Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Pennsylvania Logs Fifth Measles-Related Death Of A Person Who Wasn't Vaccinated
Pennsylvania health officials reported a fifth measles-associated death Wednesday as the U.S. endures its worst year for the disease since 1991. The Pennsylvania Department of Health said the person was from Lancaster County and was unvaccinated. The state did not provide any further information about the person who died. Lancaster County鈥檚 coroner, Dr. Stephen Diamantoni, said that his office did not handle the death and that state officials have not provided him with any details. (Stobbe, 9/30)
A mumps outbreak at San Diego State University first reported two weeks ago has grown to 14 confirmed cases and one probable case, the university said Wednesday. The outbreak is contained within a single student athletic team, and one associated case, but neither the university nor San Diego County Public Health Services specified which team. (Ho, 9/30)
On dengue fever in Florida 鈥�
As cases of dengue fever continue to rise in Florida, public health specialists are worried the true number of infections may be greater. For the week ending Sept. 19, at least 190 cases of locally acquired dengue have been confirmed in the state, an increase of 38 cases from the week before, according to data from the Florida Department of Health (DOH). Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, is reporting the highest number of cases at 170 followed by Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco and Pinellas counties, DOH data shows. (Kekatos, 9/30)
Pinellas County is waiving tire disposal fees in an effort to fight mosquitoes that carry dengue fever. The Board of County Commissioners declared a state of emergency last week after seven locally-acquired dengue cases were reported in the county. (Carter, 9/30)
News from the CDC 鈥�
Planning to get your flu shot or a COVID-19 booster, but aren鈥檛 sure where to get vaccinated? There are many online resources to guide you. But a widely used, free federal search tool to help people find the nearest location offering vaccines isn鈥檛 working, just ahead of respiratory virus season. Vaccines.gov, a website operated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department Health and Human Services, helps Americans locate and schedule nearby vaccines. (Kee, 9/30)
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced $3 million in funding new research initiatives to combat tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome.聽(Soucheray, 9/30)
In global news about Ebola and cholera 鈥�
Mourners gathered Wednesday to bury a Congolese politician who was beaten to death after publicly defending the government鈥檚 response to Ebola, a killing that highlights the mistrust health workers say is hampering efforts to slow the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history. Marie-C茅lestin Karondwa, a local official with Congo鈥檚 ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress party, was attacked Sunday at his home in Butembo, an Ebola hotspot in the eastern North Kivu province, after defending the government鈥檚 response efforts during a radio program, the party said. (Kitsa Musayi and Brennan, 9/30)
Dr. Adi Nadimpalli, with Doctors Without Borders, spent weeks in the Central African nation, which is facing the second largest Ebola outbreak in recorded history, with more than 8,000 cases and 3,900 deaths. (Peddie and Mayer, 9/29)
Deaths from cholera rose by 30% in 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today. The 7,870 cholera deaths reported to the WHO represent the highest number since 1999, the organization said. But the 451,499 cholera cases reported last year mark a 20% reduction from 2024. (Dall, 9/29)