EMS Briefing: Thursday, May 14, 2026

A significant hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship has prompted the transport of multiple American patients to specialized biocontainment units.

The potential closure of 99 hospitals in five southern states threatens to severely strain regional EMS systems and increase transport times.

Ambulance giant Global Medical Response raised $479 million in a recent stock offering, though it resulted in a significant reduction in the company's valuation.

Authorities in Maine have arrested a woman for allegedly stealing an ambulance that was left running and unattended outside a local hospital.

A new clinical overview details the signs, symptoms, and specific PPE requirements for first responders encountering potential Andes hantavirus patients.

New research explores the benefits and challenges of integrating emergency medicine residents into prehospital EMS crew training and operations.

The CDC reports on a confirmed case of zoonotic transmission of swine-origin influenza A(H1N1) from a pig to a farm worker in Switzerland.

A recent study identifies significant barriers to effective infection control within emergency departments, impacting both staff and patient safety.

A Maine fire department has initiated an EMS-only paramedic pilot program to adapt to shifting community needs and decreasing fire suppression calls.

A Georgia ambulance service reveals its successful transport of a hantavirus patient was the result of extensive multi-year operational planning and training.

A $725,000 federal grant has enabled an Arizona fire department to acquire 35 mechanical chest compression devices to equip its frontline apparatus.

A new JEMS column explores the common operational gap between data-driven deployment strategies and the practical realities of street-level EMS response.

An Australian paramedic body acknowledged positive health budget investments but criticized the ongoing lack of comprehensive national workforce reform policy.