Safety First, When Grilling
September 8, 2010
As we fire up the barbecues to get in the final great days of summer, I will take a moment to share with you some infection control techniques to make sure you spend time by the pool with a beverage and not in the "loo" with a stomach-ache.
It's more important these days, given the national recall of eggs. The risk of food-borne illnesses is all over the news. The Centers for Disease Control estimates 5,000 people die and 300,000 are hospitalized each year from food-borne illnesses.
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Know the Dangers of Whooping Cough
August 6, 2010
OK, so we've experienced an influenza pandemic followed by a pertussis epidemic. Either someone really thinks I need this job or I have the worst luck of any infection control director ever.
But seriously, California is experiencing record high levels of pertussis, what could be the state's biggest outbreak since 1958.
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases on the Rise
June 25, 2010
Despite prevention efforts, new cases of some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases are increasing, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That fact isn't surprising, experts say, as studies on STDs in the past have also shown that women and minorities bear the greatest burden of these afflictions. The age range of those affected hasn't changed much either: Nearly 19 million new sexually transmitted infections occur each year, and almost half of those affect 15- to 24-year-olds.
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Whoops, Here It Is Again!
June 10, 2010
It's a blast from the past: Pertussis, what we more commonly call Whooping Cough, is on the rise in California. Since the 1980s, there's been a dramatic increase in the number of reported cases, especially among teens (10-19 years of age) and babies less than 6 months of age. In 2008 there were more than 13,000 cases, including 18 deaths nationally.
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Fight the Bite!
June 2, 2010
With recent rains leaving behind a lot of standing water, be on lookout for mosquitoes. Yes, it's West Nile virus season.
If mosquitoes are still flying, there still is danger of West Nile virus. Infected mosquitoes spread the cause of serious, life-altering, and even fatal, disease.
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Out With Accolades
April 29, 2010
As April draws to a close and the traditional flu season draws to an end, I remain hopeful things will return to normal. But last year, at this exact time, H1N1 reared its ugly head. Nothing like a global pandemic to open a person's eyes.
The H1N1 virus has caused an estimated 12,000 deaths in the United States since first identified in 2009. It's not the 36,000 the seasonal flu normally claims, but the truly shocking piece of this data is that 87 percent of these people who died at the hands of H1N1 were under the age of 65.
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In Like A Lamb, Out Like A Lamb?
April 13, 2010
April approached quietly, but presented Solano County with its eighth fatality from H1N1-related complications, a woman from Vallejo. Our condolences go out to the family, friends and loved ones of the latest victim of this deadly disease.
Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness nationally remained stable and reports of the illness remained low nationally. Elevated instances of flu-like illnesses were reported in the region that comprises Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
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End of the Season?
March 26, 2010
March is nearly done, and thankfully no madness.
Fortunately, the news on H1N1 and the flu saga is still good for our area. But please remain vigilant. Observe the necessary precautions, even if the flu-like illnesses seem to be winding down for the season.
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February and Holding
February 1, 2010
An update on the H1N1 flu saga: Fortunately the news is still good for our area. But please stay vigilant and observe the necessary precautions.
Flu-like illness seems to be tapering off, but fatalities for children remain at nearly three times the annual rate. Flu, particularly H1N1, remains a serious threat. Your best protection is still a vaccination.
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It's a new year - 2010.
January 18, 2010
It's amazing how time flies. It's been a while since my last update, but thankfully it's because little has changed.
We are extremely fortunate we have not been hit as hard as many other areas by the H1N1 virus. Nearly 100% of all influenza A is typing out as H1N1. But we have not seen in our hospitals the H1N1 numbers some predicted.
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