Connect with us

Connecticut

Connecticut Health Officials Warn Of Potential Measles Outbreaks At Dozens Of Schools | CT News Junkie

Published

on

Connecticut Health Officials Warn Of Potential Measles Outbreaks At Dozens Of Schools | CT News Junkie


Credit: Leigh Prather / Shutterstock

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.

Advertisement
FILE PHOTO: Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani at a 2022 press conference. Credit: Hugh McQuaid / CTNewsJunkie

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.

Advertisement

“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. 

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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






Source link

Advertisement

Connecticut

Body recovered after Bloomfield house fire and explosion

Published

on

Body recovered after Bloomfield house fire and explosion


A body was recovered after a house explosion resulting in a house fire in the area of Banbury Lane on Monday night.

Fire Marshal Roger Nelson says they recovered a body around 1:15 on Tuesday morning. The identity of the body found will not be released at this time.

When officers arrived around 6:11 p.m. they encountered the house fully in flames, police said.

According to police, the fire department was able to extinguish the fire, but the house sustained devastating damage.

Advertisement

There are no criminal aspects related to this incident at this time.

The incident was contained to the one house.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Connecticut

Exclusive | Ex-CBS anchor Josh Elliott back on Connecticut dating scene after ugly Liz Cho split

Published

on

Exclusive | Ex-CBS anchor Josh Elliott back on Connecticut dating scene after ugly Liz Cho split


Ex-CBS host Josh Elliott is looking for love eight months after he filed for divorce from “Eyewitness News” anchor Liz Cho.

“Josh is out and about on the dating scene in Fairfield County,” a spy exclusively tells Page Six. “He’s been seen at the bars in the area where middle-aged singles congregate.” 

A second source tells Page Six, “Josh isn’t dating anyone, but he is open to meeting people. His daughter is his priority.”

Page Six can also reveal that Elliott moved out of his and Cho’s estimated $4.2 million Connecticut marital home in January.

Advertisement
Josh Elliott (pictured above back in July) is “open” to dating eight months after filing for divorce from Liz Cho. FOX Image Collection via Getty Images
The former CBS anchor (seen here in 2016 with his estranged wife) has been on the dating scene in Connecticut. Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix / Shutterstock

In court papers dated Jan. 29 and obtained by Page Six, Cho revealed Elliott moved out of their home and into a new residence without her knowledge.

Cho claimed she was notified by Optimum on Jan. 21, regarding her ex installing internet at his new home.

“The Defendant learned for the first time from said communication that on or about January 15, 2026, the Plaintiff secured an unfurnished rental residence located in Southport, Connecticut,” the filing read.

“It is now clear that the Plaintiff surreptitiously entered a new lease…” the court papers continued.

A rep for Elliott did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

Advertisement
Elliott moved out of the Connecticut home he shared with Cho earlier this year. Getty Images
The former “Good Morning America” anchor divorced from Cho in June after a decade of marriage. Getty Images

Page Six broke the ousted CBS anchor filed for divorce from Cho after a decade of marriage on June 20, 2025.

“The marriage of the parties has broken down irretrievably,” the court papers read. Elliott asked for a “dissolution of the marriage” and for “an equitable distribution of all property, both real and personal.”

Cho responded to her estranged husband’s complaint on Nov. 6 and filed a cross-complaint against him. She also stated their marriage “has broken down irretrievably.”

The divorce became messy when Cho requested “copies of written correspondence, emails, cards, WeChat messages, Facebook messages, social media messaging, instant messaging, telephonic text messages, transcribed voicemail messages or any written forms of communication” between Elliott and “any person, other than the defendant, with whom [Elliott] have or have had a romantic and/or sexual relationship, from July 11, 2015, to the present.”

Elliott objected the request on the “grounds that the time frame of the request for production is unreasonable, unnecessary, harassing and not likely to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.”

Advertisement

Cho also requested “monies spent for the benefit of any person with whom you have had a romantic and/or sexual relationship, other than the defendant,” “property given or transferred by you to any person with whom you have had a romantic and/or sexual relationship, other than the defendant,” “monies spent for your benefit by any person with whom you have had a romantic and/or sexual relationship with, other than the defendant.”

The TV personality in addition requested financial records, documentation proving Elliott’s search for employment — as he was ousted from CBS in 2017 — travel invoices, and more. Elliott objected to the requests.

A source close to the couple previously told Page Six, “This is standard in a divorce. Her lawyer is doing a thorough document request. The documents she is requesting are standard.” The insider also insisted there is no evidence Elliott had a relationship with anyone outside the marriage.

As Page Six reported, Cho requested documentation from Elliott, including financial. Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix / Shutterstock
He objected her requests, as their divorce proceedings have turned nasty. Cindy Ord

Also in the Jan. 29 court filing, Cho filed a motion for contempt against Elliott regarding their jointly owned marital Connecticut mansion.

Cho claimed Elliott arranged for a moving truck to come to the marital residence while she was on vacation with her daughter on Jan. 19.

Advertisement

Cho claimed Elliott moved a “significant amount of furniture and furnishings from the marital residence,” and their “two Portuguese water dogs,” which she alleged at the time of the filing were not returned.

The court docs continued to allege, “On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, [Cho] realized that she was missing a valuable watch and earrings from her jewelry bag. As [Elliott] is the only other person who had access to the missing watch and jewelry, [Cho] believes [Elliott] is in possession of such personal property.”

She claimed his alleged actions are a “willful violation” of the court’s orders.

The insider alleged Elliott was the one to take care of the dogs and that he took “a small amount of furniture.”

In Elliott’s response to her filing, he objected to her request and claimed her allegations are “false and inflammatory.”

Advertisement

He claimed in court papers, “[Cho] alleges [Elliott] ‘ransacked’ and ‘abandoned’ the marital residence — claims that are patently false and intended to annoy, harass and intimidate [Elliott].

“[Elliott] did not ransack the marital home. He did not damage the property. He did not render the residence uninhabitable. He removed limited personal property and furnishings so he would have a safe haven from [Cho’s] escalating and erratic behavior direct at not only [Elliott], but his minor child as well.”

Cho accused Elliott (seen in 2019) of taking their two dogs. Getty Images
She also accused him of taking her earrings — claims he denied in court papers. GC Images

In a separate filing, he continued to defend his actions by alleging, “[Elliott] removed only limited furniture items and furnishings, many from the basement, solely to furnish a new residence after removing himself and his child from a hostile environment created by [Cho]. All property remains intact and subject to equitable distribution.”

In regard to the jewelry claim, Elliott said, “Perhaps most egregious is [Cho’s] baseless accusation that [Elliott] stole her jewelry. This allegation is made without evidence, without corroboration and without even a good-faith attempt to verify the truth.”

He then accused her of “monitoring and listening to [Elliott’s] private phone calls; rifling through [Elliott’s] personal belongings and closet; leaving the marital residence for extended periods without communication despite the presence of two dogs requiring daily care” and more claims.

Advertisement

He is requesting that the court deny her motion for contempt and they are due in court on March 20.

Lawyers for Cho and Elliott did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment regarding the divorce.

Elliott accused his estranged wife of escalating and erratic behavior. Lawyers for Cho did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment. Jamie McCarthy
Elliott is in talks to return to television to join Gayle King and Nate Burleson on “CBS Mornings.” Brian Ach

Elliott, 54, and Cho, 55, met while working for ABC and got married in July 2015.

This was the second marriage for both, as they each share a daughter from their previous relationships.

Cho has been with ABC on “Eyewitness News” since 2003, while Elliott was with ABC’s “Good Morning America” from 2011 to 2014.

Advertisement

After a brief stint with NBC, he joined CBSN as lead daytime anchor in March 2016. Nearly a year later, he was let go from the company.

Elliott has been out of the spotlight in recent years, but is now in talks to join Gayle King and Nate Burleson on “CBS Mornings,” Awful Announcing reported.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Connecticut

Man charged with murder in Hartford

Published

on

Man charged with murder in Hartford


A man was charged with murder and interfering with police on Sunday night.

According to police, officers were dispatched to an apartment on Washington Street for a wellness check of a woman who was reportedly unconscious and not breathing.

When officers arrived, they made contact with a man in the apartment who refused to cooperate and would not allow officers access. They then had to force entry into the apartment where they located the victim suffering from severe head trauma as well as the aggressive male, police said.

The man was secured and transported to the Hartford Police Detention Facility and is being held on a million-dollar bond.

Advertisement

The victim was revealed to be 76-year-old Linda Anthony and was pronounced deceased on scene.

The Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.  



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending