United States: The state health department has confirmed four current cases of measles within Tennessee. 

The Tennessee Department of Health declared the first official measles case on March 21. 

More about the news 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tennessee belongs to the group of 20 jurisdictions reporting measles cases. 

Health officials have updated their count to four confirmed measles cases because three patients received new diagnoses. 

The second confirmed measles case links directly to the first detected case, as per health department records, wkrn.com reported. 

The Tennessee Department of Health has not shared additional information regarding positive measles cases with the public. 

According to the health department, all recovering patients with newly confirmed measles cases remain in their home environments. 

Public health officials dedicate efforts to determining more potential sites where the virus has been transmitted to diverse individuals. 

CDC Reports Nationwide Measles Spike 

Of all confirmed measles cases in the United States reported on March 27, the CDC identified 483 cases distributed across Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Washington. 

Texas holds the top position for active cases at 422, as per reporting from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. 

Roughly 42 patients needed hospital care because of Texas’s measles outbreak, and one schoolchild passed away from the disease. 

The measles outbreak has triggered two deaths, as confirmed by state health officials, wkrn.com reported. 

Vaccination Clinics Canceled  

Because of the immediate loss of federal public health grant funding, Mayor Freddie O’Connell, together with Dr. Joanna Shaw-KaiKai of the Metro Public Health Department, made the decision to cancel multiple upcoming MMR vaccine clinics. 

The budget cuts disrupted the MPHD Strike Team’s vaccination service delivery system to areas requiring medical support. 

Additionally, “Disruptions like these can cause real public health issues as any one person who is unvaccinated is more susceptible to contracting and spreading the disease they would have otherwise been protected against,” Shaw-KaiKai noted. 

United States: Dr. Peter Marks, the leading FDA vaccine official, resigned from his role while expressing disagreement with the nation’s health leader who let false information steer his vaccine safety decisions. 

Resigrantion over misinformation conflict 

Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner received Dr. Peter Marks’ retirement notice as head of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research before his transition date of April 5. 

The Associated Press obtained a notification from Marks that displayed his willingness to join forces with him on vaccine safety matters, according to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 

“It has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the Secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies,” he noted. 

The FDA sources say Marks got two options from Kennedy: to step down voluntarily or to be terminated from his position. Although Kennedy delivered statements against vaccine misinformation at his Senate confirmation hearings, he maintained a continuous history of spreading such misinformation. 

🚨🇺🇸 RFK JR. REMOVES FDA VACCINE CHIEF PUSHING ‘MISINFORMATION AND LIES’

RFK Jr. has removed Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA’s top vaccine official, after Marks refused to align with the administration’s new transparency standards.

Marks was given the option to resign or be fired.… https://t.co/pJ5Gd0wGkh pic.twitter.com/lQOM5fZcOq

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 29, 2025

Kennedy gave his word to the Senate Health Committee chairperson that he would maintain all current vaccine recommendations without alteration. 

Under his new position as secretary, Kennedy announced he would review vaccine safety, although evidence has demonstrated childhood vaccines to be protected for many years and that they have successfully saved numerous lives. 

Mark administered a rapid vaccine and treatment review process for COVID-19 under his FDA leadership during the pandemic. 

Through his leadership, Marks created both the name and the conceptual framework for “Operation Warp Speed,” which President Donald Trump established to accelerate vaccine production before complete safety and effectiveness testing. 

Trump launched attacks at the FDA many times over their delayed approval of early COVID vaccines, although the operation achieved its intended success. 

Breaking News: The top vaccine official at the FDA abruptly resigned, saying that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “misinformation and lies” were irresponsible. https://t.co/ZPFjXmxXkn

— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 29, 2025

Donald Trump argued to his close advisors that receiving COVID-19 vaccines before the 2020 Election Day would have secured his reelection as president. 

Furthermore, “RFK Jr.’s firing of Peter Marks because he wouldn’t bend a knee to his misinformation campaign now allows the fox to guard the hen house,” Offit stated. 

“It’s a sad day for America’s children,” he maintained. 

United States: Norovirus transmission occurs through contact with contaminated surfaces along with ingesting infected liquids or through consumption of food items carrying the virus. 

The viral transmission occurs through both person-to-person spread and surface contact, which transmits the virus. 

A norovirus outbreak on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 made 183 passengers and 14 crew members sick with vomiting and diarrhea symptoms. 

The CDC reported that 7% of passengers aboard the ship experienced symptoms among the 2,538 people traveling, as reported by Yahoo. 

A Luxury Voyage Takes an Unpleasant Turn 

From England, the Queen Mary 2 embarked on March 8 for a voyage that included stops across New York, Barbados, St. Lucia, and Grenada before the outbreak affected the ship. 

Despite Cunard’s initial statement that a small number of people became sick, the company adopted rigorous cleaning protocols and added health measures to stop additional cases. 

What is Norovirus & How Does It Spread? 

🚨LUXURY CRUISE TURNS TO FLOATING TOILET AS NOROVIRUS SICKENS NEARLY 200

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 set sail for paradise—but nearly 200 passengers and crew got a nightmare instead: a full-blown norovirus outbreak.

The CDC says 183 guests and 14 crew fell ill with vomiting and… pic.twitter.com/zbwJ0HFFfH

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 30, 2025

The United States reports 2,500 annual outbreaks of the highly infectious Norovirus that remains the top reason for vomiting and diarrhea within the country. 

The virus can be transmitted by eating tainted food and via surfaces that pathogens have touched. Moreover, close contact exposure with ill individuals also spreads the virus, businessinsider.com reported. 

The CDC declares that although people sometimes refer to it as a cruise ship, virus outbreaks mainly develop in schools, healthcare facilities, and restaurants. 

Not an Isolated Incident 

This isn’t the only cruise-related health concern. A recent Seabourn Encore voyage saw Norovirus sicken seven passengers and 22 crew members. 

Meanwhile, Cunard’s new Queen Anne ship recently implemented security measures while passing through piracy-prone waters in Southeast Asia, as reported by Yahoo.