Latest news with #DPH
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Public health officials say that person with measles visited Boston
The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is informing the public that a person with measles has visited Boston. Officials say that the individual was in Boston between the dates of June 7 and June 8. In that time frame, the individual visited several places while infected, including: Westin Boston Seaport District Hotel (including restaurants in the hotel) between 5:30 pm on Saturday, June 7, and 1:30 pm on Sunday, June 8 The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, between 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm on Sunday, June 8 Logan Airport Terminal C between 5:00 pm and 11:15 pm on Sunday, June 8 The person then flew on JetBlue Flight 639 to Miami, which departed at 9:12 pm. Measles is a highly contagious virus that gives flu-like symptoms, including cough, high fever, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the face to the rest of the body. Typically when a person who has contracted the virus can spread the disease through breathing, sneezing, and coughing. 'This case of measles highlights the importance of obtaining the MMR vaccine to protect ourselves and our community. The MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles infection and also protects against mumps and rubella,' said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston. 'Children should receive the vaccine at 12-15 months of age and again before kindergarten to ensure strong immunity. Children who are at least 6 months old who are traveling internationally should receive an early dose of vaccine before traveling. It is never too late for children or adults to get the measles vaccine and for the vaccine to be effective, even if they are past the age recommended by doctors.' The DPH is working to help identify those who may have been exposed to the virus. Those who were exposed should contact their health care provider immediately and monitor for symptoms for at least 21 days, and avoid public places. According to the DPH, the measles vaccination is 93%-97% effective in preventing measles and protecting against severe disease. In Suffolk County, 94% of children have been fully vaccinated against measles, according to DPH data. Vaccinated individuals are at low risk of contracting measles. Health officials urge people who do not know their immunization status to get vaccinated with at least one dose of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. For more information on measles, visit This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
India Today
12-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
97% of Tamil Nadu's elderly have Covid-19 antibodies: What is seropositivity?
A recent serosurvey conducted in Tamil Nadu has revealed that nearly all elderly participants, around 97%, showed seropositivity for means that most of them had protective antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which indicates either they were previously exposed to the virus or received is the fifth phase of the Covid-19 serosurvey conducted by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) and the State Public Health Laboratory (SPHL).advertisement The survey was carried out in April 2024 after a three-year gap, the last such study was conducted in December samples were collected from 3,643 elderly individuals across six districts: Chennai, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchi, Dharmapuri, and is a serosurvey?Serosurveys are used to detect the presence of antibodies in the blood. Most of elderly surveyed in Tamil Nadu had protective antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. () These antibodies, particularly Immunoglobulin G (IgG), develop after a person is infected with a virus or receives a antibodies are detected through blood tests, the individual is said to be "seropositive."advertisementThis helps scientists and health authorities understand how widely a disease has spread in a community, even among people who did not show symptoms or were never of 1,214 samples that were initially tested in this phase, 97% had IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2."In this situation, a non-virulent strain (of SARS-CoV-2) may not cause much impact, but it is important for persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, immune-compromised persons, and the elderly to take precautions while visiting public places," Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian told reporters on Wednesday, pointing to the recent surge in new Omicron variants in is seropositivity?According to the National Cancer Institute, seropositivity generally indicates that the immune system has responded to a virus, such as SARS-CoV-2, by creating antibodies. When antibodies are detected through blood tests, the individual is said to be It does not, however, tell us how strong the immunity is or how long it will last. For that, further tests are required to assess the exact nature and strength of the immune global studies show that the effectiveness of vaccines in creating antibodies varies. A 2023 analysis found that after the third dose of Covid-19 vaccines, the rate of seropositivity ranged around 67%, and for specific high-risk groups like solid organ transplant recipients, seroconversion rates improved after booster this context, Tamil Nadu's 97% seropositivity among the elderly stands out as a reassuring InMust Watch
New Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
TN's Covid survey shows 97 per cent of elderly population has protective immunity
CHENNAI: A serosurvey for Covid-19 conducted by the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine among elderly people in six districts of Tamil Nadu in the month of April has shown 97% of the surveyed population to have protective levels of immunity. The results showing high seroprevalence of SARS CoV-2 IgG antibodies, coming amid concerns of a surge in number of Covid-19 cases, showed that the infections by SARS CoV-2 virus could not cause severe illness, the health department said. It added that deaths due to Covid-19 are almost nil in TN. According to the DPH, a total of 3,643 blood samples were collected from persons as part of the elderly panel survey in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Dharmapuri and Kanniyakumari districts. 'Preliminary analysis of 1,214 samples tested for SARS-CoV antibodies (IgG) showed the protective levels of immunity to be 97%,' a DPH release said. The press release said that even after a gap of three years in conducting the present Phase V of the serosurvey, the prevalence of protective level of SARS CoV antibodies is very high and significant. Effective vaccination drives implemented by the state government might be responsible for the high level of protection against SARS CoV-2 virus, it said. 'In addition, natural infection and subclinical infection due to the weakened circulating Omicron sub lineage of SARS CoV-2 virus could have also enhanced the development of antibodies,' the release added. The state has not officially released data on Covid-19 cases after the recent surge across the country.
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Phase V of COVID-19 survey finds 97% seropositivity among the elderly in six districts of Tamil Nadu
Phase V of the COVID-19 serosurvey, conducted this April among elderly persons in Chennai and five districts, has found a 97% seropositivity (presence of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2). Of all five phases of serosurveys taken up in Tamil Nadu, the latest has recorded the maximum protective level of COVID-19 antibodies even after a three-year gap as the last serosurvey was done in December 2021. According to the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine-State Public Health Laboratory (DPH-SPHL), 3,643 blood samples were collected from elderly persons as a part of the Elderly Panel Survey conducted in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchi, Dharmapuri, and Kanniyakumari districts in April. Preliminary analysis of 1,214 samples, which were tested for SARS-CoV-2 IgG, found the protective levels of immunity at 97%. Considering the three-year gap in conducting Phase V of the serosurvey, the prevalence of protective level of SARS-CoV-2 IgG is 'very high and significant', the DPH-SPHL said in a release. An effective vaccination drive by the Tamil Nadu government may be responsible for the high level of protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In addition, natural infection and subclinical infection due to the weakened circulating Omicron sub-lineage of SARS-CoV-2 could have also enhanced the development of antibodies. Owing to the high seroprevalence of antibodies, the virus could not cause severe illness, while deaths are almost nil in the State, it said. Health Minister Ma. Subramanian told reporters that this survey had shown that the immunity levels had increased in the State. 'In this situation, a non-virulent strain (of SARS-CoV-2) may not cause much impact, but it is important for persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, immune-compromised persons, and the elderly to take precautions while visiting public places,' he said. While reiterating that there was no need to panic, he said it had been advised that the elderly, immune-compromised persons, persons with co-morbidities, and pregnant women should wear masks, wash their hands frequently, and maintain physical distance at public places. In the first serosurvey, done in October 2020, the seroprevalence was 32%. This was followed by the second phase in April 2021 that recorded a seropositivity of 29%. Phase III in August 2021 and Phase IV in December 2021 found a seroprevalence of 70% and 87% respectively. SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies were detected from the community samples with the CLIA technology. Each phase of the serosurvey covered more than 25,000 samples selected by population-proportionate sampling across the State. Cluster pouches were used for uniformity in the sample collection process. The DPH-SPHL functioned as the apex laboratory for the State to provide lab training, logistics support, quality assurance, testing and reporting of the COVID-19 serosurvey carried out in the State, the release noted.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘It was like a nightmare': Former patient reacts after Milton spa connected to botulism cases
The Department of Public Health said at least 10 cases of botulism have been linked to a South Shore Med Spa called Rodrigo Beauty. Jamie Pelton said she's been a long-time customer of Rodrigo Beauty on Granite Avenue in Milton. 'When I found out that it happened at the spa that I go to it was like a nightmare,' Pelton said. Pelton said her last appointment was May 8th. 'I had two syringes of filler in my cheeks, two here, one syringe here, so I guess seven or eight syringes total of filler, I had a full face of Botox,' Pelton explained. She said everything seemed to be going smoothly during that appointment except the injections hurt more than usual, even with numbing cream. 'Weird part is this had never happened before because I've had Botox many times over the years, never had an issue.' Her appointment was on a Thursday, and she said that on Saturday, she woke up feeling extremely dizzy. Pelton went to South Shore Hospital that Saturday and showed Boston 25 News her hospital bracelet from that day. She said she was released shortly after her tests came back normal. 'I was extremely scared, I hadn't heard anything about the whole outbreak before this morning, so I literally had a panic attack,' Pelton said. According to the DPH, iatrogenic botulism is a rare but serious illness that can happen when the Botox spreads beyond the injection site. Botulism can lead to life-threatening symptoms, and early symptoms can include blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, or difficulty breathing. Boston 25 News reached out to Rodrigo Beauty on social media and gave the owner, Rodrigo Siqueira, a call, but we were immediately sent to voicemail. 'I think it's a little shady that if something like this is going on, he should be reaching out to his clients that he's been with over the years and letting us know what's going on, because we don't know,' Pelton said. The DPH said that if you have recieved Botox at the med spa between May 1st and June 4th, call them immediately at 617-983-6800. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
