Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Number of Measles Cases Roars Past Last Year's Total As Vaccine Hesitancy Takes Hold
The United States has now recorded more cases of measles in 2026 than in any other year since the virus was declared eliminated in 2000, a grim sign that the country may be headed toward a new era in which the disease regularly sickens thousands every year. On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that there have been 2,318 confirmed cases of measles so far this year. The case count toppled the record set last year, when measles infected more than 2,200 Americans and killed two unvaccinated children. More measles cases have been reported in the United States in the last two years than in all the years from 2000 through 2024 combined. (Rosenbluth, 7/24)
Florida’s top health official called the measles vaccine “effective” Friday, but stopped short of imploring people to get inoculated against the disease. Dr. Joseph Ladapo was in Orlando Friday for an event focused on mental health and kids. (Valente, 7/24)
This spring, two children attended a Portland-area school while infected with measles. Both were exposed at home and were showing symptoms. The kids were contacts of a known measles case that public health officials were monitoring. Adults in the household were told to keep the children home from school if they developed symptoms. But, according to Multnomah County Health Officer Dr. Richard Bruno, that didn’t happen, and the children were sent to school without public health’s knowledge. (Templeton, 7/22)
On the cyclospora outbreak —
As the cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce spread to nine states, Americans have dubbed the health concern "lettuce-gate" on social media, and they aren't convinced the situation is under control. (Bauman, 7/25)
Taylor Farms released a new statement Friday amid an investigation into the source of a cyclosporiasis outbreak across the U.S. The company, which remains at the center of U.S. health officials' investigation, said it has taken added precautions despite no positive test results involving its product so far. "According to the FDA, there are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora as of July 19, 2026," Taylor Farms said in its statement. "We are confident in our food and food safety systems and will continue to be transparent as more information becomes available." (Dvorak, 7/24)
Former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner Frank Yiannas, who served under both President Trump and former President Biden, criticized the federal government’s handling of a Cyclospora outbreak that has impacted thousands of Americans. (Davis, 7/24)
As cases of explosive diarrhea continue to rise across the US this summer, health officials are grappling with a longstanding question about the tiny parasite that’s behind all this torment: Just how the heck is poop getting into our food? (Goodman, 7/25)
On the screwworm threat —
The U.S. will initiate a “phased reopening” next month of the country’s southern cattle ports, which were closed in May following the detection of a New World Screwworm (NWS) outbreak, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Friday. (Davis, 7/25)
On flesh-eating bacteria and leprosy —
The Florida Health Department has reported the state’s first death this year from Vibrio vulnificus, commonly known as “flesh-eating bacteria.” The death was reported in June and involved a Palm Beach County resident who was 80 to 84 years old, according to the agency’s website. It is not known when the death occurred. (Mayer, 7/24)
Reported cases of leprosy in Florida have been rising over the past several years. This year, the state saw 17 cases as of July 18. The total from last year was 36, compared to 20 in 2024, 23 in 2023 and eight in 2022. A local species of armadillo, which carries the bacteria that causes leprosy, may be behind most cases, scientists say. (Riva, 7/27)
Ebola cases soar in DR Congo —
The number of people infected with Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has risen to 3,200, according to government data, including at least 1,405 deaths. The data was released on Sunday as medics struggle to contain the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak, with infections surging by about 1,000 in just 10 days. (7/27)
Health workers at an Ebola treatment center in eastern Congo went on strike on Saturday, demanding their pay. The walkout disrupted care for patients in the epicenter of the country’s rapidly growing outbreak. (Ngorora and Bagalwa, 7/25)
