MetroHealth accreditation expands cellular-therapy options as Cleveland renews focus on lead safety and measles travel alerts

ByWeence

Cleveland, OH – March 3, 2026 – MetroHealth earns cellular-therapy accreditation; lead-paint advocates press city after grant loss; measles travel alert.

Cleveland-area health updates over the past week ranged from a major hospital milestone tied to advanced cancer care to renewed public pressure around lead safety and a statewide measles exposure alert relevant to travelers.

MetroHealth earns key accreditation for cellular therapies

MetroHealth reported Feb. 27 that its Cancer Institute Blood and Marrow Transplant Program achieved accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT). MetroHealth said the accreditation is for an adult autologous and immune effector cell program and is awarded for three years, contingent on successful annual reviews.

Hospital leaders said the designation reflects nationally recognized standards for quality and safety across the cellular-therapy continuum, including stem cell transplantation and immune effector cellular therapy. MetroHealth also said the accreditation can strengthen participation with insurance plans that require FACT-accredited programs for certain advanced therapies, which the system described as important for patients who have faced barriers to access.

Lead paint remediation returns to the spotlight after grant loss

At a March 2 news conference, advocates called on Cleveland leaders to move faster and more consistently on lead testing and remediation, according to Ideastream Public Media. The report noted the city recently lost more than $3 million in federal funding intended for lead remediation.

Advocates outlined a list of demands that included increased childhood lead testing, added support for mobile health clinics to expand testing availability, and an audit related to lead-remediation investments. Cleveland’s public health director told Ideastream that lead remediation remains a top priority and said the department has increased staff focused on lead paint, while city departments plan to collaborate to avoid losing remaining HUD grant resources. News 5 Cleveland reported the Ohio Department of Development told the city the grant was lost because funds were not being used quickly enough.

Measles exposure alert tied to Ohio airport travel window

The Ohio Department of Health issued an alert about potential measles exposure at John Glenn International Airport in Columbus on Feb. 18 between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., according to WSAZ. State officials said vaccinated travelers have a low risk of illness, and the agency recommended that people who were present during the exposure window and are not vaccinated watch for symptoms through March 11. ODH said it is working with the CDC and other officials to identify potentially exposed people.

$1.8 million award targets infant mortality in Cuyahoga County

Case Western Reserve University reported Feb. 27 that the Ohio Department of Children and Youth awarded First Year Cleveland $1.8 million to address infant mortality in Cuyahoga County. The organization said it will direct funding to community and faith-based groups that provide services to pregnant women and families, as part of an 18-month initiative running through June 2027.

The report cited county data showing infant mortality in Cuyahoga County at roughly eight deaths per 1,000 live births from 2022 to 2024, with Black infants facing a rate more than three times higher than white infants, according to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.

Sources

https://www.metrohealth.org/en/newsroom/2026/blood-and-marrow-transplant-program-achieves-fact-accreditation/
https://www.ideastream.org/environment-energy/2026-03-02/cleveland-advocates-outline-demands-for-city-to-solve-decades-long-lead-paint-crisis
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cleveland-leaders-urged-to-address-citys-lead-crisis
https://www.wsaz.com/2026/02/26/health-department-warns-potential-measles-exposure-airport/
https://case.edu/news/first-year-cleveland-awarded-18m-address-infant-mortality-crisis-cuyahoga-county

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