Global and Public Health News
Measles Virus Detected in Wastewater in New York State
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has issued an advisory to healthcare providers after detecting low levels of the measles virus in a wastewater sample from a treatment facility serving parts of Oswego County. This detection acts as an early warning system, as no clinical measles cases have been reported in the area yet. State officials are urging residents to ensure their MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccinations are current, given the high contagiousness of the virus.- Source: Oswego County, New York
WHO Announces 2026 Influenza Vaccine Recommendations
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced its recommendations for the viral composition of influenza vaccines for the 2026 southern hemisphere influenza season. These recommendations are based on global surveillance data and guide national regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical companies in producing the most effective flu shots for the coming year.- Source: World Health Organization (WHO)
Public Health Warning on Contaminated Ready-To-Eat Meals
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a Public Health Alert for certain ready-to-eat meals containing pasta that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm). The alert specifically names products sold under the Marketside and Trader Joe’s brands. Consumers are strongly advised not to eat these meals and to either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.Conclusion of International Public Health Conference in India
A four-day International Public Health conference, held in Salem, Tamil Nadu, India, has concluded. The event focused on strategies for disease eradication and public health protection, with discussions from medical experts and a release of research papers from the previous year’s conference.- Source: The Hindu
Ongoing Public Health Focus Areas
NCDs and Mental Health:
- Discussions continue following the UN General Assembly’s High-level Meeting earlier this week on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the promotion of mental health. The focus remains on implementing the newly adopted political declaration to address the leading causes of global death and disability.
- Source: World Health Organization (WHO)
Chicago Mpox Surge:
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is urging at-risk individuals to get the mpox vaccine following a recent surge in cases. The CDPH noted that nearly half of the recent cases have been in unvaccinated individuals and is holding clinics to provide free vaccinations.