Latest news with #NewYorkStateDepartmentofHealth
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
A Fatal Tick Bite Caused a Man's Brain to ‘Blow Up'
In 2024, a Massachusetts man was bit by a tick. Days later, he collapsed and was hospitalized. Weeks later, he was dead. Now his family is hoping that their tragedy could help to save other people's lives. As CBS News reports, the family of Kevin Boyce is kicking off the summer season by sharing their heartbreak. In April 2024, Boyce got a tick bite without even realizing it. Within a few days, he began experiencing a number of debilitating symptoms that mimicked the flu, including an extreme headache and vomiting. Not long after that, the 62-year-old collapsed in his home and was rushed to Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was diagnosed with Powassan to the New York State Department of Health, many people who are infected with Powassan virus never develop any symptoms. Those who do develop symptoms usually begin experiencing them within one to four weeks of the bite, with fever, headache, vomiting, confusion, and seizures among the initial symptoms. For more severe cases, the onset of symptoms seems to occur more quickly and can include tremors, paralysis, coma, or death. Powassan can also cause encephalitis and meningitis. Powassan virus is rare, but approximately 10 percent of all cases are fatal. And the number of infections appears to be on the rise. In 2024, the scientific journal Clinical Microbiology and Infection published data that indicated a 'four-fold rise' in the number of cases between 2014 to 2023, compared to 2004 to 2013. In Boyce's case, the disease progressed quickly. Boyce's sister, Erin, explained that Kevin was in the ICU, but ultimately the damage his brain sustained was too much. Just a few weeks after being admitted to the hospital, he passed away.'His brain had blown up so much, from the encephalitis, and he had really bad brain damage,' Erin said of her brother, who left a wife, two sons, and a granddaughter behind. One year later, Boyce's family wants to turn their tragedy into a learning lesson—and a warning for others. 'We just want the public to know what to look for and be wary of ticks,' Erin said, 'especially if you have one on your body.' A Fatal Tick Bite Caused a Man's Brain to 'Blow Up' first appeared on Men's Journal on May 30, 2025
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
NYS Department of Health launches interactive heat risk dashboard
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — As weather agencies around the world predict a rise in annual temperatures, New York State is addressing a predicted increase across the state after a CDC report detailed the serious risks of heat exposure. According to the CDC, extreme heat is one of the leading causes of death both nationally and statewide. The New York State Department of Health has launched an interactive Heat Risk and Illness Dashboard to help health officials determine the potential risk of heat exposure to residents in their area. The dashboard uses a five-color scale to demonstrate different levels of estimated risk and patterns throughout New York, providing a weeklong 'HeatRisk forecast'. Get ready for several years of killer heat, top forecasters warn 'This is a new tool that will help us understand the risk hot weather presents to us. We have moved beyond, 'it's not the heat, it's the humidity,' it's much more complicated than that, and this dashboard offers better insight into your risk,' State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. The Heat Risk and Illness Dashboard was created using data collected by the National Weather Service, New York State Mesonet, and New York State Department of Health, which report and monitor heat-related emergency room visits and calls for heat-related illnesses. The New York State Department of Health also provides a directory of cooling centers available for residents on their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Calgary Herald
15-05-2025
- Health
- Calgary Herald
Canadian who visited 16 U.S. locations had measles, Seattle health officials say
The local public health office in Seattle is warning residents there of a confirmed case of measles in a Canadian resident who spent time in the region two weeks ago. Article content Article content The notice from Public Health — Seattle and King County says the person spent time in King and Snohomish counties between April 30 and May 3 while infectious, and adds that their vaccine status is unknown. (The Seattle metropolitan area overlaps with three counties — King, Snohomish and Pierce.) Article content Article content 'In addition to traveling through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the person visited multiple public locations in Renton, Bellevue, Seattle, Everett and Woodinville while contagious with measles, but before being diagnosed with measles,' the notice says. Article content Article content The notice then lists 16 locations alongside dates and times, including a winery, two fitness centres and a local hotel as 'locations of potential exposure.' Article content 'These times include the estimated period when the individual was at the location and two hours after,' the notice says. 'Measles virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after someone infectious with measles leaves the area. Anyone who was at the … locations during the times listed could have been exposed to measles.' Article content The health authority says the case is not connected to any previous local measles cases. Public Health — Seattle and King County says it has responded to two other measles cases this year among people who traveled through King County but were not Washington state residents, adding there have been five cases of measles in Washington state residents this year. Article content Article content Measles was declared eliminated in Canada in 1998, and in the United States two years later. However, falling vaccination rates have caused outbreaks to occur in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., with cross-border transmission as well. Article content Article content Last month, the New York State Department of Health went so far as to issue a travel advisory for those who may be crossing the border, especially anyone travelling to Ontario. Article content
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Canton's Taylor Park Beach closed for 2025 season
CANTON, N.Y. (WWTI) – A St. Lawrence County beach will be closed to swimmers for the upcoming summer season. Following an on-site assessment of Taylor Park Beach by the New York State Department of Health, both the town and village of Canton have closed the beach for the season. All swimming and wading areas are closed due to a potentially dangerous slope of the riverbed and large debris (trees) stuck inside the swim area as a result of spring flooding and Hurricane Debby 2024. Customer at Canton Stewart's Shop strikes it rich In a pre-season inspection, the Canton Recreation Department was informed that the New York State Department of Health will not issue a Bathing Beach Permit prior to the slope of the swim area being modified to ensure a gradual and uniform slope into the swim area. DOH officials recommended that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation be contacted in order to obtain a permit to repair the slope and remove any potential debris from the swim area. After withstanding two severe storms last summer, one catastrophic, Taylor Park Beach closed for a two-week stint starting on July 11 only to be closed for the season following Debby on August 8 of last year. Swimming will not be eliminated from the department's list of summer activities. In addition to the department's swim lessons program, Canton Recreation Director Meghan Richardson is working with Canton Central School to offer community swim hours at the new pool. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Wynn Hospital lifts restrictions for maternity, pediatric wards
UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — The Wynn Hospital in Utica has lifted their visitor restrictions for the Maternal Child and Pediatric wards. The hospital said in an announcement that the restrictions on visitors to those two wards were to better protect patients and employees from various illnesses, including the flu and RSV. The hospital has said the New York State Department of Health, as well as leaders from the Mohawk Valley Health System Maternity group, found these illnesses to no longer be prevalent. Visitation regulations will now be as follows: In the Labor and Delivery unit, two support persons, including a doula if requested, may accompany the patient throughout the delivery period until their discharge home. These persons must wear a green bracelet; there is no switching out of support persons. The persons may be the patent's spouse, partner, sibling, parent or any other persons over the age of 16. Those two persons may be with the patient outside of regular visiting hours. After delivery, two more persons may visit the patient until they are transferred to the hospital's Mother and Baby Unit. Only four total people are allowed in the room at one time. In the Mother and Baby Unit, visiting hours will be from 8 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm, with a designated quiet time from 2 pm to 4 pm. During these hours, the two support people from Labor and Delivery and another two visitors may be on the unit. Siblings of the newborn will be allowed to visit with an adult visitor. However, they may not be left unattended with the mother. Only four total visitors will be allowed in the mother's room at one time. In the Neonatal ICU, visiting hours will be from 8 am to 8 pm. All adult visitors must be accompanied by their primary caregiver and show proper ID. Grandparents may visit without parents if they have been given written permission by the primary caregiver on the visitation form. Grandparents will not be allowed to bring any visitors with them. A total of two adult visitors — one of those being the primary caregiver — will be allowed at the bedside of each newborn at any time. This is in addition to a minor sibling. Siblings will be allowed to visit with an adult, but may not be left unattended with the caregiver. Only one parent will be able to stay overnight with the newborn. Visitors to the Neonatal ICU may be asked about the presence of symptoms from flu, COVID or RSV. In the Pediatric Unit, the patient shall designate two support persons over 16 years old at the time of admission. Those persons will be permitted to visit the patient with the parents present. Siblings of the patient are allowed to visit with an adult during normal visiting hours. The hospital has advised that if visitors feel ill, they should stay home and delay their visit until they feel better. For more information on visitation, you are encouraged to visit the MVHS website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
