Latest data shows 209 cases recorded as assisted dying referred to CPS by police between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 31 this yearThirteen cases of suspected assisted dying are being considered by prosecutors in England and Wales, according to the latest data.Encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another person is against the law in England and Wales, under the Suicide Act 1961.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email [email protected] or [email protected]. In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...
• Florida reported 143 measles cases as of March 21, 2026, with 73% concentrated in Collier County, marking a decline from 139 cases the previous week.
• The state has dropped to the fourth-highest number of measles cases nationally as the spread slows, indicating a shift in outbreak trajectory.
• The majority of cases remain geographically concentrated, with nearly three-quarters of infections occurring in a single county, suggesting localized transmission patterns.
• Tuberculosis cases in the U.S. rose to over 10,600 in 2024, marking the third consecutive annual increase and the highest total since 2013, at about 3 per 100,000 people.
• Health experts attribute the rebound to pandemic-related underdiagnosis, untreated latent infections, and increased international travel from high-prevalence areas.
• Local public health TB programs remain understaffed, straining response capacity amid the uptick.
• Jerome Adams, former Surgeon General, discussed on CBS's Face the Nation a surge of more than 1,500 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. since January 2026, per CDC data.
• A notable spike is occurring in Utah, contributing to the national increase in this highly contagious disease.
• The outbreak highlights ongoing vaccination challenges and public health risks in under-immunized communities.
• New York City logged 743 tuberculosis cases in 2025, down 11% from 2024, though numbers stay high compared to prior years, per Health Department data released March 24, 2026.
• The department offers a new 1-month short-course regimen for latent TB, reducing visits from 3-9 months; 337 patients started it in 2025, with 75% completing by mid-February 2026.
• On World TB Day March 27, NYC co-hosts a conference with updates; Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin notes TB killed more globally last year than COVID-19 or HIV.
• A measles outbreak in Washtenaw County, southeast Michigan, now includes 7 cases under investigation involving unvaccinated children and adults, with potential exposure at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital's ER on March 21.
• The latest case concerns a young child treated in Ypsilanti, raising concerns that ER visitors may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus.
• All confirmed and suspected cases are among unvaccinated individuals, highlighting ongoing vaccination gaps amid the outbreak's growth reported on March 25.
Courts in Australia may be willing to hold social media companies accountable for real-world harm, lawyers sayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian law firms are investigating the scope for future legal cases after a landmark US court ruling that found Meta and YouTube liable for deliberately designing addictive products.A jury in Los Angeles ruled against the two tech giants on Wednesday, finding both to be negligent and having failed to provide adequate warnings about the potential dangers of their products. Continue reading...
• Anduril demonstrated its AI-powered Lattice OS at the Hill and Valley Forum on March 24, 2026, for asset tracking and kill chain analysis.
• The system supports autonomous defense in multi-domain environments, aiding U.S. military re-industrialization.
• Used in drones and submarines, it addresses AI sorting challenges in high-stakes operations.
UKHSA says on Monday morning there has been no change since 20 cases were confirmed on SundayThere have been no new cases of meningitis linked to an outbreak in Kent reported, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.As of 12.30pm on Sunday, 20 cases had been confirmed, with a further nine under investigation. This was no change on the previous day, the UKHSA said in a statement on Monday morning. Continue reading...
Three cases previously confirmed reclassified by UK Health Security Agency after further testingThe number of confirmed meningitis cases linked to the Kent outbreak has fallen from 23 to 20.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Sunday that three cases previously thought confirmed had been downgraded after further testing. Continue reading...
Hundreds of students at University of Kent take up offer of meningitis B vaccination amid ‘very unusual outbreak’ The number of cases of meningitis linked to an outbreak in Kent has risen to 27, up from 20, the UK Health Security Agency has said.Prof Robin May, the chief scientific officer at the UKHSA, said it was a “very unusual outbreak”. Continue reading...
In today’s newsletter: After a spate of infections linked to a nightclub in Kent, some parents and experts are questioning the UK’s vaccination regime It is every parent’s worst nightmare. University students enjoying themselves at a nightclub, only to fall ill a few days later with a potentially deadly illness. So far, two young people have died and more are seriously unwell in hospital after a meningitis outbreak in Kent, which appears to have started at Club Chemistry in Canterbury in early March. Health authorities have launched a major response: 30,000 people have been given antibiotics and up to 5,000 University of Kent students will receive a meningitis B vaccine, the strain that is believed to be behind the outbreak.The health secretary, Wes Streeting, has urged calm, explaining that the risk of transmission is low, urging students to keep going to school and insisting that people do not need to seek private vaccinations. But that has not stopped a rush for jabs, causing a national shortage. The high street pharmacies Boots and Superdrug say they have seen a major spike in bookings, with some locations running out of stock.Middle East | Israel struck Iran’s giant South Pars gasfield on Wednesday, marking a major escalation of the war, hours after Israeli forces killed the regime’s intelligence minister and launched some of the most intense airstrikes in Beirut for decades.Reform UK | Nigel Farage called for the release of Sean “Diddy” Combs and commended the efforts to free a former Honduran president jailed in the US for drug trafficking. The remarks were made on the personalised video platform Cameo.Assisted dying | Senior ministers believe Keir Starmer will not intervene to give the assisted dying bill further time in parliament as he is wary of opening up new divisions among Labour MPs.Media | The former Google executive Matt Brittin is expected to be named as the BBC’s next director general within days, with the corporation’s board meeting this week for a final discussion about the appointment.Green party | A government led by the Green party would not set targets for GDP growth but would instead focus on people’s mental health, social cohesion and community welfare, Zack Polanski has said in a major speech to set out his plans for the economy. Continue reading...
Figure up from 15, says UK Health Security Agency, as thousands of students to be offered vaccines in coming daysThe number of cases of meningitis being investigated by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in Kent has risen to 20, up from 15 previously, the body said on Wednesday.Thousands of students in Kent are to be offered vaccines in the coming days as health chiefs deal with an “unprecedented” and “explosive” outbreak of meningitis. Continue reading...
• Advantech, a global leader in IoT intelligent systems and embedded platforms, is demonstrating next-generation edge AI platforms powered by NVIDIA Jetson Thor and NVIDIA IGX Thor at GTC 2026 (March 16-19 in San Jose, California).
• The company is highlighting real-world applications of physical AI across robotics, medical systems, smart logistics, and intelligent retail environments, including the USM-500 medical-grade platform optimized for AI-assisted surgery and intraoperative imaging.
• Advantech's showcase reflects the industry's shift from cloud-based model training toward physical AI applications and edge deployment, enabling faster commercialization of AI technologies across industrial and healthcare sectors.
• Cosmo Technologies is presenting its technical session 'Engineering Medical Grade Platforms for Real Time AI' at the NVIDIA GTC 2026 conference in San Jose, California, running from March 16 to 19.
• The session, scheduled for Thursday, March 19 from 10:00 to 10:50 CET, explores engineering challenges for building AI platforms that operate in real time during medical procedures to assist physicians.
• This highlights Cosmo's commitment to advancing AI in healthcare, positioning it at the intersection of medical technology and AI amid growing demand for clinical-grade systems.
• As of March 6, 2026, the United States has confirmed 1,300 measles infections this year across 30 states, putting the country on track to surpass 2025's record 35-year high numbers.
• Measles has continuously circulated in the U.S. for over a year following an outbreak in Texas (January-August 2025), with ongoing outbreaks on the Utah-Arizona border and in South Carolina that drastically increased in January 2026.
• The Pan American Health Organization postponed its decision from April to November 2026 on whether the U.S. should lose its measles elimination status achieved in 2000, but current trends suggest it likely will due to vaccination rates falling below the critical 95% threshold.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,362 confirmed measles cases nationwide in 2026, with 94% linked to ongoing outbreaks. South Carolina's outbreak, which began in October 2025, has decelerated to approximately 10 cases per week after peaking at 200 weekly cases in mid-January, bringing the state total to 996 cases as of March 13. Utah's outbreak, originating in June 2025, has accelerated to 405 cases as of March 10, representing a 47-case increase in one week. Both states currently host the largest active measles outbreaks in the United States.
The measles outbreak in Colorado tied to two Broomfield schools has grown to 10 cases, including two new confirmed infections and one suspected as of March 12. Public health teams are tracing exposures and urging quarantines. This cluster underscores vulnerabilities in school vaccination coverage amid rising national measles alerts. Officials plan expanded testing and contact tracing to halt further spread.
In one Washington county, measles cases escalated from three to 12, prompting rapid exposure tracking, resident testing, and quarantine enforcement as of March 11. Local health workers are persuading contacts to isolate amid community resistance. The response highlights challenges in curbing outbreaks through compliance, critical for protecting vulnerable populations. Future actions focus on vaccination drives and surveillance to prevent wider transmission.
The measles outbreak linked to two schools in Broomfield, Colorado, has reached up to 10 cases, including two new confirmed infections and one suspected case reported on March 12. Public health officials are investigating exposures and urging vaccinations in the affected communities. This cluster highlights ongoing risks in under-vaccinated school groups amid national resurgence. Contact tracing and quarantine measures are ongoing to contain spread.
Wyoming health officials report 26 confirmed pertussis cases in 2026 so far, with two-thirds in Fremont County, following 148 cases last year—the highest in over 70 years. Underreporting is likely due to unrecognized symptoms. Rising rates signal need for boosted vaccination amid waning immunity. Officials urge testing and reporting to curb community transmission.
A major measles outbreak in South Carolina is showing signs of slowing, with cases nearing 1,000 total and new infections dropping to about 10 per week from a peak of 200 weekly in mid-January. State health officials report a consistent downward trend over several weeks amid vaccination efforts. The decline matters as it reduces strain on public health resources in a state hit hardest by the outbreak. Monitoring continues to prevent resurgence through summer.
A major measles outbreak in South Carolina is slowing, with nearly 1,000 total cases reported and new infections dropping to about 10 per week from a peak of 200 in mid-January. Health officials note a consistent downward trend over several weeks amid vaccination efforts. The decline matters as it signals potential containment in the largest U.S. outbreak this year, reducing risks to unvaccinated communities. Monitoring continues to prevent resurgence as cases stabilize.
Wyoming health officials are raising concerns about elevated whooping cough rates in 2026, with 26 confirmed cases already reported this year, approximately two-thirds of which are concentrated in Fremont County. This surge follows Wyoming's record year in 2025 with 148 total cases—the highest count in over 70 years—indicating a persistent public health challenge in the state. Health officials caution that actual case numbers are likely higher because many people may not recognize symptoms or report their illness, complicating efforts to track and contain transmission.
A measles outbreak linked to two schools in Broomfield, Colorado has grown to as many as 10 confirmed and suspected cases, with two new confirmed infections and one suspected infection reported on March 12, 2026. The outbreak represents an emerging public health concern in the state as measles continues to spread in pockets across the United States. Health officials are working to identify additional exposures and contain further transmission in the affected school communities.