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Hochul declares emergency over measles outbreak

The governor declared the state of an emergency in an executive order issued Monday, citing a growing number of cases.

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Oct 5 • 3:25 PM EDT • Health • spectrumlocalnews.com
Hochul declares emergency over measles outbreak

The governor declared the state of an emergency in an executive order issued Monday, citing a growing number of cases.

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Oct 5 • 3:25 PM EDT • Health • spectrumlocalnews.com
HOMETOWN HEALTH: Are you protected against measles? fifth U.S. death reported

One of the largest national medical organizations in the United States has a message it wants people to hear.

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Oct 5 • 9:18 AM EDT • Health • wdbj7.com
An El Niño–fueled ocean wave could raise California flood risks as Florida’s vaccine debate sparks outbreak concerns

An El Niño–driven ocean surge threatens coastal flooding, researchers warn that a plan to loosen vaccine requirements will increase measles risks in Florida, and experts debunk a viral TikTok cold remedy

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Oct 5 • 6:00 AM EDT • Science • scientificamerican.com
Pennsylvania health officials brace themselves as measles outbreak expected to spread

Most counties don’t have their own health agencies, and some specific population groups have low vaccination rates

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Oct 4 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • theguardian.com
Measles outbreak hits Lewis County: 11 cases confirmed in unvaccinated people

About nine out of 10 unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles will become infected, the health department said.

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Oct 3 • 12:31 PM EDT • Health • syracuse.com
Pennsylvania nears 1,000 measles cases, state health department reports

Pennsylvania’s reported measles cases are almost at 1,000 for 2026, days after its health department confirmed the figure had passed 900. “977 measles cases have been confirmed across 39 coun…

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Oct 3 • 12:11 PM EDT • Health • thehill.com
Health officials alarmed by increased measles cases amid proposals to lower vaccine mandates in Florida

Health officials in Florida are ringing the alarm as confirmed measles cases continue to explode across the state.

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Oct 2 • 6:05 PM EDT • Health • wctv.tv
Potential measles exposure on a train in Minot | Health and Human Services North Dakota

BISMARCK, ND (Oct. 2, 2026) – A passenger with measles traveled on Amtrak's westbound Empire Builder, which departed Chicago on Sept. 23 and arrived in Minot the morning of Sept. 24. This created a potential exposure risk for passengers and anyone at the station while the train was scheduled to be in Minot from approximately 9:06 to 9:51 a.m. CT. The passenger reported getting off the train to use the restroom at the Minot station at approximately 9:30 a.m.Anyone who was at the Amtrak station in Minot while this train was stopped, as well as passengers who were traveling on this train, may have been exposed to measles. Individuals who may have been exposed and have received at least one dose of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine or previously had measles (likely those born before 1957) do not need to quarantine but should monitor for symptoms for 21 days after exposure. Individuals who have not received a dose of the MMR vaccine should quarantine (stay home) and monitor for symptoms for 21 days following exposure.

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Oct 2 • 5:55 PM EDT • Health • hhs.nd.gov
How big is Pennsylvania's measles outbreak?

News of a fifth measles death in Pennsylvania underscores a longstanding issue about the disease. The full scope of the outbreak — in the state and in the country — isn’t known or even knowable.

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Oct 2 • 7:53 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com
County Health Department Alerting Community About Possible Measles Exposures at UPMC Chautauqua

The Chautauqua County Health Department is notifying the community about possible measles exposures at UPMC Chautauqua. The Department said people who tested positive for measles were at the hospit…

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Oct 2 • 7:21 AM EDT • Health • wrfalp.com
Former CDC director on politics of measles: ‘A death is a death’

Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC director, appeared on “The Final 5” to discuss the nation’s growing measles outbreak. Frieden said the measles vaccine is safe and effective and remains the only way to stop the spread, while criticizing political arguments over how to classify measles-related deaths. Frieden also discussed the growing role of artificial intelligence in medicine, saying AI can be a powerful tool for doctors and patients but cannot replace trained medical professionals.

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Oct 2 • 12:07 AM EDT • Politics • fox5dc.com
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50 children in our area hit by cars every year; toxic pond water in Centennial Park; ‘gas station heroin’; plus other stories with Vanderbilt Health sources

In a news report following a Murfreesboro child who was killed by an automobile, reporter Amber Jayanth from WSMV Channel 4 News cited statistics gathered at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt about pediatric pedestrian injuries. Trauma registry data from Monroe Carell indicates that about 50 children per year on average are treated after being hit by a car. William Schaffner, MD, Professor of Preventive Medicine, was quoted by several news outlets about public health issues, including: CNN (mRNA flu vaccine); ABC News and the American Journal of Managed Care (Pennsylvania measles outbreak); News Channel 5 (blue-green algae in the pond at Centennial Park, which can release toxins that make people and pets sick). WSMV Channel 4 News interviewed Saumya Aujla, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, about the health risks of kratom, sometimes called “gas station heroin,” and why Tennessee banned the drug. WTVF News Channel 5 interviewed Brianna Smith, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt for a piece on Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Prevention interviewed Mitchell Gigandet, MD, Assistant Professor in the Neuro-Sleep Division, for a story about MDPI research on caffeine that used EEG imaging to see how the drug impacts sleep. It was found that caffeine may make sleep less restorative even when you fall asleep normally and stay in bed for eight hours. The Wall Street Journal reporter Laura Landro interviewed Joseph Schlesinger, MD, Professor of Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine, for a story about ICU alarms keeping patients from getting sleep and creating alarm fatigue for nurses. Billboard reporter Melinda Newman interviewed country star Dasha about her upcoming vocal surgery at Vanderbilt Health. The story was picked up by numerous print and radio outlets including People.

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Oct 1 • 4:34 PM EDT • Health • news.vumc.org
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Pennsylvania health workers bring vaccines to communities amid measles outbreak

Pennsylvania is seeing its worst measles outbreak since 1991 as health workers bring MMR vaccines to community clinics.

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Oct 1 • 3:29 PM EDT • Health • nbcphiladelphia.com
Chautauqua County Health Department Alerts Community of Potential Measles Exposures

People with confirmed measles were at UPMC Chautauqua Hospital on September 26, 27 and 29

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Oct 1 • 2:45 PM EDT • Health • chautauquacountyny.gov
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How Is The Federal Government Counting Measles Deaths?

Recently Secretary of HHS Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., changed how the federal government tracks deaths in its official measles tally, after Pennsylvania reported four deaths. This Policy Watch reviews the two roles, strengths, and weaknesses of the two public health surveillance systems at the center of this change: the Nationally Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) and the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS).

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Oct 1 • 9:00 AM EDT • Health • kff.org
Discover the latest must-read health stories

Top stories: World leaders discuss preparations for next pandemic; WHO calls for stronger ethics oversight of AI in health; Pennsylvania measles outbreak grows.

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Oct 1 • 3:21 AM EDT • Health • weforum.org
Viewpoint: Kennedy’s ‘bad science’: MAGA embrace bolsters HHS secretary’s influence and popularity

Pennsylvania has recorded four measles deaths this year — the state’s first in 35 years — yet the federal government’s official measles death count still

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Oct 1 • 12:01 AM EDT • Science • geneticliteracyproject.org
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Pennsylvania health department confirms 5th measles-related death this year
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Sep 30 • 11:54 PM EDT • Health • yahoo.com
Pennsylvania reports fifth measles-associated death

Pennsylvania confirmed a fifth measles-associated death as cases climbed to 943 across 39 counties amid a growing outbreak.

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Sep 30 • 10:24 PM EDT • Health • usatoday.com
Oregon health officials warn of early flu season, rising measles cases

State health officials say flu season has arrived early in Oregon, and COVID-19 is still in its summer surge.

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Sep 30 • 9:10 PM EDT • Health • kptv.com
Pennsylvania confirms fifth measles-associated death as US outbreak grows

Cases have more than doubled since August as a dispute with federal health officials over the death count continues.

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Sep 30 • 7:31 PM EDT • Health • aljazeera.com
5th measles-associated death of 2026 reported in Pennsylvania, health officials say
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Sep 30 • 6:03 PM EDT • Health • cbsnews.com
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Fifth unvaccinated person dies of measles; CDC still not counting all deaths

State health officials race to vaccinate residents by giving over 8,500 doses.

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Sep 30 • 5:37 PM EDT • Health • arstechnica.com
Pennsylvania reports 5th measles-associated death as outbreak continues

Cases in the state, home to the country’s largest ongoing measles outbreak, have climbed to 943 across 39 counties.

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Sep 30 • 5:27 PM EDT • Health • washingtonpost.com
3rd person with measles dies in Lancaster County: Pa health department

An unvaccinated Lancaster County resident who tested positive for measles has died, bringing to three the number of measles-associated deaths here and five total in the state, according to the

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Sep 30 • 4:38 PM EDT • Health • lancasteronline.com
Health officials announce 5th measles-related death in Pennsylvania
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Sep 30 • 4:11 PM EDT • Health • fox43.com
5th measles-associated death reported in Pennsylvania, health officials say

An unvaccinated resident of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, who tested positive for measles has died, state health officials said.

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Sep 30 • 3:17 PM EDT • Health • cbsnews.com
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Pennsylvania Department of Health reports 5th measles-associated death in Lancaster County

A fifth measles-associated death has been reported in Pennsylvania, according to the state's Department of Health.

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Sep 30 • 2:57 PM EDT • Health • local21news.com
Health department investigating possible measles exposure at Fort Wayne Zoo

The Allen County Department of Health says it was recently made aware of a potential exposure to measles at the Fort Wayne Zoo.

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Sep 30 • 1:36 PM EDT • Health • 21alivenews.com
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Children Are Back in School. Measles Is, Too

Now that children are back in school, we must use the tools we know work to keep this preventable disease out of the classroom, writes Dr. Debra Houry.

time.com logo
Sep 30 • 9:50 AM EDT • Health • time.com
CDC measles death count still lags Pennsylvania’s

Pennsylvania officials count four measles-related deaths this year. The CDC only counts two.

statnews.com logo
Sep 30 • 7:59 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com
Travel plans? Here's what to know as measles exposures reach trains and games

Measles is traveling, with outbreaks in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York, and exposures on transportation and in sports. What should you know before getting on a plane or train?

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Sep 30 • 7:00 AM EDT • Health • npr.org
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Wood County Health Department confirms measles case; multiple possible exposure sites in Bowling Green

The individual was infectious while visiting several sites in Bowling Green on specific days and times, according to the health department.

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Sep 29 • 8:26 PM EDT • Health • 13abc.com
Wisconsin measles cases grow in counties with low vaccination rates

Three counties with measles cases are among Wisconsin's bottom five for vaccination rates.

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Sep 29 • 5:00 PM EDT • Health • jsonline.com
CDC updates measles toll, now counts 2 deaths

The updated tally comes after Pennsylvania reported four measles-associated deaths in 2026 in a growing outbreak.

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Sep 29 • 11:30 AM EDT • Health • washingtonpost.com
Senate Health Panel Delays Bill as Nominees Await Vote

Senate Health Committee recesses HHS markup as measles cases rise. Surgeon General nominee delayed. See why this matters for public health policy.

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Sep 28 • 3:02 PM EDT • Health • legis1.com
PAHO Director’s Annual Report highlights health gains across the Americas despite growing challenges

Report highlights disease elimination milestones, progress in immunization and maternal health, and expanded access to medicines, while warning of the loss of the Region’s measles-free status and other health threats

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Sep 28 • 2:57 PM EDT • Health • paho.org
Pennsylvania measles cases cross 900 as outbreak grows

Sept 28 () - Pennsylvania's measles outbreak continued to worsen, with 68 new infections reported since Wednesday ‌last week, bringing the total to 903 on ‌Monday, health department data showed, as th...

yahoo.com logo
Sep 28 • 2:32 PM EDT • Health • yahoo.com
California firm licenses ‘potent’ anti-measles antibodies from Vanderbilt Health for development, clinical testing

Further development could lead to the first monoclonal antibody therapy against the highly infectious measles respiratory virus.

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Sep 28 • 11:26 AM EDT • Health • news.vumc.org
September 28 Playbook: Vaccination Regulations Rescinded

Reignited public outrage toward restrictive pandemic-era policies. This is the PoliticsPA Playbook. ☕ Good Morning. 36 days until the midterms. Let’s go. 🎶 Your Morning Pick Me Up. I Love It. Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX PA Weather☁️ Pittsburgh | Cloudy, 68☁️ Harrisburg | Cloudy, 70☁️ Philadelphia | Cloudy, 67…

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Sep 28 • 8:13 AM EDT • Politics • politicspa.com
California health officials warn of possible measles exposure in 6 counties

California health officials are on the lookout for new measles cases, after someone with the vaccine-preventable disease rode a passenger train and busses through six counties.

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Sep 28 • 4:43 AM EDT • Health • npr.org
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The Science Behind It: How Did Measles Come Back?

In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the United States. Twenty-six years later, we are talking about it again.

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Sep 27 • 10:10 AM EDT • Science • fullertonobserver.com
What can Pennsylvania learn from the Texas measles outbreak?

While the outbreaks have similarities — notably, that the epicenter of the outbreaks in each state hit hardest in counties with concentrations of Mennonites — the public health approaches have differed in part.

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Sep 27 • 4:00 AM EDT • Health • post-gazette.com
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Lewis County investigates ‘confirmed’ case of measles

Lewis County Public Health announced it is “investigating one confirmed case of measles in an unvaccinated resident.”

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Sep 26 • 9:29 PM EDT • Health • wwnytv.com
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Pennsylvania measles outbreak spreads, with 55 new cases reported since Wednesday

173 people hospitalized and four deaths in state so far, with less than 1% of those infected having been vaccinated

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Sep 26 • 10:10 AM EDT • Health • theguardian.com
Lucas County health officials track measles exposure after Amtrak passenger diagnosed

Those exposed were classified into two categories: passive monitoring, for people believed to have some type of immunity, or active monitoring.

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Sep 25 • 9:46 PM EDT • Health • 13abc.com
Pennsylvania measles outbreak grows to 890 cases with 55 new infections: Officials

The measles outbreak in Pennsylvania is continuing to grow with 55 new cases confirmed since Wednesday, according to an update from the state health department.

abcnews.com logo
Sep 25 • 4:04 PM EDT • Health • abcnews.com
Allen County health officials urge unvaccinated public to protect against measles

Allen County needs more of its residents to get measles vaccines, health department officials said Friday.

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Sep 25 • 2:30 PM EDT • Health • journalgazette.net
Illinois measles cases hit 23 in 2026, most from Douglas, Moultrie counties outbreak
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Sep 25 • 2:26 PM EDT • Health • cbsnews.com
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Health officials urge families to get vaccinated amid measles case in Allen County

Allen County health leaders are sounding the alarm after confirming a case of measles in an unvaccinated child in Adams County Thursday night.

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Sep 25 • 12:33 PM EDT • Health • 21alivenews.com
Public Health Update & Vaccinations

What to know about flu, Covid, measles, vaccination guidelines and other public health concerns

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Sep 25 • 3:00 AM EDT • Health • mainepublic.org
1st confirmed measles case reported in Allen County

Health department officials confirmed Allen County's first measles case on Thursday.

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Sep 24 • 7:45 PM EDT • Science • journalgazette.net
Chicago health officials warn of additional possible measles exposures at Union Station
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Sep 24 • 6:32 PM EDT • Health • cbsnews.com
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Chicago health department warning of 3 more measles exposures at Union Station

The Chicago Department of Public Health is warning commuters of three measles exposures at Union Station this month.

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Sep 24 • 11:54 AM EDT • Health • cbsnews.com
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One of the most contagious diseases on the planet is having its worst U.S. outbreak since 1991

The CDC has added a single measles death to its online counter. In the last few weeks, four unvaccinated people have died from measles in Pennsylvania, according to state officials. But RFK Jr. has publicly questioned what caused the deaths.

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Sep 24 • 7:52 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com
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Measles almost killed me. Now I’m a doctor — and I'm scared of what's happening

Jewel Mullen was in kindergarten in 1961 when she almost died from measles. Now a physician, measles’ return frightens her.

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Sep 24 • 4:30 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com
Local health officials urge residents to get vaccinated after measles case in Adams County

After the Indiana Department of Health confirmed a measles case in Adams County, local health leaders are urging people to check their immunization status.

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Sep 23 • 9:38 PM EDT • Health • 21alivenews.com
Measles exposure reported at Battle Ground school as Clark County cases rise

Clark County Public Health is investigating two measles cases in unvaccinated children and warns of a possible exposure at River HomeLink in Battle Ground.

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Sep 23 • 8:56 PM EDT • Health • katu.com
In Amish country, nurses go door to door to stop deadly spread of measles

With four measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania, health officials are hoping to get people on board with vaccines in private.

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Sep 23 • 8:15 PM EDT • Health • bbc.com
Measles cases confirmed again in northeast Indiana

Two of state's 17 confirmed measles cases were in northeast Indiana as of Wednesday.

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Sep 23 • 6:30 PM EDT • Science • journalgazette.net
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St. Louis County Health officials not alarmed after three infected with measles

Three people from St. Louis, Franklin and Jackson counties became infected after being near the New York resident aboard the same train

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Sep 23 • 6:15 PM EDT • Health • spectrumlocalnews.com
Pennsylvania health officials report 43 new measles cases

Pennsylvania health officials said 835 measles cases have been confirmed across 39 counties this year, including 43 new cases since Monday.

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Sep 23 • 5:40 PM EDT • Health • nbcphiladelphia.com
Linn County health providers launch measles vaccination campaign

Several Linn County health care providers are launching a second-year campaign urging residents to check their measles vaccination status and know what to do if

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Sep 23 • 12:17 PM EDT • Health • cbs2iowa.com
As measles cases rise in Tennessee, CVS Health® reminds residents that vaccines are available statewide

/PRNewswire/ -- Following the Tennessee Department of Health's recent confirmation of nine measles cases in the state, CVS Health® (NYSE:CVS) is reminding...

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Sep 23 • 12:09 PM EDT • Health • prnewswire.com
Health officials report positive measles case in Adams County

The Indiana Department of Health’s website shows a positive case of measles has been reported in Adams County.

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Sep 23 • 10:40 AM EDT • Health • 21alivenews.com
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Possible measles exposure at Busch Stadium, local St. Louis-area businesses

Missouri health officials warned on Monday about a possible measles exposure at Busch Stadium and nearby local businesses in St. Louis and the larger county.

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Sep 23 • 8:23 AM EDT • Business • abcnews.com
What happens when politics mix with medicine in Pennsylvania's measles outbreak?

There are nearly 800 measles cases in Pennsylvania.

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Sep 23 • 8:09 AM EDT • Politics • wbur.org
Amtrak passenger with measles traveled on these California trains

An unvaccinated passenger who later developed measles rode Amtrak trains through California. Here’s the itinerary and who should watch for symptoms.

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Sep 22 • 5:44 PM EDT • Health • sfchronicle.com
State health officials confirm new measles case in Chippewa County

State health officials have confirmed a new case of measles in Chippewa County, marking the latest infection in Wisconsin since late summer.

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Sep 22 • 2:16 PM EDT • Health • wbay.com
Measles case confirmed in Chippewa County, health officials say

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WQOW) — The Chippewa County Department of Public Health has confirmed one case of measles in a county resident.

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Sep 22 • 1:45 PM EDT • Health • wkow.com
World’s most contagious virus hits major US airport as officials warn of possible exposure

Philadelphia International Airport is tied to a second measles exposure event across multiple terminals amid Pennsylvania's worsening measles outbreak.

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Sep 22 • 1:36 PM EDT • Health • foxnews.com
Pennsylvania measles cases climb to near 800 as CDC, state continue to feud

There have been 792 confirmed cases of measles spread across 39 counties in Pennsylvania, according to data released by the state Department of Health on Monday. The new numbers come as state officials continue what it describes as a…

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Sep 22 • 10:28 AM EDT • Health • baltimoresun.com
Why the CDC is excluding measles deaths in Pennsylvania even as outbreak appears to be ‘accelerating’

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refuses to count four measles deaths in the state though doctors are ‘seeing new forms’ of disease

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Sep 22 • 7:00 AM EDT • Health • theguardian.com
Is 50 the new 60?

Subscribe TL;DR: Younger generations are showing signs of worse health compared to earlier-born cohorts at the same age This backward “drift” is showing up both in mortality risk and chronic disease Worsening trends in obesity and diabetes are the most consistent signals Taking the long view, we’ve made astonishing gains in health and life expectancy in the last century. Global average life expectancy has more than doubled from 32 years in 1900 to 73 years in 2024. (But don’t forget, there were still old people when life expectancy was 32). As people lived longer, they also generally lived healthier along the way. It turns out that avoiding things that can kill you early, like malnutrition and lots of childhood infections, also keeps you healthier later in life. In a classic 2004 paper, Finch and Crimmins proposed that cohorts of children who benefited from fewer early life infections had less lifetime exposure to inflammation and cardiovascular disease later in life, accelerating mortality improvements at older ages. Poor nutrition in the womb has also been linked to a higher risk of later chronic disease. The upshot is that improvements in childhood health can pay dividends many decades later. The combination of better living conditions (nutrition, sanitation) and medical advances (antibiotics, vaccines, blood pressure meds, etc) meant that people’s healthy lifespan generally expanded, even as they lived longer. Aging researchers call this best-case scenario “compression of morbidity”—meaning we delay the onset of disease and disability even faster than the years of life we are adding. During my 20+ year research career, we could generally bank on the idea that younger generations would not only live longer but also keep getting healthier along the way. “60 is the new 50” as they say… Enter “Generational Health Drift” Sadly, this expectation of steady progress may be changing. You’ve probably heard that US life expectancy gains have slowed to a crawl in the past couple of decades. Mortality improvements are also slowing (though less dramatically) in many other high-income countries (you can read more about that in a review paper I wrote here). Mortality is a very blunt health measure, but it is often a good barometer for the broader population health trends happening underneath. And we are now seeing that younger generations may be in worse health at similar ages compared to earlier born cohorts. My collaborator Prof. George Ploubidis at University College London coined this worsening health in more recently born cohorts “generational health drift.” “Generational health drift” is bad news on multiple fronts. Most obviously, we don’t want our health progress to go backward. But the timing is also bad, since our populations are aging. In demographic terms, “population aging” means that the proportion of the population at older ages (i.e >65 years) is increasing. Fun demography fact: Current population aging is not due to the recent declines in the birth rates making the news, but declines in fertility decades ago, after the “baby boom.” As baby boomers reach older ages, the smaller cohorts behind them mean the percentage of older adults will increase. For example, the share of the population age 65 and older in the US increased from 12.4% in 2004 to 18.0% in 2024. This story of population aging was written long ago. Many worry that population aging will put pressure on health care and pension systems. But if people reach older ages in better health than in years past, those fiscal pressures would be less dire than projected. Healthy older people can also continue to contribute to society in many valuable ways, including paid work, caregiving, community service….even high political office 🤷. On the flip side, if younger generations reach retirement age in worse health and with more disabling conditions, this could magnify the societal challenge of population aging. Evidence for worsening generational health A recent paper that I LOVED in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. Leah Abrams and colleagues examined which birth cohorts (aka generations) were behind worsening US mortality. Behold the Lexis diagram (cue swooning demographers). Calendar time is on the x-axis, age on the y-axis. Birth cohorts can be followed over time as they age on the diagonal lines moving up and to the right. This figure plots the year-on-year % change in all-cause mortality at a given age. Green shading indicates mortality improvements over time, white is stagnation, and gray shading indicates worsening mortality. Following the diagonal line for those born in 1950, you can see a noticeable shift from green to gray that follows this cohort for most of their lives. This gray shading shows generally worsening mortality for the 1950 to 1959 birth cohorts compared to their predecessors across all ages. Concerningly for my GenX and elder millennial peeps, there was also a deterioration in mortality for birth cohorts born in the 1970s and 1980s, visible as dark gray areas at ages 30 to 45 during the 2010s. While some of these mortality changes reflect specific shocks such as the opioid epidemic, most deaths still occur from major causes of death such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. For cancer, the gray in the top left corner of the figure below reflects the legacies of smoking for older cohorts, followed by a period of green with improvements in cancer mortality as smoking rates declined. But the white/gray shading in the bottom right corner highlights a stagnation and reversal of the cancer trends, with cohorts born around 1970 to 1985 experiencing worsening cancer mortality. This deterioration was most noticeable for colon cancer mortality, possibly linked to obesity or dietary factors. Not just dying more, but less healthy along the way. A recent paper by Dr. Laura Gimeno of University College London (of which I am a co-author), found evidence that more recently born cohorts in Great Britain have stagnating or worsening health. A stylized picture of what“generational health drift” might look like: The review paper found: Rates of childhood overweight and obesity were highest among Gen Z. Rates of diabetes in the 40s almost doubled from 3.1% among the Baby Boomers to 5.9% in Generation X. Gen Z reported higher rates of poor mental health in adolescence compared to earlier-born groups. These UK results are consistent with studies showing worsening health across generations in the US as well. A 2021 US study found that more recently born cohorts had worse biological markers (like blood pressure and blood sugar) than earlier generations at the same age. A separate 2022 study of Americans aged 50 and over found that more recently born generations had a higher number of chronic diseases, with younger age of disease onset. A 2024 Lancet paper found that in the US, women born in 1945 had 33% obesity prevalence at age 50, rising to 48.2% for women born in 1970 turning 50. So what’s going on, and can we turn it around? We don’t have a definitive answer for what’s causing the deteriorating health of younger cohorts, but circumstantial evidence points to worsening trends in obesity and diabetes in both the US and UK. Remember that cohort trends reflect lagged effects of early environments, and younger generations have faced both earlier onset and more severe obesity across their lifetimes. Despite these very concerning trends, the future is not set in stone. We’ve reversed poor generational health trends before: drops in smoking are a major reason cancer and heart disease deaths fell so dramatically in recent decades. GLP-1 drugs may finally turn the tide against rising rates of obesity and diabetes, though it is still early days. But things could also get worse…for example from a return to higher levels of childhood infectious diseases that can have a lasting impact on health. See for example: [ ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) [ Don’t You Forget About Me(asles): The Virus That Erases Immune Memory ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) Jenn Dowd, PhD · March 24, 2025 [ Read full story ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) Even as an optimist, emerging data on the “generational health drift” has my full attention. For most of my research career, we took it for granted that each generation would be healthier than the last. But if present trends continue, **50 could be the new 60….**and Gen Z celebrities will soon look older than Paul Rudd :). Stay well, Jenn Share the Health! If you found this post useful, please share it with a friend. Share

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Sep 22 • 6:03 AM EDT • Health • jenndowd.substack.com
Measles outbreak in PA nears 800 cases as Department of health urges vaccination
wnep.com logo
Sep 21 • 11:37 PM EDT • Health • wnep.com
Possible measles exposures at Busch Stadium, other St. Louis-area businesses

The state's Department of Health and Senior Services said a person infected with measles visited several St. Louis-area locations between Sept. 12 and Sept. 14.

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Sep 21 • 6:59 PM EDT • Business • stltoday.com
Possible measles exposure at Busch Stadium and multiple St. Louis-area bars, health officials warn

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said Monday that people may have been exposed to measles at several locations between Sept. 12 and Sept. 14.

stlpr.org logo
Sep 21 • 6:34 PM EDT • Health • stlpr.org
Mo. Health Department warns of possible measles exposure at Busch Stadium, local St. Louis businesses

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced on Monday of a possible measles exposure in the St. Louis area.

firstalert4.com logo
Sep 21 • 5:47 PM EDT • Health • firstalert4.com
Health officials warn of measles exposure in St. Louis, Pacific, Chesterfield

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced a possible measles exposure at several locations around St. Louis, including a Cardinals game.DH

krcgtv.com logo
Sep 21 • 5:45 PM EDT • Health • krcgtv.com
Health Officials Identify Three Measles Exposure Sites in Flathead County

A person infected with measles visited Flathead County from Sept. 8 to Sept. 11, exposing people at three known sites across the valley, health officials announced Sunday. Officials said they are awaiting test results on a suspected case and said more exposure sites may be identified. The Flathead City-County Health Department confirmed two measles cases […]

flatheadbeacon.com logo
Sep 21 • 2:14 PM EDT • Health • flatheadbeacon.com
Person with measles traveled through Kern County: CA Dept. of Public Health

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A person with measles was confirmed to have traveled though Kern County, according to the California Department of Public Health. The department said this person …

kget.com logo
Sep 21 • 1:51 PM EDT • Health • kget.com
Person with measles traveled through Kern County: CA Dept. of Public Health

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A person with measles was confirmed to have traveled though Kern County, according to the California Department of Public Health. The department said this person traveled ...

yahoo.com logo
Sep 21 • 1:51 PM EDT • Health • yahoo.com
Health officials warn of a measles exposure at the Philly airport

A traveler who was infected with the contagious disease was in Terminals B, C, D, F and E on the night of Sunday, Sep. 13.

phillyvoice.com logo
Sep 21 • 12:59 PM EDT • Health • phillyvoice.com
Are measles in Philadelphia? PPHD warns of 2 possible exposures

Two recent possible measles exposures in Philadelphia prompt more advice, vaccine information.

usatoday.com logo
Sep 21 • 10:22 AM EDT • Health • usatoday.com
Pennsylvania Health Secretary calls on CDC to acknowledge measles deaths

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen is calling on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to publicly recognize four measles-related deaths connected to the state’s ongoing outbreak. In a letter addressed to CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz, Bogen outlined Pennsylvania’s response to the outbreak. “The CDC’s choice

triblive.com logo
Sep 21 • 8:33 AM EDT • Health • triblive.com
Lubbock Public Health Director gets statewide award for vaccine advocacy

Lubbock's public health director was honored for her leadership during the historic West Texas measles outbreak and her continuing work to protect communities from vaccine-preventable diseases.

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Sep 21 • 5:46 AM EDT • Health • lubbockonline.com
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Face the State | Diving into the politics of measles, healthcare in Pennsylvania

In this week’s edition of Face the State, one politician shares why he believes a proposed amendment by the Department of Health is unconstitutional.

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Sep 20 • 3:00 PM EDT • Politics • local21news.com
Flathead Co. health officials warn of measles exposure sites

Flathead City-County Health Department officials are warning residents about potential measles exposures after being notified that an individual with measles wa

nbcmontana.com logo
Sep 20 • 2:54 PM EDT • Health • nbcmontana.com
RFK Jr. Tells Anti-Vaxxers at Children's Health Defense Conference They Have a Friend in Trump's White House

Kennedy praised the Trump administration's efforts to scale back vaccine guidance. His speech comes as the U.S. faces its worst measles year since 1991.

buckscountybeacon.com logo
Sep 20 • 1:36 PM EDT • Health • buckscountybeacon.com
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Health officials: Measles exposure reported at three sites across Flathead Co.

The Flathead City-County Health Department (FCCHD) says a person with measles visited several public places in Flathead County while they were infectious.

kpax.com logo
Sep 20 • 1:20 PM EDT • Health • kpax.com
Department of Health warns of possible measles exposure at Philadelphia airport

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is warning travelers of a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport that occurred last week.

local21news.com logo
Sep 20 • 11:38 AM EDT • Health • local21news.com
East Tennessee has more measles cases. Health officials won’t say where

East Tennessee measles cases tallied six last week, but the state’s health department isn’t disclosing which counties those with the virus live in.

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Sep 20 • 7:03 AM EDT • Health • knoxnews.com
Alameda County health authorities alert of possible measles exposure

State and Bay Area health officials warned of a possible measles exposure Friday after a person infected with the disease traveled by train from the Midwest through California.

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Sep 19 • 11:29 PM EDT • Health • nbcbayarea.com
Fillmore County offers measles vaccinations after confirmed case

The clinic will cost $5 per person, or free for those covered by Minnesota Health Care Program Insurance (Medicare/Medicaid).

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Sep 19 • 9:07 PM EDT • Health • kttc.com
Health officials warn of potential measles exposure at Philadelphia Airport

Health officials are warning travelers of a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport last week, unrelated to recent exposures reported at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

fox29.com logo
Sep 19 • 8:57 PM EDT • Health • fox29.com
There was a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport

The city department of public health is notifying travelers and others of the possible exposure, which is unrelated to the recent measles exposures at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

inquirer.com logo
Sep 19 • 8:22 PM EDT • Health • inquirer.com
California health officials warn of possible measles exposure on Amtrak trains
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Sep 19 • 8:11 PM EDT • Health • cbsnews.com
High-Signal Publisher
Possible measles exposure reported at Philadelphia International Airport not related to CHOP case
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Sep 19 • 7:16 PM EDT • Health • cbsnews.com
High-Signal Publisher
Phila. health officials warn of possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is warning travelers about a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport.

6abc.com logo
Sep 19 • 7:05 PM EDT • Health • 6abc.com