News

March 7, 2025 | From City of New Orleans

Expanding Measles Outbreak in the United States and Guidance for the Upcoming Travel Season

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify clinicians, public health officials, and potential travelers about a measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico and offer guidance for prevention and monitoring. As of March 7, 2025, Texas and New Mexico have reported 208 confirmed cases associated with this outbreak (198 in Texas and 10 in New Mexico). As a part of this outbreak, two deaths have been reported: one in Texas and one in New Mexico. More cases are expected as this outbreak continues to expand.

February 18, 2025 | From City of New Orleans

New Orleans Health Department Expands Mardi Gras First Aid Stations with Two New Initiatives for 2025

As the city gears up for another exciting Mardi Gras season, the New Orleans Health Department (NOHD) is once again ensuring the health and safety of paradegoers with its Mardi Gras First Aid Stations. Operated in partnership with New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS), NOLA Ready Volunteers, the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), the American Red Cross, and official sponsor LCMC Health, these stations provide immediate medical assistance for minor injuries, dehydration, heat exhaustion, and other non-life-threatening conditions. By offering on-site care, the NOHDFirst Aid Stations help alleviate strain on local hospitals and emergency services while keeping festivalgoers safe.

February 12, 2025 | From City of New Orleans

New Orleans Health Department Releases 2024 STI Report, Highlighting Urgent Need for Expanded Testing and Prevention Efforts

New Orleans–The New Orleans Health Department (NOHD) has released its 2024 STI Report, providing the latest data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the city. The report, based on 2018-2023 data from the Louisiana Department of Health, highlights alarming trends, including a chlamydia incidence rate that exceeds both state and national averages and a sharp increase in new HIV cases among 15–19-year-olds.

January 31, 2025 | From City of New Orleans

Notice of Funding Availability: Swimming Pool Safety Intervention

The New Orleans Health Department (NOHD) is seeking highly qualified organizations to deliver programs and services that improve pool safety by providing free or reduced rates swimming lessons and pool safety education for New Orleans residents. NOHD seeks organizations with an established history of providing swimming lessons and providing water safety education to community members.

January 28, 2025 | From City of New Orleans

FDA Approves and Authorizes Updated mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines to Better Protect Against Currently Circulating Variants

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved and granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (2024-2025 formula) to include a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant KP.2 strain of SARS-CoV-2. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been updated with this formula to more closely target currently circulating variants and provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. Today’s actions relate to updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by ModernaTX Inc. and Pfizer Inc.

January 28, 2025 | From City of New Orleans

CDC updates and simplifies respiratory virus recommendations

CDC released today updated recommendations for how people can protect themselves and their communities from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. The new guidance brings a unified approach to addressing risks from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV, which can cause significant health impacts and strain on hospitals and health care workers. CDC is making updates to the recommendations now because the U.S. is seeing far fewer hospitalizations and deaths associated with COVID-19 and because we have more tools than ever to combat flu, COVID, and RSV.

January 18, 2025 | From City of New Orleans

What is "Street Medicine"?

Staying true to our commitment to meet people where they are, the New Orleans Health Department's public health clinical director, Jordan Vaughn, MD, and her partnership with the Office Of Homeless Services And Strategy was recently highlighted in an article on "street medicine" programs across the nation.

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January 16, 2025 | From City of New Orleans

City of New Orleans’ Medical Debt Elimination Initiative in Partnership with Undue Medical Debt

The City of New Orleans entered into an agreement in May 2023 to partner with Undue Medical Debt and provide the national nonprofit with $1.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, or federal pandemic recovery funds, for the purpose of partnering with community-minded health care providers to acquire qualifying debt and erase it. 

January 16, 2025 | From City of New Orleans

Gun Free Zone Signage

The New Orleans Health Department is offering local business owners free signage to establish their physical locations as “firearm free” per R.S. 40:1379(O). 

January 16, 2025 | From City of New Orleans

Resources for Victims & Survivors of Bourbon Street Attack

Download this guide for a comprehensive list of resources available to victims and survivors of the New Year's Mass Casualty Incident. (Guides created by Crime Survivors NOLA)