Berkshire Harm Reduction Sets Open House at New Site

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Harm Reduction will hold an open house to show off its new Pittsfield location and to provide the public with an opportunity to learn more about its work addressing a critical community need. 
 
The open house will be held on Thursday, Aug. 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 42 Summer St., second floor.
 
The new location has expanded space for the many services Berkshire Harm Reduction provides, including HIV health and prevention, syringe services, overdose education and prevention and Hepatitis C, HIV and STI testing and hepatitis C treatment. At the open house, Harm Reduction staff will provide information on those services, as well as Narcan training and tours of the Harm Reduction mobile unit that traverses the county to care for clients unable to visit one of its two physical locations, in Pittsfield and North Adams.
 
"Harm Reduction addresses a major community need and our staff is excited to invite the public in to see the new space and learn how to be ambassadors for public health, Narcan administration and reducing incidence of overdose in the Berkshires," said Sarah DeJesus, program manager.
 
Light refreshments will be provided at the open house and visitors can talk with Harm Reduction staff about the work they do in the community. For more information, call 413-447-2654.

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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