Apr 9, 2019 - Health

NYC declares public health emergency over measles outbreak

An MMR vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella is prepared. Photo by: BSIP/UIG via Getty Images

New York City declared a public health emergency on Tuesday over the current measles outbreak and ordered mandatory vaccinations for everyone exposed to the virus, adding that the city will issue violations and possibly fines for those who do not comply, the New York Times reports.

The big picture: This year's measles outbreak is the 2nd largest since 2000. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported outbreaks in New York City, Washington state, Texas, Illinois and California. Rockland County in New York declared a local state of emergency at the end of March, while Tuesday's public health emergency follows an ongoing measles outbreak in the Williamsburg Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn.

"This is the epicenter of a measles outbreak that is very, very troubling and must be dealt with immediately. ... The measles vaccine works. It is safe, it is effective, it is time-tested."
— NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio at a news conference in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Go deeper: Measles cases will "certainly" surpass 2018 due to lack of vaccinations

Go deeper

Fadel Allassan
1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Trump says he'll accept nomination at White House or Gettysburg

Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images

President Trump tweeted Monday that he'll deliver his speech accepting the Republican nomination for president at either the Gettysburg battlefield in Pennsylvania or at the White House.

The state of play: Republican National Convention planners are looking for a new venue for the president to deliver his acceptance speech after convention events were canceled in Jacksonville, Fla., due to coronavirus concerns.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow
Dave Lawler
2 hours ago - World

Lebanon's prime minister resigns in wake of deadly explosion

Protests in Beirut. Photo: Maxim Grigoryev/TASS via Getty

Lebanon's prime minister and cabinet have resigned amid massive protests in the aftermath of a deadly explosion in Beirut that killed more than 160 people, injured 6,000 and left roughly 250,000 homeless.

Why it matters: Protesters blame the incompetence of the ruling elite — widely viewed as corrupt — for the disaster. The unstable and deeply distrusted government will remain in place in a caretaker capacity until a new prime minister is selected.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Zachary Basu
Updated 3 hours ago - World

Protests erupt in Belarus after "Europe's last dictator" claims election win

Protesters and riot police clash in Minsk, Belarus, on Sunday during a demonstration against President Alexander Lukashenko's claim of a landslide victory. Photo: Misha Friedman/Getty Images)

Riot police clashed with protesters in Belarus overnight after a government exit poll predicted Sunday President Aleksander Lukashenko, an authoritarian who has ruled the Eastern European country since 1994, had overwhelmingly defeated a pro-democracy opposition candidate.

Why it matters: It's a precarious moment for the former Soviet republic, where decades of repression and a complete disregard for the coronavirus pandemic threaten to topple "Europe's last dictator." Rights groups said at least one protester was killed and dozens more wounded in a "police crackdown," per AP.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow