U.S. measles cases surpass 2025 total as outbreaks continue
CDC data show 2,371 confirmed U.S. measles cases in 2026, already above 2025’s total, as outbreaks and lower vaccination coverage raise back-to-school concerns.
Public health
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Mississippi confirms five cyclosporiasis cases as recalled lettuce reaches state
Mississippi has confirmed five cyclosporiasis cases. Recalled iceberg lettuce was distributed to Mississippi food-service customers and select Walmart stores, but officials had not linked the cases to the federal outbreak.
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Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey listed under county water warning after elevated bacteria readings
A July 31, 2026 Los Angeles County notice warned people to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in the entire Mother’s Beach swim area after recent samples exceeded state health standards.
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Worcester’s tentative West Nile spraying dates begin August 4
Worcester’s tentative truck-mounted mosquito-spraying schedule begins Tuesday, August 4, after West Nile virus was detected in mosquitoes collected from a city trap. Dates and locations may change.
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Louisiana reports first human West Nile case of 2026 season
Louisiana confirmed its first 2026 human West Nile case in Ouachita Parish as infected mosquitoes were found in 13 parishes. Here is how residents can reduce risk.
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KDHE schedules next cleanup phase at Neodesha’s former refinery site
KDHE approved a remedial excavation work plan for Neodesha’s former Amoco refinery site on April 6, 2026. Field work is preferred from July through September, while the site’s long-term cleanup remedy remains undecided.
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Aurora’s New ZYN Campus Is Operating as Jobs, Investment and Health Debate Continue
Philip Morris says its Aurora ZYN campus began commercial production in July, with planned investment reaching $1.2 billion and about 500 direct jobs expected as health advocates continue to challenge public incentives for nicotine manufacturing.
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Midland Park’s Wortendyke PFAS Plant Is Now Scheduled for Fall 2026 Startup
Ridgewood Water now lists its Wortendyke PFAS treatment facility at 32 Birch Street in Midland Park for online operation in fall 2026, later than the first-quarter target published in 2025 and repeated in January.
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Anchorage wastewater detects measles-virus RNA, but Alaska reports no confirmed case in alert
Very low levels of measles-virus RNA were found in Anchorage wastewater samples collected July 7–14. Alaska officials say the signal does not confirm a case, transmission or an outbreak.
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Denver opens cooling centers as late-July heat sets daily records
Denver opened recreation centers and libraries for cooling during a late-July extreme-heat episode as daily heat records were set and July tracked toward one of the city’s hottest on record.
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Shawnee County officials review cyclosporiasis outbreak as summer cases continue
Health experts shared an update on a cyclosporiasis outbreak during a Shawnee County work session, with key details including case numbers and a possible source not established in the available report.
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New Marion County report says infant mortality remains well above state and national averages
Cradle Indy’s 2026 Marion County Maternal & Infant Health Report says the county’s infant mortality rate remains significantly higher than Indiana’s rate and the national average, underscoring an ongoing public-health disparity.
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West Nile Virus Found in Laredo Mosquito Sample; No Human Cases Reported
A mosquito pool near the 5100 block of East Saunders Street tested positive for West Nile virus. The latest cited Texas report lists no human cases in Webb County, while Laredo continues surveillance and targeted control.
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UAB’s $426,000 substance-use grant targets the hospital-to-home gap in Birmingham
A new two-year UAB program is designed to connect people leaving Birmingham-area hospital care with addiction treatment, recovery support and related health services.
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Springfield opens applications for city lead-hazard program
Springfield homeowners and landlords can apply for help addressing lead hazards in qualifying one-to-four-unit homes built before 1978, with priority for households involving children under 6 or pregnant residents.
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Jones Public Schools enters 2026-27 under new state fentanyl-awareness requirements
Rain’s Law requires Oklahoma school districts to provide annual, research-based fentanyl-abuse prevention and drug-poisoning awareness instruction to students in grades 6 through 12. In Jones, that puts Jones Middle School and Jones High School at the center of implementation questions before the district’s August 13, 2026, first day of school.
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Montana Opens $4 Million Rural EMS Equipment Grant Program
Montana EMS agencies located in or serving rural areas can apply for part of a $4 million equipment grant program by August 15, 2026. The state will weigh equipment condition, patient-care gaps, service level and expected benefits.
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Nags Head Flooding Prompts Temporary Ocean-Swimming Advisory
Heavy rain flooded parts of Nags Head on July 23-24, prompting floodwater pumping near Conch Street and a temporary advisory for nearby swimmers.
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Illinois Auditor Finds Repeated Compliance Problems at Public Health and Guardianship Agencies
July 23 examinations found persistent control weaknesses involving Illinois public-health vehicles, overtime, personnel files and voucher processing. Both agencies agreed to recommendations, but follow-up remains pending.
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North Providence’s Notte Park swimming closed again after July reopening
Swimming at North Providence’s Notte Park was restricted again July 28 after Rhode Island lifted a Wenscott Reservoir algae advisory on July 17.
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North Dakota expands harmful-algae advisories and warnings to seven waterbodies
North Dakota added Lake Tschida to its harmful-algal-bloom advisory list, bringing active advisories and warnings to seven waterbodies statewide.
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Rowley Shellfish Harvesters May Qualify for Relief After 12-Day Closure
Rowley shellfish harvesters may qualify for Massachusetts relief after a 12-day closure tied to a Haverhill sewer overflow; the affected areas reopened July 21.