Latest news with #Mennonite
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Curious kind of communion'
To recruit vocalists for her interspecies choir, Jami Reimer slipped on a pair of hip waders and eased into the swampy waters of Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Clutching three microphones and a flashlight, the bioacoustic artist masqueraded as a talent scout, eavesdropping on the 'erotic refrain' of an amphibian mating chorus. What she heard changed the way she understood the possibilities of sound and the responsibilities of recording it. SUPPLIED Jami Reimer's Soft Tongues features her amphibian recordings in Brazil mixed with her own voice and archived recordings of extinct frog species. In Soft Tongues, Reimer's upcoming performance piece at the Cluster Festival of New Music and Integrated Arts, the humming, croaking and hammering rhythms her recording devices captured mesh with her own voice, along with archived recordings of extinct frog species dating to 1950. Though the languages differed, the Winnipeg-raised Reimer was reminded by the warty chorus of formative experiences in Mennonite church choirs, where vocalization patterns are handed down between generations as acts of communal perseverance. 'In field-recording practices, you don't get to access connection unless you know when to quiet your own voice and become available as a listener,' says Reimer, who embedded with the University of Campinas' Amphibian Natural History lab to collect her earliest samples of frogsong. 'These choruses are imprints of how a habitat is doing. They sound out the health of a wetland.' While completing her MFA at Simon Fraser University, Reimer, who still lives in Vancouver, was inspired to explore bioacoustics — the study of animal communication through sound — by her ecologist sister, whose ornithological research project coincided with an amphibian chorus event. 'I was pretty captivated how the same recording technologies used in music were being used to interface with other species,' says Reimer, who sang with Camerata Nova and in various choirs during her undergraduate studies at Canadian Mennonite University. An obsession with amphibian soundscapes developed, informing Soft Tongues, which Reimer describes as 'a bioacoustic opera,' that fulfils a craving for collective vocalization, a practice the artist says serves as both a physical and spiritual reminder of interconnectivity. SUPPLIED photos Jami Reimer's Soft Tongues will be performed at the Cluster Festival. Reimer will perform Soft Tongues on June 6 at the West End Cultural Centre as part of Cluster's Oscillations program, a double concert also featuring Dirge, a collaboration between Franco-Manitoban beatmaker Rayannah, Chilean psych-rocker Los Dias Floreados and contemporary dancer Carol-Ann Bohrn. 'Field recording has really taught me how to quiet myself and become available to another species I will never understand, listening to it the way I would engage with music,' says Reimer, who will also perform a set of original music at Public Domain on June 14, opening with Toronto's Avalon Tassonyi for Winnipeg's Virgo Rising. 'It's a curious kind of communion.' While Reimer's choral project centres on living harmonies, Eliot Britton and Patrick Hart's new work for Cluster is built around an impersonal voice that satirizes the growing influence of artificial intelligence and large language models as a replacement for genuine human interaction. 'Powered by relentlessly enthusiastic algorithms,' the Quigital Corporate Retreat (June 10 at the WECC) invites audience members to dress in their drabbest business-casual attire for a series of 'product launches, corporate loyalty tests and passive-aggressive email lounge ballads.' It's all made up, but as a corporate collective, Quigital's overlords hope its work inspires laughter as much as it provokes tech-driven anxiety in a 'digital panic room' of their own design. Though neither the Winnipeg-born Britton, a co-director of Cluster and a professor in the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music, nor Hart, who has scored commercials for McDonalds, Microsoft and Old Navy, has seen the series, their acquaintances have frequently compared the ongoing Quigital project to the TV series Severance, the Emmy-winning series that skewers office-culture soullessness and technocratic overreach. Like Lumon, Severance's pseudo-religious, cult-like corporation driven by split personality, Quigital is both ambiguous and pointed. 'We strive to do the same thing, where Quigital is both our star and our villain, but the most sympathetic, wonderful, appealing villain,' says Britton. Earlier projects by the collective include the fake launch, in 2020, of a series of home security devices powered by AI. 'Each product was designed to be incredibly appealing, which also makes them incredibly menacing,' says Britton. 'There's then this hilarious, awkward tension that emerges,' adds Hart. That aura permeates the group's upcoming retreat, where vocalist Sara Albu and the Montreal-based Architek Percussion will use improvised sound, automated language and looping, robotic delivery to simultaneously mock the AI movement while also admitting humanity's initial defeat. SUPPLIED Jami Reimer performing. 'It's a comedy of modern life that everyone very intuitively understands,' says Hart. The Cluster Festival, founded in 2009, runs from June 3-10. A full schedule is available at Full festival passes cost $60. Ben WaldmanReporter Ben Waldman is a National Newspaper Award-nominated reporter on the Arts & Life desk at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Ben completed three internships with the Free Press while earning his degree at Ryerson University's (now Toronto Metropolitan University's) School of Journalism before joining the newsroom full-time in 2019. Read more about Ben. Every piece of reporting Ben produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
US measles cases rise slightly as Colorado reports a new outbreak
AP file photo Measles cases inched up slightly in the US this past week, with a new county impacted in Texas and Colorado reporting a new outbreak. There are 1,088 confirmed measles cases in the US, up 42 from last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Texas, where the nation's biggest outbreak raged during the late winter and spring, reported 10 additional cases this week for a total of 738. There are three other major outbreaks in North America. One in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in 1,888 cases from mid-October through May 27. Another in Alberta, Canada, has sickened 628 as of Thursday. And the Mexican state of Chihuahua had 1,693 measles cases and three deaths as of Wednesday, according to data from the state health ministry. Since the outbreak in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma began, two elementary school-aged children in the epicenter in West Texas and an adult in New Mexico have died of measles. All were unvaccinated. Other states with active outbreaks, which the CDC defines as three or more related cases, include Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that's airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the US since 2000. Here's what else you need to know about measles in the US How many measles cases are there in Texas? There are a total of 738 cases across 35 counties, most of them in West Texas, state health officials said Friday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Throughout the outbreak, 94 people have been hospitalized. McLennan County, which includes the city of Waco, was added to the state's list of counties with active cases. State health officials estimated less than 1% of cases - fewer than 10 - are actively infectious. Fifty-six percent of Texas' cases are in Gaines County, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 409 cases since late January - just over 1.7% of the county's residents. The April 3 death in Texas was an 8-year-old child, according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Local health officials said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of "what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure." A unvaccinated child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas in late February; Kennedy said the child was 6. How many measles cases are there in New Mexico? New Mexico added one new case on Friday for a total of 79. Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state's cases are in Lea County. Sandoval County near Albuquerque has six cases, Eddy County has three, Doña Ana County has two and Chaves and Curry counties have one each. An unvaccinated adult died of measles-related illness March 6. The person did not seek medical care. How many cases are there in Oklahoma? Oklahoma held steady Friday with a total of 14 confirmed and three probable cases. The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases. How many cases are there in Colorado? Colorado has seen a total of seven measles cases in 2025 and one outbreak with three related cases, which the state health department announced Thursday. All three cases appear to stem from an international flight that landed at Denver International Airport in mid-May. Two people with confirmed cases live in Arapahoe County, near Denver - one unvaccinated child under the age of 5 and an unrelated vaccinated adult. The other person was an out-of-state traveler who was infectious on the flight and stayed at a hotel near the airport. State health officials said Thursday there is no evidence of further spread. The other counties with cases in 2025 are Pueblo, Jefferson and Archuleta counties with one each and Denver with two. How many cases are there in Kansas? Kansas has a total of 64 cases across 11 counties in the southwestern part of the state, with two hospitalizations. All but five of the cases are connected, and most of the cases are in Gray County. How many cases are there in Michigan? Michigan has a steady eight confirmed cases of measles, with an outbreak of four connected cases in Montcalm County in the western part of the state that health officials say is tied to the Ontario outbreak. How many cases are there in Montana? Montana has 13 measles cases as of Thursday. Ten are in Gallatin County, which is where the first cases showed up - Montana's first in 35 years. Flathead County has two cases and Hill County has one case. Health officials said there is potential for community transmission in Hill County. There are outbreaks in neighboring North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. How many cases are there in North Dakota? North Dakota, which hadn't seen measles since 2011, is up to 29 cases as of Thursday. Two of the people have been hospitalized, and all of the people with confirmed cases were not vaccinated. There are 13 cases in Williams County in western North Dakota on the Montana border. On the eastern side of the state on the Minnesota border, there are eight cases in Grand Forks County and seven cases in Cass County. Burke County, in northwest North Dakota on the border of Saskatchewan, Canada, has one case. How many cases are there in Ohio? Ohio remained steady for a second week at 34 measles cases and one hospitalization, according to the Ohio Department of Health. That count includes only Ohio residents. The state has two outbreaks: Ashtabula County near Cleveland has 16 cases, and Knox County in east-central Ohio has 20 - 14 among Ohio residents and the rest among visitors. Allen, Cuyahoga, Holmes and Defiance counties have one case each. How many cases are there in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania remains steady at 15 cases overall in 2025 as of Thursday, including international travel-related cases in Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia. An outbreak of eight measles cases in Erie County in far northwest Pennsylvania has remained steady since it began in mid-April. How many cases are there in Tennessee? Tennessee has had six measles cases since early May, but no change since. Health department spokesman Bill Christian said all cases are the middle part of the state, and that "at least three of these cases are linked to each other" but declined to specify further. The state also did not say whether the cases were linked to other outbreaks or when Tennessee's outbreak started. Where else is measles showing up in the US? Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Cases and outbreaks in the US are frequently traced to someone who caught the disease abroad. The CDC says more than twice as many measles have come from outside of the US compared to May of last year, and most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home. In 2019, the US saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles. What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine? The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old. Getting another MMR shot as an adult is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don't need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective vaccine made from "killed" virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. People who have documentation that they had measles are immune, and those born before 1957 generally don't need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have "presumptive immunity." Measles has a harder time spreading through communities with high vaccination rates - above 95% - due to "herd immunity." But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. What are the symptoms of measles? Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash. The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC. Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death. How can you treat measles? There's no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Wisconsin doctor makes wild measles claims
Pierre Kory testifies in front of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. | Screenshot via CSPAN This story was published in partnership with the Center for Media and Democracy. Last month, Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary and longtime anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attended the funeral for the second unvaccinated child in Texas to have died in the ongoing measles outbreak. While in Texas, he met with the two grieving families — along with two local doctors promoting unproven measles treatments, whom he called 'extraordinary healers.' Following the first death, Children's Health Defense (CHD), the anti-vax organization Kennedy led until recently, pushed its own narrative claiming that the 6-year-old Mennonite girl did not actually die from the measles. In this effort, CHD has relied heavily on Pierre Kory, a Wisconsin doctor who has both amplified that assertion and claimed that the measles virus has been weaponized by unknown conspirators. Kory is a Kennedy ally who has been widely criticized for spreading Covid misinformation during the pandemic, including pushing the use of ivermectin as a 'miracle drug' for treating that virus. For years, CHD and Kennedy have promoted the debunked claim that the standard measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine given to almost all children in the U.S. is tied to autism. With an upsurge in the pandemic-era, right-wing embrace of the anti-vax movement — and of Kennedy himself — there has been a notable decrease in routine pediatric vaccinations in the U.S. Now that measles immunization rates have fallen below thresholds to maintain herd immunity in certain parts of the country, outbreaks such as the one in West Texas are expected to become more common. In February, Texas reported the country's first measles death in a child in the more than two decades since the disease was classified as eradicated in the U.S. In response to this death, CHD posted a video on March 19 featuring Kory and Ben Edwards, another Texas doctor Kennedy applauded, discussing the girl's medical records, which her parents released to the organization. Despite having no training in pediatric medicine and having had his board certifications in internal medicine and critical care revoked last year, Kory claimed the child's death was due to incorrect antibiotic management of a bacterial pneumonia infection that had 'little to do with measles.' Edwards — a family doctor who has been treating measles-stricken children in Texas with medications not indicated for measles and was accused of seeing pediatric patients while actively infected with measles himself — concurred with Kory. Without being able to examine the medical records themselves, pediatricians consulted for this article were limited in their critique of Kory's assessment. But they did question his understanding of empiric antibiotic recommendations for pediatric pneumonia. Secondary bacterial pneumonia infections following viral diseases are common, and pneumonia is a well-documented complication of a measles infection. These doctors also questioned the strong personal bias underpinning Kory's assessment and pointed to his history of extreme claims about Covid made online and to right-wing media outlets as evidence against his reliability as an 'expert.' Furthermore, Kory has been inconsistent in his messaging around this measles death when addressing various audiences. When Alex Morozov, founder of the counter-misinformation group Eviva Partners, confronted Kory about his statements regarding the young girl's cause of death at the so-called 'Summit for Truth & Wellness' on March 29, the answer he got was very different. At that event, Kory suggested this was a case of the measles being 'weaponized.' In an audio recording of their conversation published by Morozov, Kory said: Do you want to know the real story on this case? Quite a few of us believe that they weaponized the measles virus. And this measles is more. They're doing this on purpose. She got sicker from the measles probably because they monkeyed with the measles virus…. Do you know how many bioweapons labs there are and what they can do? Like the unfounded claim of an error in medical treatment, this 'weaponized measles' narrative has spread rapidly throughout the online crankosphere. However, this conspiratorial rhetoric has not been accompanied by urgent recommendations for increased vaccinations to prevent infection from a supposedly more virulent strain. Kennedy, who promoted pandemic conspiracy theories along with ivermectin as an alternative to Covid vaccines, has called Kory 'honest, brave, and sincere' and 'a brave dissident doctor.' The doctor appeared with him at various campaign-related events in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, both before and after RFK Jr. suspended his own campaign and joined forces with Trump to launch the 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) movement. As ivermectin proved to be ineffective against Covid, Kory turned on the life-saving mRNA vaccines while cozying up to Kennedy and CHD. Kory and the ivermectin group he co-founded — the Frontline COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), now called the Independent Medical Alliance following a pro-MAHA rebrand — have rallied with Kennedy and CHD on multiple occasions, including against Covid vaccine mandates during the deadly Omicron wave in late 2021 and early 2022. Kory has not just turned on Covid vaccines, but routine childhood immunizations in line with Kennedy's and CHD's established anti-vax rhetoric as well. In 2023, Kory appeared in an FLCCC webinar about pediatric vaccines titled 'Your Child, Your Choice.' The same year, despite his lack of pediatric credentials, he served as an 'expert' on the issue of childhood vaccinations for Republicans in Wisconsin. That same year, Kory testified at the Wisconsin Capitol as part of a GOP-led effort to block adding the meningitis vaccine as a state requirement for school-aged children, which is required in many other states and has been recommended by the Center for Disease Control's Advisory Council on Immunization Practices since 2005. (While Kory and company were initially successful, the meningitis vaccine was eventually added to Wisconsin's requirements as of the 2023/24 school year.) During this measles outbreak, both Kennedy and Kory have once again promoted 'alternative' treatments. Kennedy has drawn heavy criticism for pushing vitamin A as a treatment for measles while simultaneously failing to provide a sorely needed, full-throated endorsement of the MMR vaccines. Following the second death, while the HHS secretary correctly called the vaccines the 'most effective way' to prevent measles, he quickly undermined his own statement. In his tweet about the funeral, Kennedy included a shoutout to doctors Edwards and Richard Bartlett, his other 'extraordinary healer' from Texas, for their use of unproven treatments on infected children in the local community. On March 31, Kory appeared in another CHD video about the first Texas child's death, claiming she should have received intravenous vitamin C, which is not indicated for measles-related pneumonia. Of note, prior to his co-authorship of questionable papers on the use of ivermectin to fight Covid, Kory co-authored a since-retracted paper on a Covid hospital protocol that featured vitamin C. Given his past statements on Covid and routine pediatric vaccines as well as his ties to Kennedy and CHD, Kory would have a vested interest in distancing himself from children's deaths from vaccine-preventable illness. But this is dangerous, experts warn, during a measles outbreak where vaccines play a vital role in stopping the spread of disease. A representative for the hospital that treated the first child spoke out against 'misleading and inaccurate claims' about this case being circulated online. 'Our physicians and care teams follow evidence-based protocols and make clinical decisions based on a patient's evolving condition, diagnostic findings, and the best available medical knowledge,' the spokesperson said. CHD did not back down in the wake of the second pediatric measles death early last month. The organization requested hospital records for this case while offering a free e-book — featuring a foreword by Kennedy — on 'secrets the government and media aren't telling you about measles and the measles vaccine.' The book accuses the mainstream media of weaponizing outbreaks 'for political gain.' In an email to their followers on April 7 — the day after the second child's funeral — CHD announced an April 17 webinar event called 'Inside the Measles Deception' featuring Kory, Booker, and Edwards. The restricted event was available only to their donors. On April 8, CHD tweeted, 'Our mission hasn't changed. The MMR vaccine is dangerous and has caused more deaths than measles,' a claim that is totally unsubstantiated. The next day, Kory returned for another CHD video claiming to have reviewed the medical records for the second case and, unsurprisingly, again maintained that the 8-year-old girl did not die from the measles. He said: 'This is just getting exhausting, this constant fear-mongering by the media. I've already lost so much trust in the institutions of society. But to see them rampage like this on inaccuracies and peddling falsehoods and just distortions, it's terrible. It's terrible for our health. They are scaring people into getting what I think is a very dangerous vaccine.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
CTV News
4 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Mennonite Heritage Village receives century old, embroidered items from war-torn Ukraine
Steinbach's Mennonite Heritage Village has two new special items from far across the world. CTV's Joseph Bernacki reports.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
US measles cases: What you need to know
The U.S. saw a small increase in measles cases last week, an indicator that outbreaks are slowing down, though exposures at a busy airport in Colorado and a Shakira concert in New Jersey are keeping public health experts on their toes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that there are 1,046 confirmed measles cases, up 22 from last week. Texas, where the nation's biggest outbreak raged during the late winter and spring, reported one additional case on Tuesday for a total of 729. There are three other major outbreaks in North America. One in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in 1,795 cases from mid-October through May 20, an increase of 173 cases in a week. Another in Alberta, Canada, has sickened 538 as of Thursday. And the Mexican state of Chihuahua had 1,578 measles cases and three deaths as of Friday, according to data from the state health ministry. Since the outbreak in the southwest U.S. began, two elementary school-aged children in the epicenter in West Texas and an adult in New Mexico have died of measles. All were unvaccinated. But that outbreak, which affects Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, appeared to be 'leveling off' last week, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention incident manager Dr. Manisha Patel said on May 15. But she noted that it's still 'travel season' and there is 'a lot of global measles activity right now.' Other states with active outbreaks — which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include Kansas, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Indiana's outbreak was declared over this week. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that's airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. Here's what else you need to know about measles in the U.S. How many measles cases are there in Texas? There are a total of 729 cases across 34 counties, most of them in West Texas, state health officials said Friday. One more person was hospitalized, for 94 total throughout the outbreak. State health officials estimated less than 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious. Fifty-six percent of Texas' cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 408 cases since late January — just over 1.7% of the county's residents. The April 3 death in Texas was an 8-year-old child, according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Local health officials said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of 'what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.' A unvaccinated child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas in late February; Kennedy said the child was 6. How many measles cases are there in New Mexico? New Mexico added one new case since Friday for a total of 79. Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state's cases are in Lea County. Sandoval County near Albuquerque has six cases, Eddy County has three, Doña Ana County has two and Chaves and Curry counties have one each. An unvaccinated adult died of measles-related illness March 6. The person did not seek medical care. How many cases are there in Oklahoma? Oklahoma held steady Monday with a total of 14 confirmed and three probable cases. The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases. How many cases are there in Kansas? Kansas has a total of 58 cases across 10 counties in the southwestern part of the state, with two hospitalizations. All but two of the cases are connected, and most of the cases are in Gray County. How many cases are there in Indiana? All of Indiana's cases — eight — were in Allen County in the northeast part of the state. The county health department said the cases had no known link to other outbreaks, and there've been no new cases since April 21, leading county officials to declare the outbreak over. How many cases are there in Michigan? Michigan has eight confirmed cases of measles, with an outbreak of four connected cases in Montcalm County in the western part of the state that health officials say is tied to the Ontario outbreak. How many cases are there in Montana? Montana has 11 measles cases as of Monday. Nine of those, including a new one confirmed Friday, are in Gallatin County — Montana's first measles cases in 35 years. Flathead and Hill counties also have one case each. Health officials said there is no known local spread of measles, but did note the outbreaks in neighboring North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. How many cases are there in North Dakota? North Dakota, which hadn't seen measles since 2011, is up to 23 cases as of Monday. One person has been hospitalized, and all of the people with confirmed cases were not vaccinated. There are 13 cases in Williams County in western North Dakota on the Montana border, and seven cases in Cass County on the eastern side of the state. Grand Forks County also has three cases. How many cases are there in Ohio? Ohio remained steady Thursday at 34 measles cases and one hospitalization, according to the Ohio Department of Health. That count includes only Ohio residents. The state has two outbreaks: Ashtabula County near Cleveland has 16 cases, and Knox County in east-central Ohio has 20 — 14 among Ohio residents and the rest among visitors. Allen, Cuyahoga, Holmes and Defiance counties have one case each. How many cases are there in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania has 15 cases overall in 2025 as of May 16, including international travel-related cases in Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia. The outbreak of eight measles cases in Erie County in far northwest Pennsylvania has remained steady since it began in mid-April. How many cases are there in Tennessee? Tennessee had six measles cases as of early May. Health department spokesman Bill Christian said all cases are the middle part of the state, and that 'at least three of these cases are linked to each other' but declined to specify further. The state also did not say whether the cases were linked to other outbreaks or when Tennessee's outbreak started. Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.? Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to someone who caught the disease abroad. The CDC says more than twice as many measles have come from outside of the U.S. compared to May of last year, and most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles. What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine? The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old. Getting another MMR shot as an adult is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don't need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective vaccine made from 'killed' virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. People who have documentation that they had measles are immune, and those born before 1957 generally don't need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have 'presumptive immunity.' Measles has a harder time spreading through communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — due to 'herd immunity.' But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. What are the symptoms of measles? Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash. The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC. Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death. How can you treat measles? There's no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
