Health Care

Is your health at risk in Miami? Take note of these illnesses

Stories by Miami Herald journalists, with AI summarization

A surge in respiratory and mosquito-borne illnesses drove an increase in health risks in 2024. COVID infections climbed, fueled by new variants like KP.3 and LB.1, though hospitalizations remained low.

Meanwhile, rising cases of flu, RSV, and walking pneumonia kept health officials on high alert, especially as travel and indoor gatherings contributed to seasonal spikes.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue feveralso surge, prompting public health warnings amid record-high travel-associated cases. Additionally, health leaders monitored localized outbreaks of leprosy.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

The U.S. has seen a rise in Hansen’s disease, or leprosy, in southeastern states, including in Florida, where the disease might be endemic.

NO. 1: MORE LEPROSY CASES ARE POPPING UP IN FLORIDA. WHY AN ANCIENT DISEASE MIGHT BE ENDEMIC

The disease of the skin and nerves dates back to stories in the Bible. | Published March 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante

The Florida Department of Health issued a state-wide mosquito-borne illness alert after six people contracted malaria in Sarasota. By James Gathany

NO. 2: ARE YOU AT RISK FOR DENGUE? ARE MIAMI MOSQUITOES A DANGER? HERE ARE THE WARNING SIGNS

Dengue case counts in Florida are more than twice what they were this time last year, according to Health Department data. | Published July 3, 2024 | Read Full Story by Adlai Coleman

A medical professional administers a nasal swab to a person at the Tropical Park Nomi Health COVID-19 Testing Location in Miami, Florida, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. By D.A. Varela

NO. 3: MORE ER PATIENTS IN FLORIDA TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID. THE SURGE IS DIFFERENT THIS TIME

What to know about variants and vaccinations. | Published July 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante

The best way to prevent sickness during this year’s “tripledemic” is to stay up-to-date on vaccine recommendations, the CDC says.

NO. 4: ‘WALKING PNEUMONIA’ IS ON THE RISE. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT INFECTIONS IN MIAMI

"It’s an infection that can be treated and with a good response." | Published November 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.