Measles exposure reported at Universal Studios Hollywood
Stock photo of a person with the measles. (Mumemories/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — Los Angeles County health officials said a person infected with measles visited Universal Studios Hollywood last month and potentially exposed others to the virus.
The county’s Department of Public Health said Wednesday that it is investigating the case involving the visitor who was at the theme park on July 26. Other possible locations within the county are being probed, according to the health department.
Anyone who was in the park that day between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. is asked to confirm their protection against the virus and is warned that they may be at risk of developing measles from seven to 21 days after being exposed, according to the health department.
Health officials said that people who have been vaccinated against the virus are likely to be protected, as are people who had measles previously.
“People who are unimmunized or have unknown measles immunization status are at higher risk and should monitor for symptoms closely. Anyone who remains symptom-free for more than 21 days after being exposed is no longer considered at risk,” the health department said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Universal Studios Hollywood said in a statement Friday that the park is working with the health department in their probe.
“The safety and security of our guests and team members is our highest priority,” the company said.
Measles symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes or a rash. The virus can spread through the air and can remain in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
Anyone who believes they have contracted measles is urged to call a doctor immediately, according to the health department.
“Measles spreads easily and can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death,” Dr. Muntu Davis, the Los Angeles County Health Officer, said in a statement.
Over 2,300 measles cases have been recorded this year, the highest number since 1991, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The majority of measles cases in 2026 have been confirmed among children and teenagers aged 19 and younger, according to the CDC. About one in 10 children under age 5 diagnosed with measles this year have been hospitalized.
About 93% of cases this year are among people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, CDC data shows.
The CDC currently recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective against measles, the CDC says.
-ABC News’ Mary Kekatos contributed to this report.
An influenza (flu) virus is shown. (Getty Images stock photo)
(NEW YORK) — San Francisco health officials this week reported the city’s first flu death of the 2026-27 flu season.
The person was an adult, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), but no other information was provided.
“This sad news reminds us that respiratory viruses such as flu and COVID should be taken very seriously, especially for people who are at higher risk of getting sick,” Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco health officer, said in a statement on Thursday. “With fall festivities approaching, we want people to stay healthy and do all the fun and joyful things they want to do. Vaccines help make this happen.”
Data from the California Department of Public Health shows 26 individuals have died so far from flu statewide this season. It’s unclear if this total includes the San Francisco patient.
The deaths have occurred relatively early in the respiratory virus season. According to the official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tabulation, flu season doesn’t start for another two weeks.
Current levels of respiratory virus activity nationally are listed as “very low,” according to CDC data.
Although flu circulates year-round, cases typically increase in the fall and winter months. The CDC advises that people get their flu vaccine before the end of October.
Everyone over the age of 6 months is currently eligible for a flu vaccine. Older adults — over 65 years old — may be eligible for a higher dose version.
The shots are available at most pharmacies and doctors’ offices. The flu vaccine is often free of charge, with most health insurance covering the shot.
The SFDPH also recommends staying up to date with COVID and RSV vaccines in line with recommendations from the state’s health department.
The updated 2026-27 COVID vaccine is recommended for:
Those ages 6 to 23 months and ages 65 and older
Those ages 2 to 18 with risk factors or never vaccinated against COVID-19
Those ages 19 to 64 with risk factors
Anyone who is planning pregnancy, pregnant or postpartum
Anyone in close contact with others with risk factors, including healthcare workers
The RSV vaccine is recommended for:
Previously unvaccinated adults ages 75 and older, and ages 50 to 74 with risk factors
Previously unvaccinated pregnant people 32 to 36 weeks gestation
Infants younger than 8 months whose mother did not receive a vaccine while pregnant and high-risk children ages 8 to 19 months are eligible to receive an injectable monoclonal antibody shot to protect against RSV.
Oct. 1 marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, putting a spotlight on the second most common cancer diagnosed among women.
Although the rates of women diagnosed with breast cancer have increased, death rates have been declining and five-year survival rates have risen.
It’s not just women; men are also diagnosed with the disease. Additionally, disparities persist among races and ethnicities.
Here’s what you need to know about breast cancer by the numbers.
Diagnosis rates
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in the United States, aside from skin cancer, with more than 320,000 new invasive cases expected each year, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Breast cancer diagnoses have risen with a 1% increase per year in recent years, ACS says.
“Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women, but most women diagnosed with breast cancer do very well and outcomes have improved tremendously over the years,” Hannah Rose Naughton, breast surgical oncologist at Hackensack Meridian Health, told ABC News.
Breast cancer accounts for roughly one in every three new cancers diagnosed in women each year and is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S., behind lung cancer, according to the ACS.
“The earlier we find the cancer, the better the outcome for the patient,” Naughton said.
While breast cancer affects women far more often, the disease can also occur in men.
“One percent of breast cancer cases occur in men; it’s extremely rare,” Priya Thomas, breast oncologist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, told ABC News.
Declining death rates
The breast cancer death rate among U.S. women decreased by 44% from 1989 to 2024, preventing an estimated 500,000 to 517,900 deaths, according to ACS.
“The decrease in breast cancer death rates is probably a combination of our screening advances, as well as advances in the treatments that we have for different subtypes of breast cancer,” Thomas said. “Artificial intelligence is also being investigated and possibly can also increase sensitivity and detection.”
Improving survival rates
In the late 1970s, the five-year relative survival rate for women with invasive breast cancer — which compares how many patients are alive five years after diagnosis with people of the same age who don’t have cancer — was roughly 75%.
As of 2022, it is above 90%, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The increase reflects major advances in screening and earlier diagnosis.
Where breast cancers are found
Stage at diagnosis remains one of the biggest predictors of outcome.
Most breast cancers are discovered before they have spread to other parts of the body, according to the NCI.
About 64% of cases are diagnosed at a localized stage, meaning the cancer has not spread beyond the breast. About 27% have spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissue, and about 6% are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body. About 2% have an unknown stage.
“If you feel a lump, if you notice a skin change, if you notice nipple discharge or any change that is different from your normal baseline, that warrants an evaluation by your provider,” Thomas said.
Persisting disparities
The burden of breast cancer is not shared equally.
“Black women are more likely to develop triple-negative breast cancer, which can be a more aggressive subtype, and unfortunately they do have a higher breast cancer mortality rate,” Naughton said.
As with many other diseases, the risk of breast cancer increases with age. The average age at breast cancer diagnosis in women is 63, according to the NCI.
In men, the ACS reports the average age at diagnosis is between 60 and 70. Although for both women and men, the disease can occur at virtually any age, and diagnosis at a younger age is linked to increased mortality.
“I know that recently some of the guidelines, depending on where you’re looking, have changed and may recommend mammograms every one to two years, but I still recommend yearly mammograms starting at age 40 for women at average risk,” Naughton said.
Beyond regular screening, experts say being aware of changes in your body is important.
“The most important message is that you shouldn’t ignore a change in your breast,” Naughton said.
Dr. Tara Howard is a fourth-year dermatology resident and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.
GLP-1 injection pen and medication vial for subcutaneous use. (Getty Images stock photo)
Dozens of Americans have filed personal injury lawsuits against the makers of popular GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, claiming they were not properly warned of the risk of a rare type of sudden vision loss, called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION, when taking the medications.
Researchers have been studying a possible link between GLP-1 drugs and this eye condition in recent years after a possible safety signal was reported from a single health center in Boston in 2024, but so far, no study has proven these drugs are the cause.
Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, said they take “all reports of adverse events very seriously,” and pushed back against these claims, stating, “Novo believes the personal injury lawsuits filed in the U.S. are without merit and are vigorously defending them,” a spokesperson told ABC News.
Adding, “Novo is committed to patient safety and continuously monitors the safety profile of our GLP-1 RA products. Should emerging safety data warrant further action, appropriate measures will be implemented in accordance with regulatory requirements.”
A spokesperson for Lilly, who manufactures Zepbound and Mounjaro, told ABC News, “Patientsafety is Lilly’s top priority. We actively monitor, evaluate, and report safety information for all our medicines to the FDA. As part of our routine safety review process, we have ongoing discussions with regulators regarding potential safety topics, and we will continue to review data, including any data regarding ophthalmic issues.”
Here’s what GLP-1 users should know about this condition and what the science says.
What is NAION?
Although a rare condition overall, Dr. John Chen, a professor of ophthalmology and neurology at Mayo Clinic, said, “NAION is the most common acute optic neuropathy in patients over the age of 50. It’s essentially a lack of blood flow to the optic nerve, where patients typically have pretty acute onset of painless vision loss.”
That vision loss is usually permanent, and there is no specific treatment for the condition at this time, Chen told ABC News.
Dr. Raj Maturi, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and ophthalmologist at Midwest Eye Institute, told ABC News that people with diabetes, regardless of GLP-1 use, can be at increased risk of developing this condition, and other risks include overnight low blood pressure or a very small optic nerve cup.
Vision problems are listed as possible side effects of these medications, but the Food and Drug Administration does not currently require the drug makers to list NAION as a specific risk.
The agency’s Sentinel Initiativedoes say a review is ongoing that aims to scientifically evaluate the possible safety signal related to GLP-1 drugs and NAION that is still in progress.
In a statement provided to ABC News, a spokesperson for the FDA said, “The FDA routinely monitors the safety of drug products postmarketing. The FDA identifies safety signals from a variety of sources, evaluates the available data and takes regulatory actions when appropriate.”
Other countries have required the drug makers to include a warning that there may be a possible increased risk of developing NAION if taking some of these medications based on their review of available evidence, including the European Medicines Agency and Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration, both citing it as a rare possible side effect.
In general, safety signals don’t alwayspan out as true risks for all medications and not every possible side effect is caused directly by the medication itself.
Drugs that are FDA-approved undergo rigorous clinical trials, are heavily scrutinized before reaching the market, and post-marketing safety is continuously monitored.
What does the science say?
“Several studies suggest that there is a potential link between NAION, or eye stroke, and GLP-1 use,” Maturi said. “However it is important to note that causation has not been proven. And the risk does seem to be rare,” Maturi said.
In 2024, researchers at a single health system in Boston published datathat suggested people with type 2 diabetes who were prescribed semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist and the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, may be at increased risk of developing this type of vision loss.
Since then, more research has been done with larger studies that have shown mixed results as to whether a link does exist, and no study to date has proven that these medications cause this eye condition.
“There are significant benefits from the GLP-1’s for severe obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease. That’s proven time and time again with these randomized clinical trials,” Chen said. “We didn’t have to pull the plug on those trials because people were going blind. So again, if there is an association, it’s a very low risk.”
The European Medicines Agencyestimates this eye condition could possibly impact 1 out of every 10,000 GLP-1 users who have diabetes, based on their analysis of available information.
In a joint statement, the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology said, “While many report a small possible increased risk of NAION in patients taking GLP-1 RAs such as semaglutide, some studies report no correlation, and the overall magnitude of the risk of NAION remains low.”
Maturi and Chen both said that the data isn’t conclusive so far and more research is needed to understand if GLP-1 drugs have a true role in developing NAION.
What should GLP-1 users do?
Doctors recommend that people always discuss any potential side effects of a medication with their own doctor and warn that there are proven health risks, including eye problems, if diabetes and obesity go untreated.
“For any patients already taking semaglutide who have not experienced any symptoms, they should continue to do so as instructed and discuss any questions or concerns with their primary care physician,” Maturi said.
Chen said he doesn’t believe this potential risk should prevent most people from using GLP-1 medications if they are recommended by a doctor to help treat an underlying health condition but cautions that people who have experienced NAION in one eye already may need to weigh the possible risks more closely with their doctor.
“We’re not sure if the GLP-1 is connected or not. We know this helps with diabetes, heart disease, and severe obesity,” Chen said. “We essentially don’t want you to stop your meds without talking to your doctor, and if you do have sudden painless vision loss, you should be seen by an eye doctor.”
Jade A. Cobern, MD, MPH, is a practicing physician, board-certified in pediatrics and general preventive medicine, and is a fellow of the ABC News Medical Unit. ABC News’ Elizabeth Schulze also contributed to this reporting.
