Recent Outbreaks and Incidents - 2011

This page provides information on selected public health emergency topics of recent public interest. For a list of the latest updates posted on this web site, please see the What’s New page.

Photo of a winter scene.

Blizzard makes travel dangerous or impossible in parts of West, Midwest (December 2011)
Blizzard warnings stretched from southeast Colorado through western Kansas, the Oklahoma panhandle and far northern Texas, according to the National Weather Service. Learn how to protect yourself and others during extreme cold weather.

Photo of cantalope.

Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Whole Cantaloupes from Jensen Farms, Colorado (October 2011)
As of 11am EDT on September 29, 2011, a total of 84 persons infected with any of the four outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported to CDC from 19 states.

Photo of firefighter at wildfire.

Texas Wildfire (August-September 2011)
The Texas Forest Service said it has responded to 181 fires that have burned more than 118,400 acres, killed two people and destroyed more than 700 homes. Learn how to stay safe from wildfires and wildfire smoke.

Satellite photo of hurricane.

Hurricane Irene (August 2011)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with state and local governments, and other federal agencies to help communities recover from Hurricane Irene. Irene made U.S. landfall along the East Coast on Saturday, August 27 and continued to move northeast as a tropical storm.

Photo of firefighter at wildfire.

Arizona Wildfire (June 2011)
About 10,000 Arizonans have been forced to flee from their homes as wildfires continue to consume wide swaths of the southwestern United States.

Photo of tornado.

Joplin, Missouri Tornado (May 2011)
A large tornado moved through much of the city damaging a hospital and hundreds of homes and businesses in Joplin, Missouri.

Photo of a flooded neighborhood.

Floods Along the Mississippi River (May 2011)
Flooding of historic proportions that has affected thousands of people in eight Midwestern and Southern states. Learn what to do before, during, and after a flood.

Photo of firefighter at wildfire.

Wildfires in Texas (April 2011)
Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. Know whether you are at risk and protect yourself.

Photo of tornado.

Multiple Tornadoes Devastate States in the Mid-West and South. (April 2011)
Knowing what to do when you see a tornado, or when you hear a tornado warning, can help protect you and your family.

Photo of radiation symbol.

CDC Responds to Earthquake, Tsunami, and Radiation Release in Japan On March (March 2011)
CDC monitored the effects of this disaster and focused on making sure it was ready to support any requests that came from Japanese colleagues related to public health.

Photo of tsunami warning sign.

U.S. West Coast Tsunami Warning (March 2011)
A massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan prompted the U.S. National Weather Service to issue tsunami warnings for Hawaii and the U.S. west coast. Learn about the public health issues that can be caused by tsunamis.

Page last reviewed: December 20, 2011