11/ PFAS (often called “forever chemicals”) is another concern for some private wells. In Killingly, state environmental officials (DEEP) found multiple private wells near a fire-training area with PFAS levels above state health guidelines (though causation isn’t confirmed yet).

10/ And finally, we're looking at private wells in Connecticut. Nearly 1 in 4 Connecticut residents relies on a private well, and fall is a great time to check water quality. Groundwater levels can change after heavy summer use, which can affect water quality.

9/We're also seeing an unusual trend among adults, who make up about 2/3 of New York’s measles cases. We don’t know exactly why. It could partly reflect testing patterns, but there may also be protection gaps among adults who were children before New York ended non-medical vaccine exemptions in 2019

8/ One thing the emergency declaration does is give more healthcare workers the ability to administer MMR vaccines. That includes paramedics, EMTs and licensed midwives, which could make a big difference in rural communities where getting to a clinic or pharmacy can be harder.

7/ Next, in New York, measles is now a “disaster emergency.” There have been 109 cases in the state this year, including 93 since July 15, which is more than double last year, although still low compared with some other states.

6/ So what does all of this mean for you? Make sure you're up to date on your Covid and flu vaccines. You can get them together, but you may have more short-term side effects, like a sore arm. If you’re at higher risk, consider an N95-type mask in crowded indoor spaces as well.

5/ And finally, there are the colds. Cold viruses are surging much more than flu or Covid right now, which isn’t surprising with kids back in school and sharing germs again. We expect this wave to peak soon.

4/ Covid, on the other hand, is a little different. Wastewater levels vary across the region, with Connecticut and Massachusetts currently at “high” levels while most other states remain “very low.” Covid hasn’t peaked in the Northeast yet either, as many states are still increasing

3/ To be clear, this doesn’t mean the Northeast is about to get slammed with flu. In fact, it's still behind other parts of the country, which is pretty typical. The Northeast usually gets hit later as flu spreads across the country. Either way, it does mean it’s time to get your flu shot.

2/ First up: fall respiratory season may be starting early. Flu activity is still low across the Northeast, but it’s increasing. If that growth continues, flu season in New England could start about 9 weeks earlier than it did last year.

1/ Welcome to our first edition of YLE Northeast! This is a regional public health roundup, meaning we’ll look at issues defined not by borders, but by shared concerns across the Northeast. This week, we're looking at fall respiratory season, measles in New York and well water in Connecticut.👇

12/ 9️⃣ So what should you do? For now, nothing. Your risk is essentially zero. But this is a good reminder of why transparency, disease monitoring, scientific research, and strong public health systems matter. They help us respond when unusual events happen, even when most of us never see that work.

11/ 8️⃣ Are there enough antibiotics in the U.S. for a biological weapon? For many reasons, plague outbreaks these days stay very small. We do have multiple antibiotic options plus supplies in the national stockpile. Both of those help reduce the risk of a treatment supply bottleneck.

10/ 7️⃣ What about the bioweapon concerns? Yersinia pestis is considered a potential bioweapon, and scientists have considered the possibility of engineered antibiotic resistance. But CDC's guidance accounts for this with multiple treatment options if there is reason to suspect this.

9/ 6️⃣ Is there a plague vaccine? Not in the US. There used to be a vaccine available for military personnel and people at high risk (like those who work with animals or in labs with plague), but it was discontinued in 1999 because of serious side effects & it wasn't effective at preventing infection

8/ 5️⃣ Can we treat plague? Yes. All three forms can be treated with antibiotics, and recovery is high, but treatment must start quickly after exposure because the infection progresses fast. Clinicians generally begin treatment when plague is suspected rather than waiting for lab results.

7/ 4️⃣ Could it spread widely? It’s unlikely because the public health response is pretty straightforward: 🔹Treat and isolate the patient 🔹Identify and monitor potentially exposed contacts Depending on the exposure and type of plague, exposed contacts may be given preventive antibiotics.

6/ 3️⃣ Could pneumonic plague spread from person to person? Yes, but it’s not highly contagious. It generally requires close or direct contact, such as caring for someone who is sick. On average, one person with pneumonic plague infects 1 to3 additional people.

5/ 2️⃣ So, what is plague? It’s a rare but serious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. There are three forms: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic. The symptoms vary depending on the type of plague. Pneumonic plague is the suspected but not confirmed type of plague people are talking about