Connecticut
Connecticut Health Officials Warn Of Potential Measles Outbreaks At Dozens Of Schools | CT News Junkie
HARTFORD, CT — As measles outbreaks spread across the United States, Connecticut health officials are urging residents to double check their vaccination status, while also raising the alarm about the potential for outbreaks at more than two dozen elementary schools with low immunization rates.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 378 confirmed cases of measles in the United States in 18 different jurisdictions, as far west as Alaska and California, as far east as New York and Rhode Island, and as far south as Texas and Florida. That number already eclipses the total number of measles cases for all of 2024, which stood at 285 at the end of the year.
There has been one confirmed death from measles, and another death remains under investigation.
Connecticut has avoided having any measles cases so far, but public health officials say the conditions exist for an outbreak.
Dr. Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the state Department of Health (DPH), said in an interview that there have been no confirmed cases of measles in Connecticut so far, but that cases in neighboring states require that residents be aware of their vaccination status and get the shot if needed.
“Vaccination is the number one way that we can make sure that we can help people stay protected, because you don’t always know exactly what your exposure has been, or what the situation may be,” she said. “Say if you’re in a broader group setting, like you’re at a park or in a movie theater, or something like that. You may not know somebody specifically (with measles), but there could have been somebody there.”
Juthani said the department is not concerned about community spread right now, thanks to high vaccination rates for measles in adults in the state. She also pointed to Connecticut’s childhood vaccination rate for children entering kindergarten, which is 97.7%.
There is still cause for concern though, she said. Juthani said in order to achieve herd immunity against measles, 95% of a given population needs to be fully vaccinated. Herd immunity is an epidemiological concept where high rates of immunizations protect those who are not immunized.
However, according to the state’s 2023-24 school year data on kindergarten immunization rates by school, there were 62 elementary schools where immunization rates below 95%. Of those, 26 were below 90%, and five schools had rates below 80%. The school with the lowest rate of immunization – Stamford Charter School For Excellence – had just 62.5% of its kindergarteners fully immunized.
Waterbury led the list with seven elementary schools where immunizations for measles were below 90%. Bridgeport was second with four, followed by Hartford with three. Schools in Mansfield, Ledyard, Moosup, and other small towns also had schools with sub-90% immunization.
“We continually work with areas where we may see (low immunization rates). When you have less than 95% there is a potential risk in a given community,” Juthani said.
Lack of clarity on immunizations at the federal level, and threats of funding cuts, have placed several state departments on edge, and DPH is no exception.
“We are a highly dependent agency in terms of federal dollars,” Juthani said. “We receive 80% of our funding from the federal government, and we are closely monitoring the situation on a daily and hourly basis, quite frankly.”
Juthani said she did not know what cuts could be coming to her department, “but we do need funding to be ready and to have a response.”
The size of the outbreak has garnered national attention from healthcare professionals.
David Higgins, a practicing pediatrician and health service researcher at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, said even though vaccination rates may be high at the state level, measles spreads at the community level.
“We know, and this is why we’re here today, that in some communities we have seen vaccination rates drop so low that we’re seeing a resurgence in the spread of measles outbreaks,” he said Thursday during a webinar hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. “I like to say that when vaccination rates drop in a community, it is not a question of if, it’s a question of when.”
Measles is one of the world’s most highly transmissible viruses, with a single victim infecting an average of 18 others.
The DPH recommends that everyone should ensure that their vaccination status is up to date before traveling internationally or to areas in the United States with an active measles outbreak. Children ages 6 to 11 months should receive a dose of the MMR vaccine at least two weeks before traveling.
The CDC describes measles an airborne, extremely infectious, and potentially severe rash illness. Before the measles vaccine was introduced, an estimated 48,000 people were hospitalized and 400 to 500 people died of it in the United States each year. This year’s death of a child from measles was the first in the U.S. since 2015.
The data below are listed by name of school, public or non-public, town, MMR vaccination rate %, and number of religious, medical and total exemptions.
2023-2024 Connecticut Kindergarten Immunization Rates by School by Doug Hardy
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — The United States military carried out “large scale” strike inside Venezuela in the early hours of Saturday morning, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, according to President Donald Trump.
Leaders in Connecticut are responding to the military action.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) shared the following statement.
“If we’re starting another endless war, with no clear national security strategy or need, count me out. Maduro is a cruel criminal dictator, but President Trump has never sought approval from Congress for war as the Constitution requires – and our military deserves. We’ve seen several Administrations lead us into conflicts without objectives or timelines and with disastrous consequences. President Trump has also articulated no clear end game to prevent further chaos, violence, and bloodshed in Venezuela. The American people deserve—and Congress should demand—facts and clarity.”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) called the strike the start of an “illegal war” between the U.S. and Venezuela.
“President Trump thinks he is above the law. He steals from taxpayers. He thumbs his nose at the law. And now, he is starting an illegal war with Venezuela that Americans didn’t ask for and has nothing to do with our security. How does going to war in South America help regular Americans who are struggling? How does this do anything about drugs entering the U.S. when Venezuela produces no fentanyl? What is the actual security threat to the United States? And what happens next in Venezuela? He cannot answer these questions – and that’s why there was no briefing to Congress to explain this action, and no briefing scheduled. And Maduro’s illegitimate election does not give the president the power to invade without congressional approval, nor does it create a national security justification. That contention is laughable. This is about satisfying Trump’s vanity, making good on the long standing neocon grudge against Maduro, enriching Trump’s oil industry backers, and distracting voters from Epstein and rising costs.”
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) said the Trump administration acted without congressional approval.
“Maduro is an illegitimate ruler, but I have seen no evidence that his presidency poses a threat that would justify military action without Congressional authorization, nor have I heard a strategy for the day after and how we will prevent Venezuela from descending into chaos. Secretary Rubio repeatedly denied to Congress that the Administration intended to force regime change in Venezuela. The Administration must immediately brief Congress on its plan to ensure stability in the region and its legal justification for this decision.”
State Senate Republican Leader Stephen Harding (R-Conn.) shared that he hopes Maduro is brought to justice, calling him an “integral culprit” in the “narcotic ring” in the United States.
“President Maduro has been an integral culprit in fostering the narcotic ring in our country which has killed far too many Americans. I hope he is brought to justice and we can continue to address the substance abuse crisis that our state and country continues to face.
The Chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party Ben Proto shared the following statement.
“President Trump promised to stop the flow of drugs into the US that have been killing millions of Americans. Nicolas Maduro, who declared himself President, while getting about 30% of the vote in the last so called free election in Venezuela, was given multiple warnings to stop the flow of drugs from his country into America, was offered help by the Trump administration in stopping the flow, but he continued to, not only allow the flow of drugs, but condone it and profit from it. Presidents have long used their constitutional authority to intervene in other countries when those countries posed a danger to America and Americans. President Trump did just that. Unfortunately Democrats, particularly Jim Himes, Chris Murphy and Dick Blumenthal are more interested in playing politics than in protecting Americans. Nearly 1,000 Connecticut residents died from drug overdoses in 2024 and we have seen an increase in overdoses in 2025. If only Democrats cared as much about Americans as they do about a drug lord running another country who profits from the death of Americans.“
Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.) demanded that Congress must be briefed before further action.
“As information about U.S military strikes in Venezuela unfold, I have more questions than answers. Nicolas Maduro is a brutal dictator who caused so much harm to his people. However, as Americans we must seriously weigh the consequences of attacking a sovereign nation and committing to “run Venezuela.” Congress must be briefed immediately, before this situation continues to escalate. I will comment further as credible information becomes available to Members of Congress.“
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) shared the following statement, claiming that there could be “severe repercussions for American interests.”
“President Trump’s unilateral decision to attempt a regime change operation in Venezuela by using military force to capture Nicolas Maduro and declaring, ‘we will run the country’, threatens global order and is a fundamental violation of the Constitution, which gives Congress the responsibility of authorizing major military actions that could have severe repercussions for American interests.
“America’s unprecedented global strength and prosperity was built on this principle of restraining military force through democratic bodies like Congress. President Trump has shredded this principle, and along with it has destroyed American credibility and emboldened our adversaries to act with similar aggression. This new foreign policy that President Trump and his advisors have used to justify this act of war, including invoking the 200-year-old Monroe Doctrine as a justification for America to do whatever it pleases in the Western Hemisphere, is the exact same reasoning that China would use to justify invading Taiwan, and which Russia has used to assault Ukraine.
“President Trump has also now threatened Cuba with similar language, and is preparing a giant corrupt giveaway to oil companies by claiming that the United States will acquire Venezuela’s oil. This is corruption of the highest order. Maduro was an authoritarian who stayed in power despite the will of the people, but that does not justify the United States in starting a war to benefit some of the world’s wealthiest corporations.
“President Trump did all of this without the consent of Congress, and without providing any details or day-after plans. The full consequences of this act of war will not be known for some time, and they may require putting American boots on the ground in Venezuela, as the President has said he was prepared to do. The American people do not want to be dragged into another endless conflict distracting from the rising cost of living and the affordability crisis. Whatever happens next, the responsibility will be squarely with President Trump and his contempt for the Constitution and for Congress.”
Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) echoed the statements of his fellow Democrats.
“This is yet another authoritarian power grab by Donald Trump. As he indicated in his address, it’s clear it’s about the oil!!! And securing that oil!!! And securing it with the use of our brave men and women in the United States military!!! The Constitution entrusts Congress, not the President, with the power to declare war for a reason. It’s Congress’s responsibility to decide whether the nation goes to war or not! That’s why I’m joining with others in calling on the President to immediately brief Congress—and for Congress to assert its authority under the Constitution and the War Powers Act—to let this President know he does not have the authority to unilaterally commit our country to yet another endless war.“
This is a developing story. Stay with News 8 for updates.
ALLERTON, NY. (WFSB) – A Connecticut teenager has died and another is injured following a shooting in New York on Saturday night.
A 911 call reported shots were fired inside of a building located on Adee Avenue in Allerton at around 6 p.m., according to the New York Police Department.
When crews arrived, they found a male suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.
On scene officers also found a 14-year-old near Laconia Avenue that was also suffering from a gunshot wound to the left arm.
First responders quickly responded to the scene and transported both victims to nearby hospitals.
The male they initially located was in critical condition but later died due to the extent of his injuries.
Officials have now identified the victim as 15-year-old Eric Aitken of Waterbury.
The 14-year-old remains in stable condition.
Police said no arrests have been made at this time.
This incident remains under investigation.
No further details were released.
Eyewitness News will provide more details as soon as they become available.
Copyright 2025 WFSB. All rights reserved.
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