Latest news with #U.S.CentersforDiseaseControl
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
CDC Urges International Travelers to Be ‘Fully Vaccinated' Against Measles or Consider Postponing
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has recommended that all international travelers be vaccinated against measles amid an ongoing rise in cases of the virus The agency says those who aren't fully vaccinated should consider "postponing their trip," and those who are unsure of their immunity should get vaccinated before international travel The news comes after three cases of measles have been linked to an international flight that landed in DenverFollowing an outbreak of measles linked to an international flight that landed in Denver, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has recommended 'all international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles.' The agency recommends that all travelers be fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before departure — and to consider 'postponing their trip' if they're unable to get the shots. A Turkish Airlines flight that arrived in Denver on May 13 has been linked to an outbreak of the wildly contagious disease, sickening three, including a child. It's part of an ongoing struggle with measles spreading via air travel: This year, there have been 62 cases of measles linked to international travel, CBS News quotes a CDC spokesperson as saying. The CDC warns that 'most people who bring measles into the United States are unvaccinated U.S. residents who get infected during international travel.' However, in its recent alert, the CDC warns about not just contracting the virus on a plane — but throughout the entire trip, as 'travelers can catch measles in many travel settings including travel hubs like airports and train stations, on public transportation like airplanes and trains, at tourist attractions, and at large, crowded events.' In March, there was exposure on an Amtrak train to Washington, D.C. The agency reiterates that the 2-dose measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for all travelers, starting with infants at 6 months of age. 'CDC recommends that all travelers be fully vaccinated against measles before traveling to any international destination,' the agency reiterates, adding that those who are 'unsure of their immunity' should get the vaccine as well. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The agency's warning comes amid a record rise in reports of measles exposures in the U.S. In May, someone attended a Shakira concert in New Jersey while infectious with measles. Kansas is struggling with a double outbreak of tuberculosis and measles. And the ongoing measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico has resulted in three deaths. 'Measles isn't just a little rash,' the CDC says. It also can cause a high fever, cough, runny nose and may lead to pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can cause hearing loss and cognitive disabilities. Multiple large-scale studies have found that vaccines are safe. There is no scientific link between vaccines and autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
CDC Urges International Travelers to Be ‘Fully Vaccinated' Against Measles or Consider Postponing
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has recommended that all international travelers be vaccinated against measles amid an ongoing rise in cases of the virus The agency says those who aren't fully vaccinated should consider "postponing their trip," and those who are unsure of their immunity should get vaccinated before international travel The news comes after three cases of measles have been linked to an international flight that landed in DenverFollowing an outbreak of measles linked to an international flight that landed in Denver, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has recommended 'all international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles.' The agency recommends that all travelers be fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before departure — and to consider 'postponing their trip' if they're unable to get the shots. A Turkish Airlines flight that arrived in Denver on May 13 has been linked to an outbreak of the wildly contagious disease, sickening three, including a child. It's part of an ongoing struggle with measles spreading via air travel: This year, there have been 62 cases of measles linked to international travel, CBS News quotes a CDC spokesperson as saying. The CDC warns that 'most people who bring measles into the United States are unvaccinated U.S. residents who get infected during international travel.' However, in its recent alert, the CDC warns about not just contracting the virus on a plane — but throughout the entire trip, as 'travelers can catch measles in many travel settings including travel hubs like airports and train stations, on public transportation like airplanes and trains, at tourist attractions, and at large, crowded events.' In March, there was exposure on an Amtrak train to Washington, D.C. The agency reiterates that the 2-dose measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for all travelers, starting with infants at 6 months of age. 'CDC recommends that all travelers be fully vaccinated against measles before traveling to any international destination,' the agency reiterates, adding that those who are 'unsure of their immunity' should get the vaccine as well. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The agency's warning comes amid a record rise in reports of measles exposures in the U.S. In May, someone attended a Shakira concert in New Jersey while infectious with measles. Kansas is struggling with a double outbreak of tuberculosis and measles. And the ongoing measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico has resulted in three deaths. 'Measles isn't just a little rash,' the CDC says. It also can cause a high fever, cough, runny nose and may lead to pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can cause hearing loss and cognitive disabilities. Multiple large-scale studies have found that vaccines are safe. There is no scientific link between vaccines and autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Explainer-What is bird flu, and why is Brazil's first case on a commercial farm concerning?
By Oliver Griffin SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazil, the world's largest chicken exporter, on Friday reported its first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza - also known as bird flu - on a commercial farm, triggering fears over global poultry supply chains. The disease has spread around the globe in the past years, leading to hundreds of millions of poultry being culled. It has also been reported in dairy cows, cats, and humans. WHAT IS BIRD FLU? Bird flu is a viral disease spread mainly by birds which can also affect mammals, including humans. The disease, of which there are many strains, is highly contagious between birds. WHY IS THE CASE IN BRAZIL IMPORTANT? Friday's case is the first time an outbreak has been reported on a commercial farm in Brazil. The South American country accounts for 35% of the global chicken trade, shipping $10 billion worth of the poultry in 2024. Brazil sends chicken to some 150 countries around the world, with China and Japan among its top customers. China immediately banned imports from Brazil following the news, and other countries could follow. In 2023, Japan banned chicken imports from Brazil's Espirito Santo state after bird flu was found on a non-commercial farm there. Eggs could also be affected. In March, Reuters reported that the U.S. had almost doubled imports of eggs from Brazil amid sky-high egg prices there following a spike in U.S. bird flu cases. WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE NUMBER OF CASES? As of April 30, just under 1,200 outbreaks of highly pathogenic bird flu had been reported in poultry around the world in the current season that runs from October 2024 to September 2025, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health. That compares with 786 outbreaks in the whole of the 2023-2024 season, and 1,971 cases in the season before that. At the same time, during the 2024-2025 season more than 1,400 cases have been reported in wild birds, compared to 1,062 cases and 3,975 cases in the whole of the 2023-2024 and 2022-2023 seasons respectively. WHAT OTHER SPECIES CAN GET BIRD FLU? Bird flu has also been reported in dozens of mammal species, including dairy cows, sheep, cats - including some house cats - and humans. The virus is typically transferred direct from birds to humans. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says limited human-to-human transfer has occasionally been reported around the world, though not in the U.S. IS THERE A VACCINE? There is no vaccine for cases of bird flu in humans. Vaccines are available for birds. In March this year, France's government said its poultry flocks will be allowed outdoors again after a lull in bird flu infections, which it attributed to a vaccination program. In January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it would rebuild a stockpile of bird flu vaccines to combat the current outbreak, which began in 2022.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Wisconsin has seen progress in reducing overdose deaths. Trump's cuts could upend that.
A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reinforces earlier data showing an ongoing decline in overdose deaths nationwide, and repeats the contention that one of the main reasons for the progress is an approach called harm reduction. Despite these advances, the Trump administration has proposed eliminating federal grants for harm reduction efforts, a move that Wisconsin public health officials warn could stall gains made in drug overdose prevention. Those concerns were amplified by more than 320 behavioral medicine academic experts, who wrote to congressional leaders May 12 decrying the cuts to these life-saving overdose prevention services. In February 2025, the CDC released a promising report with provisional data showing that from October 2023 to September 2024, overdose deaths had dropped by more than 27,000. Dr. Allison Arwady, director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, called the nearly 24% decline unprecedented. The widespread distribution of naloxone, a key product of the federal harm reduction program, was a crucial factor in this milestone, the report found. Naloxone, known by the brand name Narcan, reverses life-threatening symptoms associated with opioid overdoses. Related: Wisconsin records significant drop in overdose deaths, although officials remain cautious Now, on May 14, the CDC has released a second provisional report showing an even more profound decline from that 12-month time period ― a nearly 27% drop in overdose deaths. The decline in overdose deaths has steadily continued from month to month, the report said. It strongly supported the idea that these strides can be attributed to public health interventions. Harm reduction makes up one of the four pillars of an overdose prevention strategy prioritized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after Trump declared a national emergency on the opioid epidemic in his first presidential term. The approach promotes getting critical health services to people regardless of whether they use drugs, including safe syringe programs, fentanyl and xylazine testing strips, and the distribution of naloxone or Narcan. "We accept that, for better or worse, people use drugs. We work to minimize risks and harm that come with drug use," said Dr. Julia Olsen, a supervisor at Public Health Madison & Dane County. "We don't condemn or judge people for their use. We try to meet them where they're at and make sure they can be as healthy, safe and well as they can be." In his second term, the Trump administration is walking back aspects of the overdose strategy his first administration spearheaded. In his discretionary budget to Congress shared on the White House website May, Trump has proposed removing harm reduction services from the equation, saying the Biden-Harris administration used the approach "to fund dangerous activities … which included funding 'safe smoking kits and supplies' and 'syringes' for drug users." Findings from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration tell a different story. The health agency has written several reports suggesting that harm reduction efforts are a powerful public health approach, not only when it comes to mitigating overdoses, but removing stigmas and making safer choices, even when using illicit drugs. "Of course, we want to prevent these overdoses from happening, but at the same time, we have to recognize that we have a problem on our hands right now, in Milwaukee County, in Wisconsin, in the United States," said Dr. Ben Weston, chief health policy advisor for Milwaukee County. "We need to address that to save lives, and that's where harm reduction comes in." Milwaukee County has used harm reduction as part of its overdose prevention strategy for years. The county won $101 million from opioid settlement funds in two settlement agreements, one in 2021 and the other in 2023, with companies that supplied opioids. The County Board allocated $11 million to install 11 new vending machines at specific locations — a health center, a concert venue, a social service agency and more — and packing them with free supplies like Narcan, fentanyl testing strips, and medication lock bags. Related: Milwaukee County received a record $101 million opioid settlement. How will it spend the money? Related: County exec David Crowley steers part of massive opioid settlement to treatment, prevention Harm reduction efforts also break down barriers, Weston said. They can then be a stepping stone for medication-assisted treatment like buprenorphine and methadone, Weston said, drugs that block the opioid receptors in the brain while reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. "Giving buprenorphine not just in a specialized clinic, where you have to wait several weeks to get in, but right there at the time of the 911 call, or whether they're on the street or under a bridge, in their living room, wherever, harm reduction is key to getting them those treatments," Weston said. While the harm reduction movement has been around for decades, notably during the HIV-AIDS epidemic, it wasn't until the Biden-Harris administration that it transformed from a fringe grassroots philosophy to a federal drug policy. 2022 marked the first year that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, awarded 25 harm reduction grants to agencies across the country. In October 2023, Wisconsin Department of Health Services received nearly $28 million in substance use block grants, which included harm reduction efforts. In turn, vending machines stocked with free naloxone nasal spray, fentanyl strips and medication lock bags started cropping up on busy streets, in schools, health care clinics and libraries, and in sheriff's departments. In 2024, Milwaukee County saw its most dramatic drop in drug overdose deaths since 2018, a decline of nearly 28% from a year earlier. "Harm reduction is saving lives, which is critical," Weston said. Related: As DOGE slashes funding source, Wisconsin behavioral treatment centers worry about programs Related: Milwaukee County unveils new overdose dashboard, ushering new hopes of driving down deaths Olsen, in Dane County, said that while it's difficult to prove causation, the county's received fewer non-fatal overdose calls to emergency medical services (EMS) since the state starting ramping up its harm reduction efforts. And over the last few years, more than 14,000 people have used the harm reduction services at its three public health offices in Madison. Olsen and Weston both told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that access to harm reduction services led to those same people making healthier choices in other areas of their lives. Syringe services, for example, reduce the risks of contracting and transmitting HIV and viral hepatitis, but while there, people can learn about safer injection practices, vaccinations, wound care, and how to get access to social and mental health services. The Trump administration plans to consolidate several programs, including SAMHSA, into a unified entity under the new Administration for a Healthy America, which will focus on chronic disease prevention, maternal and child health, and mental health services. The budget would retain $5.7 billion "for activities that were formerly part of SAMHSA," according to the discretionary budget. It would not include the $56 million annual grant through SAMHSA that distributes overdose-reversing kits and trains first responders in how to administer naloxone. Proponents of Trump's budget, which would cut a quarter of Health and Human Services, including more than a $1 billion from SAMHSA, have argued the cuts are necessary to "streamline operations, enhance responsiveness to the American people, and ultimately improve the nation's health as part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative," HHS press secretary Vianca Rodriguez Feliciano told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an email. Feliciano offered no specifics on how the cuts would improve the nation's health. Widespread cuts like this, public health officials argue, will reduce access to supplies and resources at a time when communities in Wisconsin and beyond are starting to see the benefits of the federal overdose prevention strategy. Rhetoric from the White House, too, risks growing misconceptions of what harm reduction is and, significantly, what it is not. Already, the biggest falsehood Weston and Olsen encounter is that harm reduction enables drug use. "Teenagers don't decide to start doing heroin because they know they could get naloxone," Olsen said. "That's just not how addiction progresses for people." Instead, harm reduction offers an opportunity to save lives, Weston said. "Anybody who knows somebody who has died from an overdose will tell you that they wish that person could have another chance, and they wish they could have intervened, that maybe they could have made a difference," Weston said. "Harm reduction is that difference." Natalie Eilbert covers mental health issues for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She welcomes story tips and feedback. You can reach her at neilbert@ or view her X (Twitter) profile at @natalie_eilbert. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Harm prevention efforts have cut drug OD deaths. Why is Trump opposed?
Indianapolis Star
13-05-2025
- Health
- Indianapolis Star
Feds recommend pausing vaccine for mosquito-borne disease chikungunya in people over 60
Federal drug safety officials have recommended pausing the use of a vaccine for a mosquito-borne disease known as chikungunya for people over 60 following reports of serious adverse events. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that 17 serious adverse events, including two that resulted in death, have been reported in worldwide recipients of the vaccine Ixchiq over the age of 60. Six of the events occurred in the United States, the FDA said in a safety communication on Monday, May 12. Domestic and global cases have been reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, run by the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to flag potential safety problems with vaccines. The reported cases were in individuals with underlying chronic medical conditions and the adverse events "may not be causally related to vaccination," the FDA said. The vaccine's maker, Valneva, said in a statement that it is "upholding the highest safety standards" and pointed to the potential for underlying conditions and other medications as contributing factors in the adverse events. "Thorough evaluation of these cases is critical to ensure the safe use of Ixchiq," the company said. French drug regulators updated their recommendations for Ixchiq in April and the European Medicines Agency announced that its safety committee had launched a review of the vaccine earlier this month and prohibited its use in people 65 and older, according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne illness named for the joint pain it causes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Most people infected by a mosquito bite recover from the illness in about one week, but some have lasting joint pain – the clinic says. There is no cure for the disease and treatment focuses on managing symptoms inlcuding: The FDA approved Ixchiq for the prevention of the disease in adults over 18 in November 2023. It uses a live, though weakened, version of the virus that may cause symptoms similar to the disease, according to the FDA. The FDA said that some of the reported adverse events were consistent with severe complications of chikungunya disease.
