CDC in the news for hantavirus, Ebola travel plans, and vaccine policy debates. US public health watchdog under HHS, based in Atlanta. #CDC
A coalition of 14 states and Pennsylvania's governor has filed a lawsuit against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., challenging recent changes to US vaccine policies, including the removal of several childhood vaccines and the replacement of expert advisory members. The case raises concerns over public health and scientific integrity.
The 2026 allergy report ranks Boise as the worst city for pollen allergies, driven by climate change and weather patterns. Early spring symptoms are affecting many, with Western cities experiencing longer, more intense pollen seasons due to warmer temperatures and drought. Experts advise early treatment and lifestyle adjustments.
The FDA has identified Raw Farm’s raw cheddar cheese as the likely source of a multistate E. coli outbreak affecting five people in California, one in Florida and one in Texas since Sept. 2025. Raw Farm has declined to recall its products, while investigators collect samples and pursue a definitive source.
A lawsuit challenges Trump’s plans to overhaul the Kennedy Center without proper review, citing risks to historic integrity. The case highlights concerns over potential irreversible damage and Trump’s increased influence over the venue since his return to office.
Recent studies reveal significant undercounting of COVID-19 deaths and rising heart disease among women aged 25-44. New guidelines aim to improve cholesterol screening and reduce mortality, especially in vulnerable populations. These findings highlight ongoing health disparities and the need for targeted interventions.
Recent reports highlight increasing parental refusal of routine newborn vaccines, such as vitamin K and hepatitis B, driven by anti-science sentiment. This trend risks higher preventable disease rates, despite evidence that vaccines are safe and effective. The trend reflects growing mistrust in medical advice and misinformation spread via social media.
The New World screwworm fly has spread north through Mexico, reaching two Mexican states bordering Texas. Control efforts are resuming after a breakdown in eradication programs, with potential costs exceeding US$700 million annually if it invades the US. New funding aims to restore sterile insect techniques to prevent a costly outbreak.
Raw Farm of Fresno, California, is voluntarily recalling over 170,000 pounds of raw milk cheddar cheese due to E. coli concerns linked to an outbreak that has sickened nine people across three states, including young children. The farm denies the connection and refuses a recall, raising ongoing safety and regulatory questions.
The US is ending its global health supply program, risking shortages of HIV and malaria medicines in Africa and Haiti. The transition to new procurement methods is uncertain, with potential gaps in life-saving supplies amid ongoing aid reductions and policy shifts.
New CDC data shows the U.S. fertility rate fell to a historic low of 53.1 births per 1,000 women in 2025, a 7% decline from 2024. The total number of births dropped slightly to 3.6 million. Experts link the decline to delayed childbearing and economic factors, with younger Americans having fewer children.
Agriculture authorities have identified the Asian jumping worm as an invasive species spreading across multiple states, including California. The worms damage soil, harm plant roots, and may threaten native wildlife. Officials emphasize prevention, as there are no effective control methods once established. The spread raises concerns about drought and ecosystem disruption.
Measles outbreaks have ended in parts of the U.S. after a surge in vaccination efforts, but national numbers remain high and vaccination coverage has not reached the 95% threshold. Authorities warn the elimination status remains at risk amid rising cases and policy shifts affecting vaccine confidence.
SNAP participation has declined by about 4.3 million from January 2025 to January 2026. Advocates attribute the drop to tougher eligibility rules and work requirements in the One Big Beautiful Bill, while supporters claim a stronger economy and reduced fraud are responsible. The administration is moving toward tighter controls and reduced federal funding over the next decade, with state programs bearing more cost.
An outbreak on the MV Hondius has claimed three lives and left several others ill. WHO and national health ministries confirm confirmed and suspected cases as the ship travels from Argentina to Cape Verde, with evacuations under discussion and ongoing laboratory work.
The MV Hondius has seen multiple suspected hantavirus infections since April, with at least two confirmed deaths and several more illnesses among passengers and crew. The ship remains off West Africa as health authorities monitor outbreaks and coordinate evacuations as needed.
Pollution from the Tijuana River is flowing into U.S. waters, contaminating Southern California beaches, with millions of gallons of sewage-tainted water daily. U.S. and Mexican officials have signed agreements to accelerate cleanup, while concerns extend to Gibraltar’s lack of wastewater treatment.
Three deaths have been reported from hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius; several states are monitoring residents who recently disembarked the ship. Health officials say the immediate public risk remains very low as investigations continue and evacuations are underway.
The Ambition cruise ship outbreak, linked to hantavirus, has led authorities to allow many passengers to disembark as investigations continue. Dutch authorities report norovirus as a confirmed illness onboard, while CDC monitors the situation amid questions about patient outcomes and travel guidance.
UNAIDS warns that shrinking international funding is undermining HIV prevention, treatment and community programs across developing countries, with concrete drops in PrEP uptake and clinic access in several nations. In the US, Maine faces an outbreak clustered in 2023-24 as public health services expand testing and syringe programs.
Health authorities have identified at least 13 hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, including three deaths. Passengers and crew have been evacuated to multiple countries and are being quarantined and closely monitored; more than 600 contacts in about 30 countries have been traced and are under follow-up as testing and isolation continue.
The Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo has prompted the WHO to declare an international concern. DR Congo’s World Cup preparations have been disrupted as teams shift camps abroad; the US imposes travel restrictions affecting some staff. Congo will play their Group K games in Houston, Guadalajara and Atlanta.
Four people were found unresponsive in a Mountainair home; three have died and a fourth is hospitalized. Eighteen responders were exposed to an unidentified substance, with hazmat teams and FBI involvement aiding the investigation.
Since mid‑May the World Health Organization has declared the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak an international emergency and cases have risen above 1,000. The U.S. has been rerouting travellers from the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan to designated airports for enhanced screening, extended temporary entry restrictions to green‑card holders, and has approved a 50‑bed quarantine unit in Kenya for exposed Americans.
The New World screwworm has been detected in a 3-week-old calf in La Pryor, Texas, marking the first U.S. cattle case since eradication in the 1960s. Authorities have declared an infused zone, are dispersing sterile flies, and are expanding facilities to contain and eradicate the pest. Mexico reports rising animal cases and a first human case in 2025, prompting border controls and a broad, ongoing response.
Public health experts warn rising measles and flu threats amid vaccine hesitancy, with new data showing vaccines prevent millions of illnesses and deaths. Debates around Kennedy, Trump and policy shifts are driving regulatory changes and public discourse.