Vermont Department of Health

06/16/2026

The school year has come to a close and summer brings new schedules for many Vermont families. If you're starting to consider leaving your kids at home by themselves, take a look through some tips we've put together to keep them safe. And remember, every family is different and you know your kids best!

06/16/2026

Congratulations to our Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Team (MIECHV) who received the Operational Excellence Team Award this year from the Agency of Administration's Public Service Recognition Awards! Congratulations to (L-R) Morgan Paine, Margaret Urban, and Kim Bean — your disciplined, consistent work supporting families across the state is so important and valued!

06/15/2026

For your awareness: A new infant botulism outbreak has been linked to Nara Organics infant formula. The recalled formula was distributed nationally through Target stores, Target.com, and Nara.com between July 2025 and June 2026. At this time, there are no confirmed or suspected cases in Vermont linked to this outbreak. There are three confirmed or suspected cases in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington infants.

Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula accounts for less than 1% of infant formula sold in the U.S., and this recall is not expected to affect the overall infant formula supply. If you have any Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula product at home, stop using it and follow the recall instructions. If your infant was fed Nara Organics infant formula and has any of these symptoms, seek health care immediately: poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, decreased facial expression. Learn more at the link below.

New infant botulism outbreak linked to infant formula.
If your infant was fed Nara Organics infant formula and has any of these symptoms, seek health care immediately: poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, decreased facial expression. More info: https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/outbreaks-investigations/infant-formula-june-2026/index.html

06/15/2026

Bass fishing season kicked off on Saturday and we hope you had a safe, successful and fun weekend! If you reeled in a nice one and kept your catch (or you simply love a filet of fish), make sure you go over our handy guidelines.

Fish provide key nutrients to growing bodies, but people who are nursing, pregnant or planning to be, and kids under age 6 should stick to eating fish low in mercury. Learn more about reeling in your mercury intake and find a list of mercury levels for fish you can catch or buy in Vermont at HealthVermont.gov/Mercury-Fish.

06/12/2026

Prepare for some major heat, Vermont! ☀️🔥

Did you know heat illness is more common in June than later in the summer? That's because our bodies aren't used to hot weather just yet. Know the signs so you can avoid a heat emergency and check in on your neighbors and loved ones.

Find more heat safety tips and a map of cooling sites at HealthVermont.gov/HotWeather.

06/10/2026

Do you have a camper heading off to the great outdoors this summer or an activity-packed day camp? Make sure your family is prepped for a safe and healthy experience with tips at HealthVermont.gov/SummerSafety.

📣New this year! We've put together a resource guide for camp staff and administrators that will help reduce, prepare for and respond to health risks that can arise in camp settings this year! Learn more at the link above.

06/09/2026

We all love to cool off in the water on hot summer days – but you can spread germs to others if you swim while sick with diarrhea.

Diarrhea is the most common illness linked to the water we swim in, like pools, lakes, and splash pads. Swallowing even a small amount of water containing germs can make people sick. Some disease-causing germs can even survive in properly chlorinated water for minutes to days.

If you have diarrhea, stay out of the water and wait two weeks after it stops before swimming again.

Learn more about these types of illnesses at the link below ⬇️

06/08/2026

Vermont is expecting its first stretch of hot weather this week and it's important to remember that our bodies are still adjusting to the changing temps.

"As the weather heats up, it’s important to take it easier than usual, have a safe place to go if your house gets too hot and check on folks that might need extra support,” explains Jared Ulmer, climate and health program manager at Vermont Health. “It takes our bodies up to two weeks to adjust to hotter weather, so the risk of heat illness is often greatest during the first heat wave of the season. As we prepare for hot weather this summer, remember that the ‘first is the worst.’"

Learn more and find cooling sites near you:

06/04/2026

Avoid heartbreak AND mosquito-borne illnesses this summer with a few tricks:

- Limit time outside at dawn and dusk when the mosquitoes are most active
- Use insect repellent labeled as effective against mosquitoes
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outside

Learn more at HealthVermont.gov/prevent-mosquito-bites 🦟