Latest news with #AlexiaHarrist
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Wyoming confirms 1st measles case in 15 years as infections near 30-year high in US
Wyoming is reporting its first measles case in 15 years as the infectious disease continues to spread across the United States. The state's Department of Health said on Tuesday that it had confirmed a case in an unvaccinated child in Natrona County, which is located in the central part of the state and includes the town of Casper. The pediatric case is the first reported in Wyoming since 2010, according to the WDH. MORE: US measles cases nearing 30-year high It's unclear how the child became sick, and no other identifying details were provided including name, age or sex. A release from the WDH said the child was infectious while in the emergency department waiting room at Banner Wyoming Medical Center in Casper on Thursday, June 24, from 11 a.m. MT to 1 p.m. MT and on Friday, June 25, from 12:55 p.m. MT to 2:55 p.m. MT. The WDH said it is working with Banner Wyoming Medical Center to notify individuals who may have been exposed to measles during those times. "We are asking individuals who were potentially exposed to self-monitor for measles symptoms for 21 days past the exposure date and consider avoiding crowded public places or high-risk settings such as daycare centers," Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer with the WDH, said in the release. Wyoming is the 37th state to confirm a case of measles this year as infections near a 30-year high in the U.S. As of Wednesday morning, a total of 1,227 cases have been confirmed, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The U.S. is currently on track to surpass the 1,274 cases seen in 2019 and is expected to see the highest number of cases since 1992. MORE: Amid growing Texas outbreak, how contagious is measles? There have been three confirmed deaths so far this year, two among unvaccinated children in Texas and one among an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico. Among the nationally confirmed cases, the CDC says 95% are among people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Meanwhile, 2% of cases are among those who have received one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and 3% of cases are among those who received the recommended two doses, according to the CDC. "Measles is one of the most contagious diseases we know, but it is preventable," Harrist said in the release. "The MMR vaccine is safe and highly effective, providing long-lasting protection. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective in preventing measles, and we recommend that all Wyoming residents ensure they and their children are up to date on MMR vaccinations." As of 2023, the latest year for which data is available, at least 93% of kindergartners in Wyoming had received at least one MMR dose, including 96% of kindergartners in Natrona County, where the new case was confirmed, according to the WDH.
02-07-2025
- Health
Wyoming confirms 1st case of measles in 15 years as infections near 30-year high in US
Wyoming is reporting its first measles case in 15 years as the infectious disease continues to spread across the United States. The state's Department of Health said on Tuesday that it had confirmed a case in an unvaccinated child in Natrona County, which is located in the central part of the state and includes the town of Casper. The pediatric case is the first reported in Wyoming since 2010, according to the WDH. It's unclear how the child became sick, and no other identifying details were provided including name, age or sex. A release from the WDH said the child was infectious while in the emergency department waiting room at Banner Wyoming Medical Center in Casper on Thursday, June 24, from 11 a.m. MT to 1 p.m. MT and on Friday, June 25, from 12:55 p.m. MT to 2:55 p.m. MT. The WDH said it is working with Banner Wyoming Medical Center to notify individuals who may have been exposed to measles during those times. "We are asking individuals who were potentially exposed to self-monitor for measles symptoms for 21 days past the exposure date and consider avoiding crowded public places or high-risk settings such as daycare centers," Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer with the WDH, said in the release. Wyoming is the 37th state to confirm a case of measles this year as infections near a 30-year high in the U.S. As of Wednesday morning, a total of 1,227 cases have been confirmed, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The U.S. is currently on track to surpass the 1,274 cases seen in 2019 and is expected to see the highest number of cases since 1992. There have been three confirmed deaths so far this year, two among unvaccinated children in Texas and one among an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico. Among the nationally confirmed cases, the CDC says 95% are among people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Meanwhile, 2% of cases are among those who have received one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and 3% of cases are among those who received the recommended two doses, according to the CDC. "Measles is one of the most contagious diseases we know, but it is preventable," Harrist said in the release. "The MMR vaccine is safe and highly effective, providing long-lasting protection. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective in preventing measles, and we recommend that all Wyoming residents ensure they and their children are up to date on MMR vaccinations." As of 2023, the latest year for which data is available, at least 93% of kindergartners in Wyoming had received at least one MMR dose, including 96% of kindergartners in Natrona County, where the new case was confirmed, according to the WDH.
USA Today
26-02-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Where has bird flu been reported in the US? See map of 70 cases
Where has bird flu been reported in the US? See map of 70 cases The number of H5 bird flu cases among people in the U.S. is now at 70, with the most cases being in California, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among the cases in California, 36 of them stemmed from exposure to dairy herds or cattle, while the cause of two of them are unknown. Other states with reported cases include Washington state, Oregon, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, Texas and Louisiana, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the CDC. So far, one person has died due to the bird flu, and there have been no cases where the bird flu spread from person-to-person, the CDC said. The agency added that "the current public health risk is low," as of Tuesday. Bird flu case map The map below shows bird flu reported since 2024, per CDC data. Wyoming woman with prior conditions becomes 3rd US hospitalization Among the more recent cases around the country, a woman in southeast Wyoming was documented as the first human case of the bird flu in the state and became the third confirmed hospitalization in the U.S., reported the Wyoming Department of Health. A CDC laboratory confirmed the woman's test result on Feb. 14. She is hospitalized in another state and has prior health conditions that could've made her more vulnerable to illness, Wyoming health officials said. 'She was likely exposed to the virus through direct contact with an infected poultry flock at her home,' the Wyoming Department of Health said in its news release. A person in Ohio was recently discharged after being hospitalized with a bird flu infection, the CDC said. Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health, said in the news release that the case is 'not something we believe requires a high level of concern among most Wyoming residents.' According to Harrist, the bird flu has been infecting wild birds in Wyoming for a while now, and infections among dairy cattle have also been reported in the past. Most of those confirmed cases in the U.S. involve those who work closely with poultry or cattle. Once they became sick, they experienced mild symptoms, Harrist said. 'Unfortunately, this patient's experience has been much more serious,' Harrist said in the release. Symptoms of the bird flu in birds and humans Bird flu has caused outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the CDC. Most wild birds infected with bird flu viruses are asymptomatic, meaning they do not show signs or symptoms, the CDC said. Bird flu symptoms in humans include: Mild symptoms - Eye redness and irritation, mild fever, cough and fatigue. Moderate to severe disease symptoms - High fever, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing and seizures. Complications - Bird flu can lead to complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, multi-organ failure (respiratory and kidney failure), sepsis or septic shock. How can I protect myself and my family? Harrist, from the Wyoming Department of Health, offered some tips to keep yourself safe amid concerns about contracting the bird flu. Tips include: Avoid eating uncooked or undercooked food. Cook poultry, eggs and other animal products to the proper temperature and avoid cross-contamination between raw and cooked food. Avoid direct contact with wild birds. Avoid contact with wild or domestic birds that appear ill or have died. If contact with the sick or dead birds is necessary, use personal protection clothing and items. Avoid unprotected direct physical contact or close exposure with cattle and materials potentially infected or confirmed to be infected with bird flu. Do not eat or drink raw milk or products made with raw milk. Health officials in Wyoming said those who notice symptoms in birds can contact a veterinarian or report the cases to the Wyoming Livestock Board at 307-777-8270. Sick or dead wild birds can also be reported to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department at 307-745-5865 or online at Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Six more states join national milk testing strategy amid rampant spread of bird flu
Six states have joined the nation's milk testing program to track the spread of bird flu as another spillover of the virus was reported in dairy cows. The addition of Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and West Virginia, brings the total number of states in the program to 36. Notably, Texas and Mississippi — some of the nation's largest poultry producers — remain absent. As do Wisconsin and Idaho: some of America's top milk producers. To date, more than 970 herds have been stricken with bird flu across 17 states, according to data from the Department of Agriculture. The news comes after Arizona health officials announced on Friday that the state's agriculture department had identified H5N1 bird flu in milk produced by a dairy herd in Maricopa County, although the cattle haven't shown any symptoms. The virus is the D1.1 genotype: the same that had been confirmed in Nevada dairy cattle at the end of last month. The genotype has also been implicated in human infections, including the death of a Louisiana resident over the age of 65. Shortly after, the state reported its first bird flu infection in a dairy worker exposed to sickened cows. Wyoming also reported its first infection on Friday in an older woman in Platte County: the third confirmed hospitalization related to bird flu in the U.S. The woman is hospitalized in another state, has conditions that can make people more vulnerable to illness, and was likely exposed through direct contact with an infected flock at her home. While many of those infected experience mild symptoms, state health officials said her experience 'has been much more serious.' 'While this is a significant development as bird flu activity is monitored in Wyoming and across the country, it is not something we believe requires a high level of concern among most Wyoming residents,' said Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health. Around the U.S., 68 cases have been confirmed in the West, South, and Great Lakes regions. The majority have been dairy and poultry workers experiencing mild symptoms. Officials maintain that the current risk to the public is low and there has been no known person-to-person transmission of the virus. Still, the nation's response is under major scrutiny, with scientists voicing concerns about possible pandemic tipping points. While the Trump administration has addressed the resulting egg shortage, they had not specifically detailed a plan of action to respond to outbreaks tearing across the country. They've placed the blame on the previous administration. 'President Biden didn't really have a plan for avian flu,' White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett told CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday. 'Well, Brooke Rollins and I have been working with all the best people in government, including academics around the country and around the world, to have a plan ready for the president next week on what we're going to do with avian flu,' said Hassett. Concerning reports came over the weekend regarding layoffs at Department of Agriculture facilities responding to the outbreak. The department did not immediately reply to The Independent's request for comment. 'They're the front line of surveillance for the entire outbreak,' Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, told Politico. 'They're already underwater and they are constantly short-staffed, so if you take all the probationary staff out, you'll take out the capacity to do the work.'
The Independent
18-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Six more states join national milk testing strategy amid rampant spread of bird flu
Six states have joined the nation's milk testing program to track the spread of bird flu as another spillover of the virus was reported in dairy cows. The addition of Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and West Virginia, brings the total number of states in the program to 36. Notably, Texas and Mississippi — — remain absent. As do Wisconsin and Idaho: some of America's top milk producers. To date, more than 970 herds have been stricken with bird flu across 17 states, according to data from the Department of Agriculture. The news comes after Arizona health officials announced on Friday that the state's agriculture department had identified H5N1 bird flu in milk produced by a dairy herd in Maricopa County, although the cattle haven't shown any symptoms. The virus is the D1.1 genotype: the same that had been confirmed in Nevada dairy cattle at the end of last month. The genotype has also been implicated in human infections, including the death of a Louisiana resident over the age of 65. Shortly after, the state reported its first bird flu infection in a dairy worker exposed to sickened cows. Wyoming also reported its first infection on Friday in an older woman in Platte County: the third confirmed hospitalization related to bird flu in the U.S. The woman is hospitalized in another state, has conditions that can make people more vulnerable to illness, and was likely exposed through direct contact with an infected flock at her home. While many of those infected experience mild symptoms, state health officials said her experience 'has been much more serious.' 'While this is a significant development as bird flu activity is monitored in Wyoming and across the country, it is not something we believe requires a high level of concern among most Wyoming residents,' said Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health. Around the U.S., 68 cases have been confirmed in the West, South, and Great Lakes regions. The majority have been dairy and poultry workers experiencing mild symptoms. Officials maintain that the current risk to the public is low and there has been no known person-to-person transmission of the virus. Still, the nation's response is under major scrutiny, with scientists voicing concerns about possible pandemic tipping points. While the Trump administration has addressed the resulting egg shortage, they had not specifically detailed a plan of action to respond to outbreaks tearing across the country. They've placed the blame on the previous administration. 'President Biden didn't really have a plan for avian flu,' White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett told CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday. 'Well, Brooke Rollins and I have been working with all the best people in government, including academics around the country and around the world, to have a plan ready for the president next week on what we're going to do with avian flu,' said Hassett. Concerning reports came over the weekend regarding layoffs at Department of Agriculture facilities responding to the outbreak. The department did not immediately reply to The Independent's request for comment. 'They're the front line of surveillance for the entire outbreak,' Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, told Politico. 'They're already underwater and they are constantly short-staffed, so if you take all the probationary staff out, you'll take out the capacity to do the work.'
