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As tourists flock to Boston, Mass. will track wastewater for 7 additional viruses
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By now, you probably know the sonic boom heard 'round the region on Saturday was, in fact, a meteor exploding in our atmosphere.
According to the American Meteor Society, it was only three feet wide. But it managed to make such a commotion because when a meteor "encounters all this air, this friction, and that heats it up and it vaporizes it as it enters through the atmosphere... it basically can't stand the stress and it explodes," Richard Binzel, a planetary science professor at MIT, explained to WBUR's Paul Connearney.
Now, let's get to more news making noise this week.
What's in the water? Massachusetts has been testing residents' wastewater for COVID-19 for years. But starting today, whatever you flush down the toilet will be tested for seven additional viruses, including influenza and RSV. The updated surveillance comes as Massachusetts prepares for a surge of tourists ahead of the World Cup at Gillette Stadium, America's 250th birthday and the Tall Ships parade, WBUR's Martha Bebinger reports.
- On the list: State public health officials say they're going to test wastewater for flu and RSV, which visitors from the southern hemisphere might bring, since their flu season runs from April to September. They'll also look for evidence of measles, norovirus, mpox and hepatitis A. The wastewater findings will be combined with illness reports from doctors and healthcare centers, state epidemiologist Catherine Brown told Martha.
- Why now? Brown says the data can help the state detect potential outbreaks. "We're using all of our existing systems to be able to understand and alert people about prevention steps they might need to know," Brown said. If an outbreak is detected, state officials and local public health departments will issue alerts to explain who's at risk and how to avoid infection. To prevent outbreaks, public health commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein also previously urged residents to stay up-to-date on all their vaccinations, including MMR and the rotavirus series for infants.
Pride and prevention: Boston is kicking off its Pride Month celebrations today at noon with its usual flag raising over at City Hall, followed by something new: a free mpox vaccine clinic. Mpox — which is characterized by rashes, sores, exhaustion and aches — doesn't currently pose a widespread threat to public health, according to the Boston Public Health Commission. But cases of mpox are on the rise across the U.S., and men who have sex with men are most at risk of contracting the illness, according to BPHC. Offering vaccines at City Hall Plaza during the first of Boston's Pride Month celebrations is about "meeting people where they are," Jullieanne Lee, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement, told WBUR's Amy Sokolow. The city plans to host a few more clinics this summer.
- What to know: Mpox is spread through close skin-to-skin contact, and anybody can contract the illness. The vaccine requires two doses 28 days apart, and is most effective two weeks after the second dose is administered.
In memoriam: Firefighters and first responders from across North America will gather at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End this morning for the funeral of Boston firefighter Robert Kilduff Jr., who died fighting a three-alarm house fire in Dorchester on May 23. Kilduff is the first firefighter to die in the line of duty since 2014, WBUR's Rachell Sanchez-Smith reports. He was a 24-year veteran of the Boston Fire Department, a third-generation firefighter, a U.S. Marine veteran and a father of two. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Fire Commissioner Rodney Marshall are among those scheduled to give remarks at Kilduff's funeral.
- Heads up: Streets around the Cathedral will be closed this morning, so expect significant traffic delays.
T-riffic: Midday commuter rail service is back at Foxboro station today. Four inbound and four outbound trains are on the regular schedule after being replaced with shuttle buses amid the state's $35 million station renovation ahead of the World Cup. Riders will get a chance to preview the new platforms before soccer fans hit Gillette in two weeks.
P.S. — Logan Airport's first-ever remote terminal is now open for business in Framingham. Learn more about the pilot program, which is slated to run through August, here.
