Public health alerts in the United States today focus on a mix of respiratory viruses, vaccine‑preventable diseases, and foodborne risks, especially as holiday travel and gatherings peak.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza activity is high or rapidly rising in most of the country, with an estimated millions of flu illnesses so far this season and tens of thousands of hospitalizations and nearly two thousand deaths. The News reports that hospitals in several states have gone on high alert for what many are calling a “super flu,” driven largely by the H3N2 subtype of influenza A, which has mutated enough that many people’s existing immunity offers less protection. In Georgia, local reports describe the CDC classifying flu activity as high, with school disruptions and rising hospitalizations. Health officials stress that flu vaccination, even late in the season, reduces the risk of severe disease and death, and they urge listeners to stay home when sick, cover coughs and sneezes, wash hands frequently, and consider masks in crowded indoor settings.

Travel and Tour World reports that COVID‑19 infections are also rising or likely increasing in roughly thirty states, with moderate to high viral activity in parts of the Midwest and Northeast, based on federal surveillance data and wastewater signals. While overall COVID levels are below earlier pandemic peaks, experts note steady increases in test positivity and hospital visits. Co‑circulation of flu and COVID‑19 creates a double challenge, especially for older adults, people with chronic conditions, pregnant people, and very young children. The CDC continues to recommend that all eligible people receive updated COVID‑19 and seasonal flu vaccines as the first line of defense, and public health messaging emphasizes masks in crowded indoor spaces, improving ventilation, and testing before visiting vulnerable family members.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is also increasing in many states, affecting infants, toddlers, and older adults. Some hospitals, according to multiple regional reports summarized by CIDRAP, have reinstated visitor restrictions and mask requirements due to combined surges of flu, COVID‑19, and RSV, especially in parts of Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, New Jersey, and New York.

Vaccine‑preventable childhood diseases are another major public health alert. CIDRAP reports that the United States has surpassed two thousand confirmed measles cases this year, the highest since the early 1990s, with several deaths and about one in ten patients requiring hospitalization, largely among unvaccinated children and adults. South Carolina alone has more than one hundred fifty cases, with other clusters in multiple states. Experts warn that even a modest drop in measles‑mumps‑rubella, or MMR, vaccination could return the country to hundreds of thousands of measles cases annually, levels not seen since the mid‑20th century. At the same time, CIDRAP highlights confusion about pertussis, or whooping cough, recommendations, with many Americans unaware that pertussis and whooping cough are the same disease. Public health agencies underscore that staying current on routine childhood and booster vaccines is critical to prevent outbreaks.

Foodborne illness is also on the alert list. WHIO, citing a CDC announcement, reports a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to raw oysters distributed across the country. Federal officials advise listeners not to eat raw or undercooked oysters from implicated lots and to check local or CDC notices for brand and harvest details. People who recently ate raw oysters and develop symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, or stomach cramps are urged to contact a healthcare provider.

Finally, agricultural health surveillance continues to track H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cattle. CIDRAP reports that the USDA recently confirmed a new H5N1 spillover event in a Wisconsin dairy herd. While current risk to the general public remains low, workers with close contact to infected animals are advised to use appropriate protective equipment and follow state and federal guidance.

Across all these alerts, health authorities emphasize a few consistent actions: stay up to date on vaccinations, including flu, COVID‑19, and routine childhood shots; practice good hand hygiene; wear a well‑fitting mask in crowded indoor spaces, especially if you or those around you are at higher risk; stay home and test if you develop respiratory symptoms; and pay attention to local public health announcements about outbreaks, hospital visitor policies, and food recalls.

Thank you for tuning in, and remember to subscribe so you don’t miss future updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

For more http://www.quietplease.ai

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Several significant health alerts are affecting the United States as we approach the end of 2025. According to ProMED, a global health surveillance network, influenza activity remains a major concern nationwide, with H3N2 subclade K identified as the prevalent strain circulating across the country. The CDC has already reported pediatric deaths from influenza this season, with confirmed fatalities in Colorado and North Carolina.

Measles continues to pose a serious threat, with ProMED reporting 148 confirmed cases in South Carolina alone, along with additional cases documented in South Dakota and North Carolina. Listeners should be aware that measles exposure has occurred at multiple airports and on flights, suggesting potential for continued spread in transportation hubs.

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, remains active in Tennessee and Texas according to health surveillance data. ProMED also confirms that Hansen's disease has been identified in Florida, marking an important development for a condition that requires specific clinical attention and contact investigation.

A critical development involves mpox, with ProMED documenting the first confirmed 2025 case in El Paso, Texas. This represents an important epidemiological marker as the nation continues monitoring mpox transmission patterns.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, continues circulating domestically, though international cases have shown serious complications including respiratory distress syndrome.

Additionally, the CDC Advisory Council on Immunization Practices recently voted to eliminate long-standing recommendations for hepatitis B vaccines for newborns, according to reporting from NOTUS and Undark. This represents a significant shift in pediatric immunization guidance that parents and healthcare providers should be aware of as they make vaccination decisions for infants.

Thank you for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe for continued health updates and information. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

For more http://www.quietplease.ai

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Listeners, as of today, influenza activity across the United States has spiked dramatically, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting high or very high influenza-like illness in 17 jurisdictions, including 14 states, Puerto Rico, Washington DC, and New York City. The CDC's latest FluView update shows the percentage of respiratory viruses testing positive for flu jumping from 8.1% to 14.8%, outpatient visits for respiratory illness rising to 4.1% above the national baseline, and nearly 10,000 flu hospitalizations last week, with two new pediatric deaths confirmed from H3N2 strains, bringing the season total to three. CDC estimates 4.6 million flu illnesses, 49,000 hospitalizations, and 1,900 deaths so far this season, dominated by influenza A H3N2 subclade K at 89.8% of characterized viruses, which is raising concerns about vaccine match. The CDC urges everyone 6 months and older to get vaccinated if not already, and to seek antivirals early, especially high-risk groups.

Respiratory syncytial virus activity is low nationally but increasing in the Southeastern, Southern, and Mid-Atlantic regions, with more emergency visits and hospitalizations among children under 5. COVID-19 remains low but is rising, with very high wastewater levels in Indiana and high in Connecticut, Nebraska, and Vermont per CDC data. Pertussis cases are elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels, though below November peaks, and remain highly contagious.

Measles cases have surged to 1,912 confirmed through early December, the highest in 25 years according to Johns Hopkins experts, driven by outbreaks like 129 cases in South Carolina with three deaths, 92% in unvaccinated or unknown status individuals. ProMED reports recent exposures at airports in South Dakota and North Carolina flights.

On vaccines, the CDC on December 16 reversed its universal hepatitis B birth dose recommendation for infants of negative-testing mothers, adopting individual decision-making per Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guidance, while maintaining it for positive or unknown status mothers; this aligns with APIC input but has sparked uproar over dropping a policy that cut child infections by 99%, amid broader schedule reviews.

In Southern California, the South Coast Air Quality Management District extended a mandatory No-Burn alert through December 20 at 11:59 PM in the South Coast Air Basin to protect public health from poor air quality.

ProMED notes additional US alerts like infant botulism in Tennessee and first pediatric flu deaths in Colorado and North Carolina this season.

Stay vigilant, get vaccinated, practice hand hygiene, and consult providers for symptoms. Listeners, thank you for tuning in and please subscribe for more updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

For more http://www.quietplease.ai

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Listeners, the biggest public health update today centers on a major shift from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, which has adopted new recommendations from its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, known as ACIP, ending the universal hepatitis B vaccine for all newborns. According to the CDC press release, this change, formalized yesterday, applies to babies born to mothers who test negative for hepatitis B, moving to individual-based decision-making where parents consult healthcare providers to decide on vaccination timing. The CDC still mandates the vaccine within 12 hours of birth if the mother has hepatitis B or her status is unknown, and for other low-risk infants, the first dose should wait until no earlier than two months of age. This reverses a 34-year policy started in 1991 that aimed to protect against a virus causing liver failure, cirrhosis, and cancer.

The decision has sparked controversy. Acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill stated in the press release that it restores informed consent for parents since newborns from negative-testing mothers face little immediate risk. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly criticized it, with President Susan J. Kressly calling it irresponsible and warning it could lead to more infections in kids, as universal shots since 1991 cut child and teen cases by 99 percent per physician Omer Awan in Scripps News. The AAP and other groups like the American College of Physicians continue recommending the birth dose for all newborns, emphasizing decades of evidence on its safety and benefits outweighing rare side effects like brief pain or fever.

Hospitals now face key choices, as noted by Healthbeat, with many not yet detailing if they'll stick to universal dosing despite the CDC shift; some anecdotally plan to continue. Parents are urged to discuss with pediatricians, especially since ACIP also suggests possible serology testing later to check immunity needs.

Beyond this, ProMED reports no major U.S.-specific outbreaks today, but recent alerts include ongoing measles concerns with accelerating cases in South Carolina and persistent risks noted in U.S. updates, plus highly pathogenic avian influenza in Wisconsin dairy cattle. CDC stacks highlight weekly notifiable disease data up to early December, with flu surveillance active but no urgent national alerts flagged in the first Public Health Alerts summary.

Stay vigilant, listeners—wash hands, get recommended vaccines after consulting providers, and monitor local health department updates for flu or other seasonal threats.

Thank you for tuning in, and please subscribe for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

For more http://www.quietplease.ai

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Listeners, as of today, public health alerts across the United States focus on stable respiratory illnesses, surging pertussis cases, and major shifts in federal vaccine guidance, particularly for hepatitis B in newborns. The Mississippi State Department of Health reports that influenza-like illness cases held steady at 2.5 percent for the week ending December 6, lower than last year's 4.1 percent, with the highest rates in District III at 15.4 percent and among those aged 5 to 24. COVID-like illness rose slightly but stays below flu levels, while RSV detections dropped, though it remains a top cause of infant hospitalizations nationwide. Most concerning, pertussis or whooping cough cases hit 139 this year, topping totals from the past 16 years, mainly in kids 5 to 17, with 20 unvaccinated infants under 7 months affected; the department urges boosters for parents, grandparents, and childcare workers.

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted recently to end the universal recommendation for hepatitis B shots in all newborns, a policy since 1991 that slashed child infections by 99 percent. Now, it's limited to babies born to hepatitis-positive mothers, with others delaying to at least two months via individual decisions, plus optional antibody tests before later doses. Critics like Dr. Cody Meissner of Dartmouth and Sen. Bill Cassidy call this risky, noting half of carriers are unaware and vaccines safely prevent liver disease, cancer, and failure. Local pushback is strong: Deschutes County in Oregon and St. Charles Health System follow West Coast Health Alliance guidelines sticking to birth doses for full protection. California Governor Gavin Newsom hired former CDC leaders Susan Monarez and Dr. Debra Houry as consultants to counter federal changes amid vaccine misinformation concerns, joining a West Coast alliance with Oregon and Washington for science-based advice.

Portland Public Health renews calls for HIV, hepatitis C, and syphilis testing due to rising cases. The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases stresses flu, COVID-19, and RSV prevention through updated vaccines, hygiene, and clean air, noting antivirals help high-risk groups. The World Health Organization highlights seasonal flu and avian flu risks in the U.S., plus progress on universal health coverage but ongoing challenges.

Stay vigilant this winter: get vaccinated if eligible, wash hands, cover coughs, and consult providers—vaccines cut severity even if not foolproof. Pregnant women, infants, elderly, and immunocompromised need extra care.

Thank you for tuning in, listeners—please subscribe for more updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

For more http://www.quietplease.ai

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Public health alerts in the United States today center on respiratory viruses, shifting vaccine guidance, food and product safety concerns, and several notable infectious disease signals.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu activity is rising but still uneven nationally, with high levels in a small number of states and low to moderate levels elsewhere. An Associated Press report on the latest CDC update notes that influenza severity indicators remain in a “mild” range overall, but trends are climbing as the winter virus season progresses. The same report explains that RSV season appears to be starting later than usual, with relatively low activity so far but growing infections in the South and mid-Atlantic, suggesting more RSV to come. COVID‑19 transmission continues at a sustained level, yet uptake of the current COVID vaccines is low, with only a small minority of adults and children having received the updated dose. CDC data summarized by the AP indicate that older adults and medically vulnerable people remain at highest risk for severe outcomes, and experts continue to stress vaccination, staying home when sick, and improving indoor ventilation as key protective steps.

New evidence from CDC scientists, published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and summarized by the University of Minnesota’s CIDRAP, shows that the 2024–25 COVID vaccine substantially reduced emergency and urgent care visits among children and adolescents. In kids ages 5 to 17, the updated vaccine cut the risk of COVID‑related emergency or urgent visits by roughly half over many months, reinforcing that vaccination continues to provide meaningful protection for younger listeners, especially those with underlying conditions.

At the same time, major changes to federal vaccine recommendations are generating concern among many medical experts. Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families reports that the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently voted to end the long‑standing universal recommendation for a hepatitis B birth dose for babies born to hepatitis B–negative mothers, shifting instead to “shared clinical decision‑making.” Critics argue this could lower coverage and, over time, allow more children to acquire hepatitis B. NPR and Democracy Now both highlight broader worries from former CDC officials and outside experts that the current advisory committee is rolling back recommendations for COVID and other childhood vaccines, potentially undermining disease control just as measles outbreaks and other preventable infections are resurging in multiple states.

Several targeted infectious disease alerts are also in effect. The global surveillance network ProMED reports a recent measles case in Connecticut—the first there since 2021—along with rising measles activity in other parts of the country, reinforcing the importance of MMR vaccination, especially before travel or large gatherings. ProMED also notes increased histoplasmosis cases in Tennessee and continuing Vibrio vulnificus infections in Florida coastal waters, reminders for listeners with weakened immune systems to take extra care around soil, bird or bat droppings, and warm seawater or raw shellfish.

In food and consumer safety, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration maintains ongoing recalls and safety alerts for certain foods, drugs, supplements, and medical products. The FDA’s recall page is updated frequently and includes items ranging from microbial contamination in food to sterility problems in medical products; public health officials urge listeners to check current FDA alerts if they hear about a recall affecting something they use regularly. Separately, the Drug Enforcement Administration has moved to temporarily place the designer benzodiazepine bromazolam into Schedule I after health authorities reported clusters of overdoses and deaths related to its use, underscoring the danger of counterfeit or illicit pills sold as sedatives or anxiety medications.

For listeners, the key practical points today are: stay current on flu and COVID vaccination if you are eligible; consider RSV immunization or preventive treatments for infants, pregnant people, and older adults where recommended; ensure children are up to date on measles, hepatitis B, and other routine shots; avoid wild‑foraged foods and check local advisories before eating raw shellfish or swimming in warm coastal waters; and monitor FDA and local health department alerts for recalls and outbreak notices. As always, anyone with symptoms like high fever, difficulty breathing, new rash, or severe vomiting should seek medical care promptly and follow guidance from local health authorities.

Thank you for tuning in, and remember to subscribe for more public health updates and essential information. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

For more http://www.quietplease.ai

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Public health alerts in the United States today center on infant safety, vaccine policy changes, and ongoing infectious disease risks that listeners should know about right now.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a major national alert involves an expanding outbreak of infant botulism linked to ByHeart brand infant formula. NPR reports that at least 51 infants in 19 states have been sickened, with cases going back as far as late 2023 and continuing through this month. The CDC’s updated case definition now includes any infant with botulism who was exposed to ByHeart formula at any time since the product’s release. No deaths have been reported, but infant botulism can cause life‑threatening paralysis and breathing problems, often requiring intensive care. Health officials are urging parents and caregivers to immediately stop using any ByHeart formula products and to contact a pediatrician right away if an infant shows symptoms such as poor feeding, constipation, weak cry, floppy muscles, or trouble breathing. This is a rapidly evolving situation, and listeners using ByHeart products should check the latest CDC and FDA guidance and recall information.

Vaccine policy is another urgent public health issue. CNN and other outlets report that the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently voted to end the long‑standing recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns at birth, shifting instead to a strategy that relies on hepatitis B testing during pregnancy and targeted vaccination for babies whose mothers test positive. Many leading medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, strongly oppose this change and continue to recommend that all babies receive a hepatitis B vaccine dose within the first day of life, even when the mother tests negative. Infectious disease experts warn that relying on testing alone could miss infections in mothers who were not tested, had false‑negative results, or became infected later in pregnancy, potentially allowing a resurgence of childhood hepatitis B. For listeners who are pregnant or planning pregnancy, this means you should talk directly with your obstetric and pediatric providers about keeping the birth‑dose hepatitis B shot for your baby, regardless of how the national recommendation may shift.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, remains an area of concern, especially in some large cities. STAT News reports that New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles are again seeing rising mpox case numbers, and Los Angeles County has now identified at least three cases of the more concerning clade I strain, apparently from local community spread rather than travel. While overall cases remain much lower than during the 2022 emergency, public health researchers are calling for booster trials of the Jynneos mpox vaccine to ensure protection remains strong, especially in higher‑risk groups such as men who have sex with men and people with multiple sexual partners. Listeners in these communities are advised to check their vaccination status, stay alert to local health department advisories, and seek medical evaluation quickly if they develop new rashes, sores, or flu‑like symptoms.

More broadly, public health and medical organizations are raising alarms about weakening federal public health infrastructure and guidance. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has condemned recent staffing cuts at the CDC and Department of Health and Human Services, warning that they threaten reproductive and public health response capacity. Health policy analyses also note that upcoming changes in federal funding and insurance programs over the next year could affect access to vaccines, chronic disease care, and digital health tools, making it especially important for listeners to stay informed about local health department resources and their own insurance coverage.

For everyday protection, the core advice from federal, state, and professional health organizations remains consistent: keep vaccinations up to date, including flu and COVID‑19 shots; practice good hand hygiene; stay home and seek testing if you’re sick with respiratory symptoms; and seek prompt medical care for infants with feeding problems, breathing difficulty, or sudden weakness.

Thanks for tuning in, and remember to subscribe so you don’t miss important health updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

For more http://www.quietplease.ai

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Public health alerts in the United States today center on vaccines, respiratory viruses, and winter health risks that listeners should know about.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has just voted to roll back the long‑standing policy of giving a universal hepatitis B vaccine dose at birth. NPR and STAT News report that the panel voted 8 to 3 to recommend the birth dose only for babies born to mothers who test positive for hepatitis B, or whose infection status is unknown, and to suggest that other parents talk with their clinicians and, if they choose vaccination, start no earlier than two months of age. This is a major change from more than 30 years of advising that every newborn get a hepatitis B shot within 24 hours of birth.

STAT News notes that this change is not yet final; it must be approved by the CDC’s acting director or the Health and Human Services secretary before it becomes part of the official U.S. immunization schedule. In the meantime, several medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and New York State’s Department of Health, say they plan to continue recommending the hepatitis B birth dose for all infants. A joint statement from multiple medical and patient advocacy organizations, released by the American College of Emergency Physicians, calls the ACIP vote dangerous, warns it will increase childhood hepatitis B infections, and urges CDC leadership to reject the new recommendation.

For listeners, the key practical point is this: if you are pregnant or expecting a baby, talk early with your obstetric and pediatric care teams about hepatitis B testing in pregnancy and about birth‑dose vaccination. Hepatitis B can cause lifelong liver disease and liver cancer, and infection in infancy almost always becomes chronic. Because testing during pregnancy can miss some infections, many professional groups still view the universal birth dose as a critical safety net.

Beyond hepatitis B, winter in the United States continues to bring elevated circulation of respiratory viruses, including influenza, COVID‑19, and RSV. CDC surveillance typically shows hospitalizations for these infections climbing through December and January, especially among older adults, very young children, pregnant people, and those with chronic conditions. Updated flu and COVID‑19 vaccines, and in some cases RSV vaccines for older adults and monoclonal antibody products for certain infants, remain important tools to reduce severe disease. Listeners should check local health department or CDC updates for current activity in their area and seek prompt testing and treatment if they develop high fever, trouble breathing, chest pain, or confusion.

Standard winter health advisories still apply: stay home when acutely ill, improve indoor ventilation when possible, practice hand hygiene, and use high‑quality masks in crowded indoor spaces if you or your household are at higher risk. Extreme cold, storms, and power outages can also threaten health, especially for people who rely on powered medical devices or temperature‑sensitive medications, so emergency preparedness—backup power plans, extra prescriptions, and checking on vulnerable neighbors—remains an important part of public health guidance at this time of year.

Thanks for tuning in, and remember to subscribe so you don’t miss the latest health updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

For more http://www.quietplease.ai

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Several important health alerts have emerged for the United States and Americans traveling abroad as we head into the second week of December.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a health advisory regarding a new outbreak of Marburg virus disease identified in Ethiopia's South Ethiopia and Sidama regions. This is the first reported outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Ethiopia. As of December third, no suspected, probable, or confirmed cases related to this outbreak have been reported in the United States or other countries. However, the CDC notes that clinicians should be aware of the potential for imported cases and should obtain detailed travel histories from patients with acute febrile illness, particularly those who have recently traveled to affected areas of Ethiopia.

Health officials are also warning Americans headed to Haiti and India to practice precautions after travelers have returned home from those countries with rabies. These travel warnings underscore the importance of seeking appropriate medical care and post-exposure prophylaxis if there is any potential exposure during travel.

On the vaccination front, King County Public Health continues to emphasize the importance of hepatitis B vaccination for newborns. Public health officials recommend that all newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine within twenty-four hours of delivery and complete the full three to four dose series by eighteen months of age. This recommendation comes as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to vote on potential changes to hepatitis B birth dose recommendations at meetings scheduled for December fourth and fifth. The hepatitis B vaccine has been extensively tested for safety and efficacy, with studies showing that ninety-eight percent of healthy infants achieve full immunity after completing the full vaccine series, with protection lasting at least thirty years.

Thank you for tuning in to today's health alert update. Be sure to subscribe for the latest public health information. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

For more http://www.quietplease.ai

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Good morning, listeners. Here's what you need to know about public health alerts across the United States as of today, December 2nd, 2025.

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is meeting this week to discuss significant changes to vaccination recommendations. Most notably, the committee is reconsidering the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine, a recommendation that has been in place for decades. According to public health advocates, any changes to this long-standing guidance could have ripple effects across nearly 600 state statutes and regulations that govern school immunization requirements and insurance mandates. This discussion comes as vaccination rates continue to decline nationally, and cases of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and pertussis are increasing.

Speaking of measles, the Pan American Health Organization reports that after achieving measles elimination in the Americas and a 98 percent drop in cases in 2024, the region is now facing renewed transmission in 2025. However, deaths have declined 88 percent since 2000, showing the ongoing impact of vaccination efforts.

In Arizona, health officials are investigating E. coli cases potentially linked to the Arizona State Fair petting zoo. Listeners in that area should exercise caution, particularly when visiting animal contact areas.

New York City residents should be aware of a botulism risk associated with uneviscerated fish products. The FDA has issued guidance on this matter, so listeners should check their seafood purchases carefully.

Additionally, weather-related disruptions are occurring today in some areas. Transportation services have been suspended in certain regions due to inclement weather, though essential medical transportation like dialysis services continue operating.

On a positive note, in recognition of World AIDS Day, DC Health and local officials are highlighting free resources and testing services for residents seeking HIV-related care and support.

Thank you for tuning in to today's public health update. Please remember to subscribe for the latest health information affecting your community. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease dot ai.

For more http://www.quietplease.ai

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI