Public Health
Health services and outbreaks.
13 stories · 1 meeting summary · Sep 5, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026
Stories
Sunday, November 1, 20261 story →
Health department urges flu and COVID-19 shots
San Francisco's public health department is urging residents to get flu and COVID-19 vaccines, saying this year's flu season started early; a 48-year-old resident with an immune condition died after catching the flu. Uninsured residents age 4 and older can get free shots at 27 Van Ness Ave.
Friday, October 30, 20261 story →
San Francisco's first MGM-15 death was a 37-year-old Genentech scientist
San Francisco's first death from the synthetic opioid MGM-15 has been identified as Robert Schuldt, a 37-year-old scientist at Genentech, Sing Tao reports, citing the Chronicle. A package labeled cat's claw extract found among his belongings tested positive for kratom alkaloids, and city health officials say MGM-15 is 50 times more potent than morphine.
Saturday, October 24, 20261 story →
SF confirms 2 tuberculosis cases tied to Crazy Horse strip club
San Francisco's health department is investigating two active tuberculosis cases tied to the Crazy Horse strip club on Market Street, the agency told NBC Bay Area. The first case was reported in early October and contact tracing is continuing, the department said. It says the risk to the general public is low.
Friday, October 23, 20261 story →
Police raid smoke shops, seizing suspected contraband as SF reports first fatal overdose from new opioid
San Francisco police drug investigators searched several smoke shops and seized kratom, 7-OH packets, flavored tobacco and drug paraphernalia, with two shops raided in the Haight and Richmond districts. The Department of Public Health also confirmed the city's first fatal overdose involving MGM-15, a semisynthetic opioid derived from kratom. The drug has been linked to deaths elsewhere and is temporarily listed as a Schedule I controlled substance.
Thursday, October 22, 20261 story →
SF records first overdose death from a synthetic opioid sold at gas stations
San Francisco recorded its first fatal overdose involving MGM-15, a kratom-derived synthetic opioid sold in products marketed as supplements, the Department of Public Health said. The Standard reports the substance was found in the toxicology results of an adult who died in late September and in the packaging of the product. City officials have now raised alarms about a deadly new drug twice this year.
Monday, October 12, 20261 story →
Medical and community groups bring flu shots to homebound seniors
A coalition of city agencies, medical groups and nonprofits sent eight three-person teams into San Francisco neighborhoods on Oct. 10 to give free flu shots to homebound seniors and people with disabilities, aiming to reach 100 people a day. The city has recorded its first flu death of the season, and the state has counted 34.
Friday, September 25, 20261 story →
UCSF staff, S.F. officials say General Hospital still isn’t safe for workers
At a vigil for Alberto Rangel, a social worker slain at San Francisco General Hospital, colleagues and city officials said the hospital is still not safe for workers and that UCSF can do more.
Thursday, September 24, 20262 stories →
More and more S.F. residents are losing insurance. Can the city fill the gap?
Enrollment in Healthy San Francisco, the city's health program for uninsured residents, has risen 39 percent since January, according to Mission Local. The story looks at whether the program can cover the residents who are losing insurance.
Hundreds of people are desperate to get sober. They’re being turned away at the door
Two decades after San Francisco voters approved treatment on demand, people seeking detox are still being turned away, according to The Standard. The article describes the gap between demand for treatment and the beds available.
Wednesday, September 16, 20261 story →
What’s behind SF’s falling overdose death toll
Fatalities from fentanyl and other drugs in San Francisco so far this year are 24% below the count for the same period in 2025. The Standard looks at what is behind the decline.
Monday, September 14, 20261 story →
How Trump’s Immigration Policies Can Leave Doctors Feeling Powerless
Doctors at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital say immigrant patients are putting off care out of fear of immigration enforcement, and that the resulting stress is making conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure worse. The Trump administration rolled back protections that kept immigration agents away from health care facilities and has sought to give ICE access to Medicaid data. A 2025 survey cited by KQED found 84% of health care workers who serve immigrants reported visits down substantially.
Sunday, September 6, 20261 story →
Healthcare workers and patients rally against AI replacing medical staff
Health care workers, patient advocates and patients rallied outside Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco to oppose the use of AI and chat bots in place of human caregivers. The group cited concerns about patient safety, privacy and jobs, and called for human-provided care.
Saturday, September 5, 20261 story →
One person hospitalized after hazardous materials incident in San Francisco
One person was taken to a hospital after a hazardous-materials call involving muriatic acid and chlorine at the Presidio Golf and Concordia Golf Course. Firefighters and hazmat crews remained on scene to evaluate the area.