HealthNews

What to know about ‘rabbit fever’ amid 3 probable cases reported in New York

Long Island is reported to have at least three possible cases of an uncommon bacterial disease by New York health officials.
Suffolk County Department of Health stated that laboratory tests are needed to confirm cases of “rabbit flu,” also called tularemia. This may take several months.
The Department of Health and Human Services told ABC 7 New York that “confirmation of the tularemia diagnoses requires laboratory testing in combination with specific clinical criteria or epidemiological criteria.” The laboratory tests to confirm a diagnosis of tularemia may take several week.
What you should know about this disease, including the spread of the illness and the signs to watch for.
What is the tularemia virus?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tularemia is a potentially severe illness that can be caused by Francisella tularensis.
The disease is spread by ticks or deerflies which have eaten infected wild animals such as rabbits, hares and rodents. It is not transmitted from one person to another.
The CDC states that humans can be infected by handling skin tissue infected with bacteria, by breathing dust or aerosols contaminated by the bacteria or drinking contaminated water.
It’s called rabbit flu because people who skin or eviscerate rabbits after shooting them, can be contaminated. Dr. William Schaffner is a preventive medicine professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville.
According to the CDC, tularemia occurs more frequently in men and is most common from May until September.
CDC statistics show that fewer than 200 new cases are reported each year since 2019 through 2023.
What are signs and symptoms of a stroke?
According to the CDC, tularemia symptoms can range from mild up to deadly, depending on where and how a person was infected.
The fever can reach 104 degrees in all forms. According to Dr. Zoe Weiss of Tufts Medical Center, Boston, the time between exposure and symptoms appearing is usually three to five day, but it can last up to three week.
Weiss explained that tularemia starts out like a flu — with a sudden high fever and chills. It can also cause headaches, body pains, and a feeling of exhaustion. What sets it apart are the symptoms that appear along with it: an ulcer or sore where you’ve been bitten, and a painful swelling of a lymph node nearby.
Oculoglandular Tularemia is a condition that causes inflammation and irritation of the eyes, as well as swelling of the lymph glands located in the area of the ear.
According to the CDC, patients who ate or drank contaminated water or food can develop oropharyngeal tularemia. This may cause a sore or swollen throat as well as mouth ulcers and tonsillitis.
Inhaling infected aerosols or dust can cause pneumonic Tularemia. The symptoms include chest pain, coughing and breathing difficulties. The CDC states that it can occur if other illnesses are not treated and bacteria is spread through the bloodstream into the lungs.
Tularemia is difficult to diagnose due to its rarity and because the symptoms are similar to those of other, more common diseases.
Schaffner explained that “most types of pneumonia present very similarly because they cause inflammation in the same organ (the lungs).” To distinguish the sources, two factors are needed: first, obtaining a sample and sending it off to a laboratory; and second, asking the doctor about the source.
What to do if you have tularemia?
Weiss stated that “tularemia can be treated with antibiotics commonly available.” It used to be fatal, but it’s now much easier to treat with antibiotics.
According to the CDC, a vaccine has been available for laboratory workers that interact with bacteria that cause tularemia. The vaccine, however, is under review by FDA and not available to the general public in the U.S.
The CDC advises that you use insect repellents registered by the Environmental Protection Agency, such as DEET, picaridin (IR3535), Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, para-menthanediol (2-undecanone), Oil of Lemon-Eucalyptus, or Oil of Lemon-Eucalyptus.
Wear long trousers, long sleeves, and long socks in order to avoid ticks and deerflies. Remove the tick as soon as possible if it has attached.
If you are mowing your lawn or doing landscaping, don’t mow over dead or sick animals. According to the CDC, when hunting, skinning or trapping animals, wear gloves and thoroughly cook meat before eating.

HealthNews

Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce in Douglas County

Health officials attribute the outbreak of iceberg lettuce to Cyclospora, which is increasing in Douglas County.
DOUGLAS COUNTY (Neb.) —
Douglas County Health Department reports that Cyclospora is on the rise.
The number of confirmed cases has increased from 45 to 71 this week.
Health officials said that their investigations strongly indicate the Douglas County cases are linked with a national outbreak associated with contaminated lettuce.
Two people died earlier this week in Michigan due to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, according to health officials.
Read more: The first deaths in the cyclosporiasis epidemic have been reported
The first deaths in relation to the outbreak of multi-state explosive diarrhea have been confirmed.
The CDC identified over 18,000 domestic cyclosporiasis cases this season. 6,707 of these cases have been confirmed and approximately 11,500 are undergoing laboratory tests and analyses to determine if the illness is acquired in the U.S.
The dashboard of the Douglas County Health Department allows you to track all the cases that have occurred in the county.
Google Search will always show you the most recent news, sports, weather and other information from KETV NewsWatch 7.

HealthNews

An Invasive Mosquito Is Spreading With Alarming Speed, Threatening Africa’s Cities

An invasive, malaria-carrying, insecticide-resistant mosquito that thrives in cities, where malaria has not been a major threat, has moved farther and faster across Africa than even pessimistic scientists had feared. Many public health professionals believe that it’s too late to eradicate or contain it.
Anopheles stephensi is a mosquito that has been genetically resistant to the majority of chemicals used for mosquito control and spraying.
From its arrival in Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa, more than 10 years ago, it has moved with frightening efficiency and speed through flat, windy, and open terrain. It now pushes west to Ghana, and then south via Kenya.
The new study, which was published in Science, led by Tristan Dennis who is a vector geneticist at the University of Queensland, Australia.
Health experts are concerned about this mosquito because it is different from the one that has historically caused malaria to spread in Africa. It thrives both in rural and urban areas. Malaria, which is already one of Africa’s top killers, may become an even greater problem for megacities like Lagos and Kinshasa. Each of these cities has about 20,000,000 people.
The head of the Kenya Medical Research Institute’s entomology, Dr. Eric Ochomo said that the Kenya Medical Research Institute has not experienced malaria cases in the city.
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HealthNews

Georgia woman sues over wrong cancer diagnosis, unnecessary surgery

Documents filed in court show that a Fulton County woman has sued multiple Kaiser Permanente companies and their laboratory personnel after an incorrectly labeled tissue sample resulted in a total hysterectomy.
Kaiser Permanente medical lawsuit
We know that:
Cassandra Barksdale, a 43-year-old woman, has filed a personal injury suit in the State Court of Clayton County against Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Permanente Insurance Company, as well as senior laboratory analyst Cecelia Prestridge.
According to the filing, Barksdale received treatment at Kaiser Permanente Southwood Comprehensive Medical Center Jonesboro for fibroids and bleeding in early 2025. A biopsy on March 10, 2025 led to a wrong diagnosis of aggressive endometrial-uterine cancer.
Surgery is often performed after a misdiagnosis
What happened?
According to the court filing, Barksdale’s lab results led her to be referred by a Northside Hospital specialist and she underwent a complete hysterectomy in May 2025. Surgeons removed the cervix and uterus as well as the fallopian tubes and ovaries.
The suit claims that although post-surgical laboratory reports from May 2025 did not show malignancy in the patient, in July 2025, she was informed by staff of her cancer, and told to wait for further instructions.
The lawsuit claims that on Sept. 23 2025, administrators at Kaiser Permanente admitted to Barksdale, through DNA testing, that the cancerous tissues belonged to another person. Quest Diagnostics informed her formally in December 2025 that the original biopsy results should be ignored.
In the lawsuit, negligence and chain of custody failures are alleged. The plaintiff is seeking a trial by jury for damages exceeding $10,000 as well as legal fees. Barksdale’s Atlanta lawyers Roderick Edmond M.D.J.D. Shannan Young Pharm.D.J.D. and Clark Edmond from The Edmond Firm represent him.
The patient suffers permanent injury
They’re saying
Barksdale said that she thought immediately she would die after receiving the misdiagnosis.
“I needed to tell my children that I only have five more years left to live and will die from aggressive cancer. My sons went into a deep depression. I contacted other lawyers to see if they could help me get trust money so I could be able to leave my home and still have funds for my children. My sons went into a deep depression. “It had a huge impact on my family,” Barksdale said.
Barksdale said that when she discovered the mistake, she experienced a mixture of emotions.
“I was happy that I did not have cancer.” “I was excited that I didn’t have cancer.” But, I still felt upset, because I knew that the other person who got my tissue thought they had only fibroids. They walked around for 7 months believing they just have fibroids and I had the cancer. “I was angry, sad and worried about that person.” she explained.
Barksdale said that she had moments where she was suicidal. She has also undergone counseling for mental health. Barksdale wants everyone to avoid the same ordeal.
Barksdale stated, “I don’t think I want anyone else to experience what I did. I want to be held accountable for my actions.”
Barksdale’s lawyer also described the situation as “bizarre” and said he seldom sees similar cases given modern technological advancements that make it possible to avoid these errors.
The Edmond Firm attorneys told FOX 5 Atlanta that Mrs. Barksdale had waited for almost four months in terror and anxiety to receive her next treatment instructions regarding her alleged “cancer”.
The legal counsel said, “The trauma that she suffered is due to the fact that the hospital did not perform one of its most basic responsibilities as a medical institution: the correct identification of patients.”
FOX 5 Atlanta reached out to Kaiser Permanente, Cecelia Prestridge and other parties involved in the case for more information.

HealthNews

Parents warned of confirmed tuberculosis case at Dorchester County high school

DORCHESTER COUNTY (WCSC), S.C. — An official case of tuberculosis was confirmed at Summerville high school.
South Carolina Department of Public Health has determined that this individual’s illness was diagnosed only recently. The infectious period is believed to have been towards the end of 2025-2026.
Tuberculosis, a severe infectious disease that affects primarily the lungs.
Inhaling the bacteria from an infected individual’s cough, sneeze or talk can cause it to spread.
Tracking contacts is underway
The Department of Public Health began contacting people as soon as the diagnosis was made and informed the district.
Dorchester School district Two informed families in an email they sent Monday that families of children identified as potentially having come into contact the tuberculosis virus will receive another letter with details about available and recommended tests.
Parents and Students Should Know
The disease cannot be spread by casual contact, according to Dr. Rebecca Partridge.
You can’t get it just by shaking hands. It’s not possible to get the disease from regular contact. Partridge explained that you are not at risk by simply walking through a hallway, but rather from close contact with someone who has tuberculosis.
Partridge stated that the department of health is working on identifying those individuals who should be made aware of any potential exposure.
She said that the health department was doing an excellent job of identifying those who needed to know about it. If you have a fever or are experiencing night sweats and a severe, persistent cough, you should definitely see your pediatrician.
Preventing risks
In the United States, there is no generalized vaccine against tuberculosis. Partridge stated that exposure is not a guarantee of infection.
Just because you were exposed to the bacteria doesn’t necessarily mean you are infected. Only 5% of those who are exposed to tuberculosis develop it within the first two years. It can still be a serious problem. Partridge added, “We need to take care and be vigilant.”
According to her, the most effective preventive measure is still basic health care.
Partridge stated that the best way to stay healthy is by getting enough sleep, consuming a healthy diet and staying away from those who are sick.
Partridge said that anyone who has questions or concerns about their health should consult with their doctor.
I think that the most important part is to check with your doctor or pediatrician if there are any questions. She said that they can guide you on whether you should be tested or not.
Students in Dorchester School district Two who are currently showing signs of active tuberculosis should contact their healthcare provider as quickly as possible.

HealthNews

Cyclosporiasis cases at 54 in Harris County; 10 additional cases in Houston, health officials say

HARRIS County, Texas (KTRK). Health officials in Harris County and Houston share the most recent number of Cyclosporiasis infections.
The Houston Health Department announced Tuesday that 10 more cases had been confirmed in Houston, raising the number to 34. The city officials said that so far, the 2026 number of reported cases is comparable to last year’s.
Harris County Public Health officials reported that 54 cases were reported to the county as of last Thursday.
More than 12 cases have been reported in Galveston County.
Read more: Galveston County Health officials confirm 14 cases of cyclosporiasis, with 4 others under investigation
Symptoms of Cyclosporiasis include
Watery diarrhea is a frequent occurrence
Stomach cramps
Nausea
Fatigue
Appetite loss
Weight loss
Low-grade fever
Experts recommend washing fruits and vegetables before eating them. You should also wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after using the bathroom and before you prepare or eat food.
You should contact your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.