Medical Aid for Florida Measles Outbreak, U.S. Communities Facing Winter Storms, and More

Direct Relief staff prepare a shipment of medicines, protective equipment, and other requested supplies on Feb. 6, 2026, to support a health center responding to a measles outbreak in Florida. (Shannon Hickerson/Direct Relief)

Over the past week, Direct Relief has delivered 426 shipments of requested medical aid to 46 U.S. states and territories and 20 countries worldwide. The shipments contained 4.6 million defined daily doses of medication

Medications and supplies shipped this week included specialty therapies, protective equipment, and essential medical supplies to support patient care around the world.

Medicines, Protective Gear Bound for Florida in Response to Measles Cases

Direct Relief staff prepare a shipment of medicines, protective equipment, and other requested supplies on Feb. 6, 2026, to support a health center responding to a measles outbreak in Florida. (Shannon Hickerson/Direct Relief)

Direct Relief is coordinating with local health officials in Florida to support response efforts to a measles outbreak in the state. The Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida in Immokalee, Florida, requested medical support as the health center works to support patients and mitigate further spread.

In response, Direct Relief prepared a shipment of medications and supplies to support respiratory care, treat secondary infections, and protect frontline responders. Products included antibiotics, inhaled and oral respiratory treatments, over-the-counter medications, and personal protective equipment, and Liquid I.V. to assist with dehydration.

Direct Relief will continue monitoring measles outbreaks, which have been seen across multiple states, and is ready to support any medical requests.

Response Continues for Back-to-Back Winter Storms

Snow-covered neighborhoods in Louisville, Kentucky, after severe winter storms impacted communities across the region. (Photo courtesy of the Louisville Metro Police Department)

Direct Relief continues responding to the impacts of successive winter storms affecting large portions of the United States, where prolonged power outages, freezing temperatures, and infrastructure damage have created ongoing health risks for vulnerable communities.

Following earlier shipments of field medic packs and personal care items to storm-impacted areas, Direct Relief has expanded support to include emergency operating assistance for affected health providers. A $50,000 emergency grant was provided to VCare Clinic to support recovery efforts across locations in Dallas and Houston, helping address lost revenue from storm-related closures, staff wage losses, damaged vaccines, and facility repairs needed to safely reopen clinics. Personal care products for displaced people were also shipped this week to health providers in Tennessee and Mississippi, which experienced widespread outages and cold temperatures over the past weeks.

Direct Relief remains in close coordination with local partners and state and national emergency response networks as recovery continues and will continue providing targeted medical aid as requested.

Around the World and Across the Street: Medical Support for Santa Barbara County

Direct Relief continues to support health access in its own neighborhood of Santa Barbara County, California, where the organization is based and operates its 155,000-square-foot headquarters. Since 2008, Direct Relief has provided more than $20 million in medical aid and financial support to over 100 organizations throughout Santa Barbara County, strengthening clinical operations, emergency response, and community-based care efforts across the region.

As part of this ongoing local support, Direct Relief recently provided field medic packs to Doctors Without Walls–Santa Barbara Street Medicine, helping equip outreach teams delivering care directly in the field. The backpacks are used to carry essential medical supplies that providers rely on daily to serve patients experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations.

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 384 shipments containing 569,050 doses of medication this past week to organizations, including the following:

  • Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition, Georgia
  • The Agape Clinic, Texas
  • Asociacion Puertorriquena Probienestar De Las Familias, Profamilias, Puerto Rico
  • Bradeley Free Clinic of Roanoke Valley Inc Pharmacy, Virginia
  • Northern Indiana Maternal and Child Health Network, Inc., Indiana
  • Street Outreach Teams, Michigan
  • Open Arms Health Clinic, Texas
  • Mercy and Truth Medical Missions, Kansas
  • Midtown Community Health Center, Utah
  • Georgia Overdose Prevention, Georgia

Around the World

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 4 million defined daily doses of medication, totaling 54,610 lbs., to countries including the following:

  • Ukraine
  • Syria
  • Ecuador
  • Guatemala
  • India
  • Sierra Leone
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Tanzania

Year-To-Date

Since January 1, 2026, Direct Relief has delivered 2,223 shipments to 981 partner organizations in 52 U.S. states and territories and 36 countries. These shipments contained 31.6 million defined daily doses of medication valued at $179.2 million (wholesale) and totaled 332,780 lbs.

In the News

Cyclone Ditwah Killed Hundreds and Blocked Sri Lankans from Aid. A Medical Team Reached Them. – Angels in Medicine

As Sudan’s War Rages On, Doctors Fight to Rebuild Care for Patients with Cancer, Diabetes, and Other Complex Diseases – ReliefWeb

Georgia Health Clinic Meets Growing Demand for Care, Medications – Angels in Medicine

Exit mobile version