it." Support is available to ALL residents who feel affected by community violence. You can access services by calling the support line at 617-431-0125. You can also reach out to the Community Healing and Response Network neighborhood teams directly. All services are free and confidential.
