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Board receives brief on measles, Legionnaires and West Nile cases
Summary
The board's communicable-disease update covered a recent Legionnaires' outbreak in New York (reported as about 94–96 cases with roughly 79 hospitalizations and possibly eight deaths), a rise in measles cases in several states including Delaware, and seasonal West Nile activity.
At the meeting the chair gave a broad communicable-disease briefing, noting that measles cases have reappeared in several states and that local public-health staff planned immunization outreach. She said Delaware had reported measles cases and that public-health teams were deploying immunizations.
The chair also summarized a large Legionnaires' outbreak in New York, describing the numbers discussed at the time: "about 94 or 96 people, but 79 of them were hospitalized. So a lot of people hospitalized, and I think the last time I saw, there were 8 deaths." Board members noted Legionella can be hard to diagnose early and requires sterilizing air and cooling systems to control spread.
Members also discussed cyclosporiasis, with staff noting it is likely underreported because clinicians must order a specific test. The group raised concerns about imported lettuce and supply-chain questions; one member described a local taco that used shredded lettuce and wondered whether distributors or growers (such as Taylor Farms) were the source.
Finally, the chair mentioned an uptick in West Nile virus this season and warned members to expect increased mosquito-related activity and public-health messaging.
