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One Thousand Free Flu Shots
Were Given at Mass Vaccination Drill
.....One thousand free flu shots were provided to attendees who participate in a mass vaccination drill hosted by the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency’s  (HHSA) East Region in El Cajon.
HHSA’s East Region, Emergency Medical Services Branch and Immunization Branch teamed up to inoculate hundreds of volunteers at the Ronald Reagan Community Center in El Cajon. The exercise help HHSA test an emergency medicine distribution site, where County workers would provide vaccine or medicine during a widespread disease outbreak.
“The public who participate roll up their sleeves to protect themselves with a free flu shot help us practice our emergency response plans,” said Dianne Jacob, District 2. “The more we practice our plans, the better prepared we will be if the unthinkable happens and we experience a health disaster such as a pandemic flu.”
Each year influenza-related complications are responsible for 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations.
“November and even December are not too late to get a flu shot,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County of San Diego Public Health Officer. “Flu season can extend into April. If you have not been vaccinated, this is a great opportunity to protect yourself, your loved ones and the community, against the spread of flu.”
This season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children ages 2 – 19 years and pregnant women get a flu shot. This event is one of a series of exercises that help the County practice executing its public health preparedness plan. For more information, contact HHSA East Region at (619) 441-6500 or call the County of San Diego Flu Shot Hotline, (877) FLU-0202.More
Games Pair Older Adults, Youngsters
.....Active older adults in South Bay are encouraged to rekindle their fun  and competitive spirit to participate in San Diego County’s Intergenerational Games. Seniors will be paired with a youngster to compete in a variety of events. Registration is taking place now for the games held in Chula Vista. There is no cost to participate.
.....The goal of the games is to bring youngsters and seniors together to promote healthy, active lifestyles. Teams will earn points through a number of activities.The theme of the event is “Everyone is a Winner” and each participant receives a medal of recognition at the closing ceremony. It’s a fun filled day!
.....Aging & Independence Services, a division of the County’s Health and Human Services Agency, created the Intergenerational Games and helps coordinate the events.
.....The South Bay Intergenerational Games will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, 2800 Olympic Parkway in Chula Vista. Teams will be made up of one senior (age 50 and older) and one student from the Chula Vista Elementary School District. They will take part in skill challenges, such as basketball shoot, tennis shot and shot put. To register for the South Bay event or for more information, call (858) 694-3252.
Fourth Hantavirus Case Confirmed
.....County Vector Control confirmed today that one wild mouse trapped during routine  monitoring at the west side of Mission Trails Regional Park in Tierrasanta has tested positive for Hantavirus.
.....It is the fourth case this year. Typically, the County confirms between two and eight cases.
Hantavirus is carried by wild rodents, primarily deer mice. It is found in rodent droppings and urine and can be inhaled by humans when it becomes airborne. The airborne virus can cause a rare illness called Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS.
.....Early signs of the illness are similar to the flu, including fatigue, fever, muscle aches, headache, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Later symptoms of HPS include coughing and shortness of breath rapidly progressing to severe difficulty in breathing. It can sometimes be fatal.
.....“As the weather begins to cool, rodents may seek shelter inside residences. Mice can fit through openings as small as a dime, so be sure to cover or fill in those holes and gaps that might allow them to enter a home or building.” said Gary Erbeck, director of the Department of Environmental Health. “If you do have rodent droppings inside, be sure to protect yourself by using the wet cleaning method.”
.....Residents should not sweep or vacuum rodent droppings and urine. Use the method below:
* Ventilate affected area by opening doors and windows for at least 30 minutes.
* Use rubber gloves. Spray a 10 percent bleach solution (2 tablespoons bleach to 1 cup of water) onto dead rodents, rodent droppings, nests, contaminated traps and surrounding areas, and let the disinfectant stand for at least 15 minutes before cleaning. Clean with a sponge or a mop.
* Place disinfected waste into two plastic bags, seal them and discard in the trash.
* Wash gloves in the bleach solution, then soap and water, and dispose of them using the same double-bag method. Thoroughly wash your bare hands with soap and water.
.....For more information, please visit the County’s Vector Control Web site at www.sdvector.com, or call at (858) 694-2888.
Marketing Strategies Found
to Influence Kid’s Perception of Taste;
Characters and Healthy Name Result in Better Taste
.....From SpongeBob to Dora and from Frosted Flakes to Count Chocula, cartoon characters and names that imply a sugary taste are widely used to market cereal to kids. New research shows that these strategies can have a significant affect on children’s assessment of taste.
.....According to a study presented at the American Public Health Association’s 136th Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Diego, 4- to 6-year-old children who were shown cereal boxes with popular film characters on the front reported higher taste ratings than those given the cereal in a box without the characters.
.....Surprisingly, the study also founds that kids preferred the cereal with a healthy name (Healthy Bits) over the same cereal with a sugary name (Sugar Bits). In fact, when kids were given the cereal named “Healthy Bits,” there was no difference in their assessment of the cereal relative to the character on the box. However, when the cereal was named "Sugar Bits" and there was no character on the box, children did not respond well to it. It was only in those instances where the cereal had characters on the box that they reported enjoying the taste.
.....“These results provide evidence that the usage of kid-friendly characters can have a powerful effect on children's assessments of consumer products,” said Sarah E. Vaala, MA, one of the two lead researchers on the study. “Furthermore, these findings have substantial implications for researchers and practitioners concerned with the influence of marketing on children's diets.”
E. Coli Sicken Two North County Children
County Investigates to Find Source of Illness
.....Two North County children have been sickened by E. Coli infection, and County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) is working with the County Department of Environmental Health (DEH) to try to locate the source.
.....The girls, ages seven and nine, have been hospitalized and are expected to recover.
Although the source of the infection has yet to be determined, officials at Carmel Creek Elementary School, where the girls attend, have notified parents as a precaution.
.....“The school has not been named as the source, but we appreciate their cooperation during this investigation,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health Officer. “We emphasize to the public that it is critical to practice appropriate food safety habits and good hand hygiene to prevent infectious diseases like E. Coli from spreading.”
“The safety of our children is extremely important to us, and we keep parents informed about issues that may affect them and their children,” said Leslie Fausset, superintendent, Solana Beach Elementary School District.
.....E. Coli can be attributed to many sources, including lettuce, raw milk, un-pasteurized apple cider, or from petting zoos and animal exhibits. Undercooked hamburger is another possible source.
.....“Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, which kills the bacteria,” said Gary Erbeck, Director, DEH. “The only sure way to tell if you have reached that temperature is to use a food thermometer. “
.....E. coli infection often causes abdominal cramps and bloody diarrhea. There is usually little or no fever, and the illness typically resolves itself in five to 10 days. A small percentage of infected individuals may also develop a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed and kidney failure may occur. Those most at risk for serious complications of this food-borne illness include young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Consumers should seek immediate medical care if they develop these symptoms.
.....“Considering the serious health threat E. Coli poses to this age group, I am pleased our County health officials have mechanisms in place to help prevent further spread of the illness,” said Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, who represents Solana Beach.
For more information on E. Coli, contact HHSA Community Epidemiology Branch at (619) 515-6620.
California Department of public Health Lifts
Annual Quarantine for Sport-Harvested Mussels
.....Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH),  announced that the statewide annual quarantine on mussels taken by sport harvesters from the ocean waters of California for human consumption ended at midnight on Oct. 31. Sampling of mussels confirmed that shellfish-borne paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins and domoic acid are at safe or undetectable levels.
.....The quarantine is issued for the entire California coastline, usually from May 1 through Oct. 31, to protect consumers of sport-harvested shellfish. The quarantine applies only to sport-harvested mussels.
No commercially harvested shellfish are included in the annual quarantine. All commercial shellfish harvesters in California are certified by the state and subject to strict requirements to ensure that all oysters, clams and mussels entering the marketplace are free of toxins. .....Commercial harvesting is stopped immediately if potentially dangerous levels of toxins are found.
.....Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is a form of nervous system poisoning. Concentrated levels of the PSP toxins can develop in California mussels and other bivalve shellfish when they feed on certain naturally occurring marine plankton.
.....Domoic acid poisoning (DAP) has been linked in some cases to natural food sources for filter-feeding animals like bivalve shellfish. To date, no known cases of human DAP have occurred in California; but domoic acid has been linked to several episodes of severe poisoning of marine mammals along the Pacific Coast and may have caused several mild cases of human poisoning in the state of Washington.
.....CDPH’s shellfish sampling and testing program for PSP and DAP issues warnings or establishes special quarantines when needed. Local health departments, various state and federal agencies and others participate in the monitoring program.Consumers can receive updated information about PSP and DAP by calling the CDPH "Shellfish Information Line" at 1-800-553-4133.
West Nile Virus Hit San Diego Worst than Ever
....“Total human case count for 2007 was 15. 2008 to-date Human West Nile Cases Double Last Year's Record. The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), and the County Department of Environmental Health Vector Control report four confirmed locally-acquired human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) and 14 dead birds.
....“Cases include:
65-year-old Serra Mesa man diagnosed with encephalitis
42-year-old Rolando man diagnosed with meningitis
74-year-old Escondido man diagnosed with encephalitis
54-year-old El Cajon man with no symptoms diagnosed after donating blood
....“The 74-year-old is hospitalized. The 65-year-old and 42-year-old were hospitalized and discharged, and are improving. The dead birds including 14 American crows were found in Bonita, Chula Vista, City Heights, Del Mar, Escondido, Lakeside, National City, Poway, Ramona, Sorrento Mesa, Torrey Hills, University City, and Valley Center.
Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H, County of San Diego Public Health Officer, and Gary Erbeck, Director, County Department of Environmental Health Vector Control, urge the public to take the following steps to protect themselves against WNV.
....“Most people infected with WNV do not develop any symptoms or become seriously ill. Nearly one in five who do fall ill may suffer from headache, fever, nausea, fatigue, skin rash or swollen glands. Approximately one in 150 people infected with WNV develop more serious neurological effects such as meningitis, encephalitis or myelitis. If you suspect you have WNV, contact your healthcare provider.
....“For more information or to report dead birds or green pools, please call the County’s WNV information line toll free at (888) 551-INFO (4636), or visit the County’s web site at www.SDFighttheBite.com. > More
State Cuts Funding for Seniors
.....Children For the first time in 40 years, seniors will find themselves unable to count on help from the California program that provides rebates to renters and homeowners.
In September the California state budget was approved for the 2008/2009 fiscal year and did not include funding for the Homeowner and Renter Assistance (HRA) Program. This program provides a yearly rebate from the State of California to homeowners and renters who qualify (low-income, disabled or age 60+), based on property taxes paid by homeowners and indirectly by renters. The rebates averaged $300.00.
.....For many years ElderHelp of San Diego has helped seniors process their rebate forms at no charge. These funds offer some relief from the pressures of living on a fixed income. For the first time ever, ElderHelp will be informing their clients that there is no funding in the state budget for this program and 2008 claims cannot be paid. The Franchise Tax board who runs the HRA program has stated they will continue to accept claims and hold them in case funding becomes available but at this time there is no expectation this will happen.
.....Thousands of seniors counting on their annual HRA rebates will have to adjust their budgets. These rebates provide a much needed financial “cushion” for the winter and holiday months. For some seniors they even hold the promise of something special for their loved ones. However this year many seniors will find themselves in a much tighter situation.
.....ElderHelp of San Diego can provide information and referrals for these seniors to locate resources that can help them get through these hard times. Information regarding legal help, health services, transportation, food resources, housing, in home support, utility discounts, adaptive equipment, and more is all available from ElderHelp’s Information and Referral.
ElderHelp provides low income seniors with personalized services and information that help seniors remain independent and live with dignity in their own homes. To contact ElderHelp of San Diego’s Intake Care Manager please call 619-284-9281.
San Diego County Adoptions Wins National Award
Health and Human Services Agency Division Wins Excellence in Adoptions Award For Its Support of Adoptive Families
 .....The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency’s (HHSA) adoption program has received a 2008 Adoptions Excellence Award from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) for its support of adopted families.
.....“This is a great honor and well-deserved by the County Adoptions program and staff,” said San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chairman Greg Cox. “County staff consistently works to prepare, educate and support families throughout the adoption process and always goes above and beyond to involve community partners in bringing more resources to the program. I cannot say enough about how hard they work.”
.....“County social workers are gung-ho to help you as adoptive parents,” said Rosanna Garcia. Rosanna and her husband Jorge adopted three siblings on September 13, 2007. “They find people, they find resources. If I was frustrated, our social worker would come out so that I could rejuvenate. That’s how far they are willing to support you through the whole adoption so these kids would stay in a good home…If a prospective parent decides to adopt, I make it clear when I speak to them that they are not alone.”
.....The Adoption Excellence Awards were established by USDHHS in 1997 to recognize outstanding accomplishments in achieving permanency for America’s children waiting in foster care. San Diego County Adoptions was honored for “the extraordinary contributions it has made in providing adoption and other permanency outcomes for children in foster care,” according to La Chundra Lindsey, a child welfare program specialist for the USDHHS Children’s Bureau.
.....“This award highlights the efforts we have made to provide both staff and adoptive families with the resources necessary to ensure that families thrive and grow in a healthy environment that is meaningful and rewarding,” said HHSA Director Nick Macchione. “Adoptions works with many great community partners to offer educational opportunities before an adoption, and on-going support, resources and services post-adoption.”
.....San Diego Youth & Community Services (SDYCS) works with San Diego County Adoptions to provide post-adoption support services. “It’s important for prospective adoptive parents to know they are not on their own once the adoption is completed,” said SDYCS Executive Director Walter Philips. “It’s through collaborative efforts of SDYCS and San Diego County Adoptions that we are able to offer a wide variety of services including monthly support groups, respite nights, clinical and therapeutic services, mentoring and tutoring and general resources and support.”
.....The County partners with Grossmont College’s Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Care Education Program (FAKCE) to provide education for parents wanting to adopt. “We work with San Diego County Adoptions to offer classes such as PRIDE (Parent Resource Information Development Education), adoption preparation and attachment parenting classes that provide them with a solid foundation of adoption information which they can build upon as they begin their lives as adoptive parents,” said Nory Behana, Grossmont College FAKCE Instructional Specialist. |
