Officials forced to shut down popular beach due to concerning infestation: 'This decision comes after extensive consultation'
Warmer temperatures mean more bugs, like disease-carrying mosquitoes and ticks.
In Bridgeport, Connecticut, Asian longhorned ticks –– among other tick species –– established themselves on Pleasure Beach and prompted officials to close the area, the Bridgeport Daily Voice reported.
What's happening?
Multiple tick species were discovered on the beach, including the invasive and disease-carrying Asian longhorned tick.
The Asian longhorned tick is spreading across the Northeast, according to the Bridgeport Daily Voice, and its infestation of Pleasure Beach shut down the summertime destination.
"We regret to inform everyone that Pleasure Beach will remain closed to the public for the 2025 summer season. This decision comes after extensive consultation with state environmental experts," the city of Bridgeport wrote on Facebook.
Along with ticks, however, officials observed an increase in protected Audubon bird species nesting on the beach. These birds reinforced the decision to close Pleasure Beach, the city of Bridgeport explained, and caused experts to reevaluate human activity in the area.
Why are ticks concerning?
Like other ticks, the Asian longhorned tick can carry diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis, according to the Bridgeport Daily Voice. It can also spread Ehrlichia chaffeensis, bacteria that causes the potentially life-threatening disease ehrlichiosis.
The species presents concerns due to its ability to reproduce asexually, too. A single female Asian longhorned tick can produce an entire colony, the Bridgeport Daily Voice explained, allowing it to rapidly expand its numbers.
Additionally, disease-carrying ticks and insects are becoming more prevalent as warmer temperatures enable them to propagate to more areas, such as Pleasure Beach.
Cases of Lyme disease have skyrocketed, and ticks may infect as many as 625,000 people every year, USA Today warned.
Do you worry about the longevity of EV batteries?
For sure
Not really
Not at all
I've never thought about it
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
What's being done about disease-carrying ticks?
To address the infestation at Pleasure Beach, officials announced the city of Bridgeport "will be conducting a series of treatment and containment efforts throughout the area." These efforts will promote public health and environmental safety, according to the city.
The city also stated it will monitor conditions and open the beach once it is safe to do so, hopefully next summer.
Until then, individuals can take actions to prevent tick-borne diseases by reducing their exposure to ticks. Wearing long clothing and applying insect repellent can keep the disease-carrying arachnids off of you in tick-prone places like grassy or wooded areas, the CDC recommended.
While rising temperatures increase ticks and disease, addressing the root of the problem –– like polluting energy sources –– can help stop their spread.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Solve the daily Crossword
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Another Royal Caribbean cruise outbreak hits 140+ passengers. Are outbreaks getting worse?
2025 has already seen as many cruise ship outbreaks as all of last year. Is this the new normal? More than 140 passengers and crew members aboard Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas fell ill with gastrointestinal symptoms during a week-long cruise that ended July 11, marking yet another outbreak in what's shaping up to be a particularly challenging year for the cruise industry. The outbreak affected 134 of the ship's 3,914 passengers — roughly 3.4% of those aboard — along with seven crew members out of 1,266 total crew. Passengers experienced the familiar trio of cruise ship illness symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. The Navigator of the Seas had departed Los Angeles on July 4 for a round-trip voyage to Mexico, making three stops before returning to port, where the outbreak was officially reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What makes this outbreak particularly concerning isn't just the numbers — it's the broader trend. We're only halfway through 2025, and this incident brings the year's total cruise ship gastrointestinal outbreaks to 18, already matching the entire total for 2024. That's a significant jump from the 14 outbreaks recorded in 2023. Is this the future of cruising? A troubling pattern in the U.S. The CDC tracks these incidents carefully, but only reports outbreaks that meet specific criteria: the ship must be under Vessel Sanitation Program jurisdiction (operating voyages that include both U.S. and foreign ports) and at least 3% of passengers or crew must report gastrointestinal symptoms to the ship's medical staff. This means the Navigator of the Seas outbreak, at 3.4% of passengers affected, just barely crossed the threshold for public notification. Most of these outbreaks stem from norovirus, the highly contagious stomach bug that spreads rapidly in enclosed environments. The CDC noted in April that "a newly dominant strain is currently associated with reported norovirus outbreaks on land," and ships typically mirror land-based outbreak patterns. This suggests the current surge may reflect broader public health trends rather than cruise-specific problems. But that's not great news, either. For the record, Royal Caribbean implemented enhanced sanitation protocols and isolated sick passengers and crew members during the voyage. The company emphasized that "the health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority," noting their cleaning procedures exceed public health guidelines. However, the CDC has yet to identify the causative agent behind this latest outbreak. The streak continues — across all cruise lines This isn't Royal Caribbean's first outbreak rodeo this year. The cruise line has been dealing with multiple outbreaks across its fleet, joining other major operators like Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Cunard in facing similar challenges. Earlier this year, a Cunard luxury liner experienced an outbreak affecting more than 240 passengers and crew during a monthlong international voyage, while Princess Cruises saw over 80 people fall ill during a 16-night cruise in February. The timing of these outbreaks raises questions about whether cruise lines are adequately prepared for what appears to be a particularly virulent norovirus season. While companies have implemented enhanced cleaning protocols and isolation procedures, the close quarters and shared facilities aboard cruise ships create ideal conditions for rapid transmission of gastrointestinal illnesses. Are cruises... actually safe? Despite the alarming headlines, perspective matters. The Navigator of the Seas carried nearly 4,000 passengers, and while 134 falling ill sounds significant, it represents a relatively small percentage of the total. For comparison, norovirus outbreaks occur regularly on land — in schools, nursing homes, and restaurants — but cruise ships draw more attention because they're self-contained environments where outbreaks can be easily tracked and reported. The CDC emphasizes that cruise ship outbreaks represent only 1% of all reported gastrointestinal outbreaks. However, the concentrated nature of cruise ship populations means that when outbreaks do occur, they can affect a substantial number of people in a short timeframe. For prospective cruisers, the key is understanding that while these outbreaks are concerning, they remain relatively rare events. The cruise industry serves millions of passengers annually, and the vast majority complete their voyages without incident. That said, the uptick in reported outbreaks suggests passengers should be particularly vigilant about hand hygiene and other preventive measures, especially during peak norovirus seasons. The real question isn't whether cruises are safe — they generally are, all things considered. Instead, we should be asking whether the industry is doing enough to adapt to evolving public health challenges (never mind sustainability) and whether current protocols are sufficient to handle increasingly virulent strains of common illnesses. Because in 2025, there's work to be done. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Multiple medical groups say they are barred from CDC's panel of vaccine advisers
Multiple medical groups say they have been barred from working on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's panel of vaccine advisers. It comes weeks after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired the original panel of independent experts and replaced them with his own handpicked members -- many of whom have expressed skeptical views on vaccines. Liaisons representing major medical groups were historically invited to meetings of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) as non-voting members to provide their independent expertise in respective fields. In a joint statement, the groups said they have now been excluded "from the process of reviewing scientific evidence end informing vaccine recommendations." MORE: Members of CDC vaccine panel ousted by RFK Jr. say committee has 'lost credibility' A total of eight groups signed on to the statement, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, teh American College of Physicians, the American Medical Association and the National Medical Association among others. In a statement provided to ABC News, an HHS spokesperson said: "Under the old ACIP, outside pressure to align with vaccine orthodoxy limited asking the hard questions. The old ACIP members were plagued by conflicts of interest, influence, and bias. We are fulfilling our promise to the American people to never again allow those conflicts to taint vaccine recommendations." The statement went on to say: "Experts will continue to be included based on relevant experience and expertise, not because of what organization they are with." MORE: CDC vaccine advisers who were removed from committee by RFK Jr. speak out In their statement, the medical organizations said they learned the groups will be excluded from the panel's work in an email late Thursday and noted they were "deeply disappointed and alarmed" by the move. "To remove our deep medical expertise from this vital and once transparent process is irresponsible, dangerous to our nation's health, and will further undermine public and clinician trust in vaccines," the statement read. Solve the daily Crossword
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
CDC bars expert groups from advising on vaccines
Click in for more news from The Hill{beacon} Health Care Health Care The Big Story CDC bars expert groups from advising on vaccines The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told some expert groups that they will no longer be able to help review scientific data used to issue vaccine recommendations. © APSome members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice's (ACIP) working groups, including physician groups and infectious disease specialists, were sent e-mails late Thursday notifying them that they will no longer serve on the subcommittees. The groups were removed from the subcommittees because they were deemed biased by the Trump administration, according to a copy of the email shared with The Hill. "By definition, Liason organizations are special interest groups and therefore are expected to have a 'bias' based on their constituency/and or population that they represent," the email reads. "It is important that the ACIP Workgroup activities remain free of influence from any special interest groups so ACIP workgroups will no longer include Liason organizations." Eight of the advisory groups released a joint statement Friday saying they are 'deeply disappointed' that they are now barred from informing the development of vaccine recommendations. 'For decades liaisons from our organizations have reviewed published and unpublished data and literature related to vaccine efficacy, effectiveness, and safety and provided unbiased input for ACIP's consideration,' the statement reads. 'To remove our deep medical expertise from this vital and once transparent process is irresponsible, dangerous to our nation's health, and will further undermine public and clinician trust in vaccines.' The groups, which include the American Medical Association, as well as the Infectious Diseases Society of America, called on the Trump administration to reconsider their exclusion from the vaccine review process. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the CDC, said that experts will continue to be included in the review process based on 'relevant experience and expertise." 'Under the old ACIP, outside pressure to align with vaccine orthodoxy limited asking the hard questions,' the spokesperson wrote. 'The old ACIP members were plagued by conflicts of interest, influence and bias.' The notice is the latest move from the Trump administration to shake up the nation's vaccine policy and is another major change to the CDC's advisory panel on vaccines. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr abruptly fired all 17 sitting members of ACIP in early June, accusing them of having conflicts of interest and rubber-stamping decisions related to the COVID-19 vaccine. He then replaced the panel with eight hand-picked appointees, including some vaccine skeptics. Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel, Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: Most adults do not plan on getting COVID-19 shot amid vaccine policy changesMore than half of American adults — 59 percent — say they do not expect to get the COVID-19 booster shot this autumn, according to new poll findings from health care policy group KFF. Poll results show 23 percent of U.S. adult respondents said they will 'probably not' get the vaccine, while 37 percent said they will 'definitely not' get the shot. Americans who said they will 'probably' or 'definitely' not get the shot were … Full Story Blue states challenge Trump's restrictions on gender-affirming care More than a dozen Democratic attorneys general announced a lawsuit challenging recent moves by President Trump's administration to severely restrict access to gender-affirming health care for anyone under 19, including in states where treatment is legal and protected by law. Full Story Fired vaccine board members warn of fallout from RFK Jr. policiesRecently removed members of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine advisory panel warn that Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s move to replace them shows he is 'abandoning' rigorous scientific review and open deliberation. Kennedy fired all 17 sitting members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in early June, accusing members of having conflicts of … Full Story In Other News Branch out with a different read: Number of Texans receiving out-of-state abortions quadrupled between 2021 and 2023 AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texans who sought an abortion out of state more than quadrupled between 2021 and 2023 after a state law went into effect that bans the procedure in almost all cases. Data from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) shows at least 7,844 Texas residents received an abortion in a different state in 2023, up from 4,718 in 2022 and 1,712 in 2021. Still the total number of abortions for Texas residents … Full Story Around the Nation Local and state headlines on health care:More than 2,000 DACA recipients in California to lose health insurance (the San Francisco Chronicle) Some rural Texas seen THC as a lifeline for their health and economy (The Texas Tribune) Illinois becomes first state to require mental health screenings for students (ABC) What We're Reading Health news we've flagged from other outlets: Medicare, Medicaid plans to experiment with covering weight loss drugs (The Washington Post) Wildfire smoke and unhealthy air fill the Midwest before spreading to the East (The Washington Post) Remember running a mile in school? The Presidential Fitness Test is coming back (NPR) You're all caught up. See you next week! Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Health Care newsletter Subscribe
