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Received — 9 August 2026 ⏭

Authorities Alarmed When Person With Measles Spends Entire Day Frolicking Around Universal Studios

✇Futurism
By: Victor Tangermann
7 August 2026 at 17:53

Even notorious anti-vaxxer and US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr had to urge families to vaccinate their children against measles last week.

Despite being an entirely preventable disease thanks to a highly effective vaccine that has been widely available since the 1960s, cases of measles have skyrocketed in recent years, facilitated by a White House that’s declared war on scientific research, made a mess of childhood vaccine mandates, and furthered dangerous misinformation.

As of last week, the US had recorded 2,465 confirmed infections so far this year, already more than the 2,289 total cases in 2025. The last two years saw more total infections than the rest of the 21st century combined, as The Guardian reports, with 2026’s tally beating a 35-year record.

Now, in the midst of all that crisis crisis, a character has stumbled into the narrative who perfectly illustrates how it’s gotten so bad. As the LA Times reports, a measles-infected individual spent a whopping 11 hours at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park last month, potentially exposing countless other visitors.

The Los Angeles County Public Health Department was forced to issue a stark warning: anybody who visited the amusement park on July 26 during teh hours between 10am and 9pm may have been exposed and should monitor for symptoms including fever, cough, or rash — and stay vigilant until August 16.

The virus is contagious up to four days before the characteristic rash appears on the skin, and up to four days after that.

Measles can easily spread through the air through just via talking or breathing, and can persist on surfaces for hours at a time.

The vaccine against it, available as part of the measles, mumps, and rubella combination (MMR) shot, is extremely worthwhile. Two doses are 97 percent effective in preventing a measles infection.

The department also urged “everyone to confirm their immunity and get the vaccine if needed, especially before traveling and attending crowded events.”

California has been hit particularly hard, recording at least three localized measles outbreaks this year so far. However, according to the state’s health department, all three outbreaks have ended.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 38 new outbreaks in 2026 across the country so far this year, with several thousand cases spanning 47 states.

The danger to one’s health is substantial — especially to the unvaccinated. According to the CDC, roughly one in five unvaccinated people in the US who get measles are hospitalized. One out of 20 children with measles develop pneumonia. and one to three of every 1,000 children who become infected die from respiratory and neurologic complications.

More on infectious diseases: This Measles Outbreak at a Detention Center Perfectly Encapsulates America Right Now

The post Authorities Alarmed When Person With Measles Spends Entire Day Frolicking Around Universal Studios appeared first on Futurism.

2 people die of Cyclospora infection in Michigan

✇Live Science
3 August 2026 at 20:10

Editor's note: This is a developing story and may be updated.

Michigan has reported two deaths in its ongoing Cyclospora outbreak, a wave of parasitic infections that has affected over 11,000 people in the state.

Since early May, 193 people in Michigan have been hospitalized with cases of Cyclospora cayetanensis infection, called cyclosporiasis. The parasite can enter the body when someone consumes food or water contaminated with the organism, and the cases in Michigan have been linked to iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.

These two deaths are the first reported in the Michigan outbreak, as well as the first deaths documented in any of the ongoing Cyclospora outbreaks in the United States.

Multiple outbreaks have been detected in the country in recent months, but not all have been linked to a specific source of exposure, such as lettuce. Since May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed over 6,700 cases of cyclosporiasis acquired within the U.S. (In some states, case counts are typical of what's usually seen this time of year, while in others, case counts are higher than normal.)

Regarding the deaths in Michigan, "according to medical records, both individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration," the state's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said in a statement. "No additional information will be provided on these two cases."

Cases of cyclosporiasis range from mild to severe, with severe cases being more likely in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include loss of appetite, fatigue, low-grade fever, vomiting and diarrhea. The infection is treated with antibiotics, which block the parasite's ability to multiply.

In mild cases, the infection can sometimes resolve on its own, but without treatment, the symptoms can linger for over a month. Severe and prolonged infections can raise the risk of dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea. Severe dehydration can then cause various complications, such as electrolyte imbalances and hypovolemia (severe fluid loss).

While these complications can be dangerous — causing kidney failure or shock, for instance — cyclosporiasis is not usually life-threatening. For instance, over 2,200 cases were reported in the U.S. between 2011 and 2015, but there were no associated deaths.

"Death resulting from cyclosporiasis is uncommon in the United States," Michigan HHS representatives noted in the statement.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.

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