All articles tagged with #cdc
McHenry County health officials report a two-week rise in acute gastroenteritis, most likely norovirus, with symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and cramps. They urge residents to wash hands with soap and water (not sanitizer), stay home 24 hours after symptoms end (48 hours for food handlers), stay hydrated, disinfect surfaces with EPA List G products, and follow CDC guidance to prevent spread.
The CDC reports nearly 1,000 measles cases across 26 states in the first two months of 2026—more than four times 2025’s total—driven by unvaccinated individuals and gaps in vaccination coverage. With exposures traced in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, health officials urge two-dose MMR/MMRV vaccination to prevent severe complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis, and to curb the outbreak as parents’ vaccine hesitancy and misinformation continue to challenge public health efforts.
CDC data show 982 measles cases in 2026 across 26 states, with South Carolina accounting for the bulk of infections (nearly 800 since January, total 973) and notable clusters in Utah, Arizona, and Florida; most cases occur in unvaccinated people. Two-dose measles vaccination is about 97% effective, but some cases still occur, and hospitalizations have been reported along with rare complications like SSPE, underscoring the continuing importance of vaccination.
A Rolling Stone investigation shows that a $1.6 million birth-dose hepatitis B vaccine study in Guinea-Bissau was moved directly from the CDC director’s office to grants management, bypassing normal scientific review and ethical oversight, amid pressure from Kennedy allies and irregular ethics approvals, drawing WHO concern and congressional scrutiny as the project remains in limbo.
CNN reports that this flu season has the highest rate of doctor visits for flu-like illness since CDC surveillance began in 1997, with weekly updates tracking case rates and hospitalizations across states via CDC’s FluView data. The CDC estimates about 8% of the U.S. population gets sick each season, and young children as well as seniors are at higher risk, though data are preliminary and can change as new reports come in.
Jay Bhattacharya, the NIH director, was named acting head of the CDC—the fourth leader in a year—raising concerns that his close ties to RFK Jr. could push a vaccine-skeptic agenda and consolidate control over U.S. health policy as both agencies trim grants and reshape policy.
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the NIH, will serve as acting director of the CDC until a permanent appointee is named, as part of a White House leadership shake-up at HHS; experts warn that one person leading both agencies could complicate public health amid funding cuts and staff turnover at the CDC.
Maine health officials confirmed four additional measles infections, bringing the state’s lab-confirmed total to five. All new cases are unvaccinated and linked to the first case in Penobscot County; there are no new public exposure risks and officials say it is not an outbreak. A measles dashboard was launched to track cases, while nationwide measles cases stand at 910 as of Friday.
The American Medical Association and a public health research group are launching a system to review vaccine safety and efficacy, starting with influenza, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines, in response to criticisms of the CDC’s vaccine-review process.
The Trump administration plans to rescind about $600 million in CDC public health grants to four Democratic-led states (California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota) and related NGOs, saying the funds don’t align with agency priorities. The cuts affect health departments, data-system upgrades, and HIV/STD programs, with California holding much of the unspent money; critics warn the move could undermine local public health during outbreaks, while the administration maintains it is realigning funding with its priorities.
U.S. flu activity is rising again, with more emergency department visits among children over 5; while not as severe as December, doctors expect a smaller second peak in late winter that could extend into spring.
Measles is resurging in the U.S. with about 2,220 cases in 2025 across 45 states and 49 outbreaks, including a major South Carolina outbreak and three deaths, risking the loss of measles-free status. While CDC officials say outbreaks aren’t solely an American failure and point to global trends, the piece underscores that most recent cases involve unvaccinated or unknown-status individuals (roughly 93%), and vaccine effectiveness remains high. It also criticizes RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine stance and policy shifts, arguing they undermine public health, though it notes that some factors like access to care predate his leadership. Overall, the piece contends the U.S. needs stronger vaccination coverage and more credible leadership to control measles.
U.S. life expectancy rose to a record 79 years in 2024, driven by the fading impact of COVID-19 and falling death rates from heart disease, cancer, and drug overdoses, with preliminary data hinting at further gains in 2025.
CDC reports that after a three‑week decline, flu activity is rising across the U.S. while RSV and COVID-19 remain elevated in various states (13 states with higher flu, 21 with RSV, 11 with COVID growth). Overall acute respiratory illness is still low to moderate, but infants face the highest RSV hospitalizations and ED visits. There have been eight additional pediatric flu deaths this season (52 total), and flu hospitalizations have reached about 15,080. Influenza A(H3N2) remains dominant with subclade K mutations that may help it evade vaccine immunity. Vaccination remains encouraged and not too late, though uptake is low; wastewater data show high levels of COVID-19, flu, and RSV in several states.
The CDC reports that U.S. life expectancy reached a new all-time high in 2024, signaling a rebound from pandemic-era declines.