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 Tuberculosis Case Reported at Chula Vista School
.......The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) is working with Sweetwater Union High School District officials to notify individuals who may have been exposed to infectious tuberculosis by an Otay Ranch High School student.
“School district officials have been working to notify the students and staff who may have been in close contact with the sick student,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health Officer.
The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is also working with the school to set up testing for the students. “Most people exposed do not develop TB, but testing is recommended to be sure,” said Wooten.
Tuberculosis is not uncommon. In 2009 to date, there are 138 confirmed cases of TB in San Diego County. In 2008 there were 264 reported cases of TB.
Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss. Most people who are exposed to TB do not develop the disease. Prolonged close contact with an individual who has TB is required in order to spread the disease to others.
Individuals who need testing and have no medical provider, or need more information, may call the County TB Control Program at (619) 692-8621. More
Second Human West Nile Case of 2009 Reported
.......The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) reports the second confirmed human case of West Nile virus (WNV) for 2009.
A 49-year-old male was hospitalized after developing symptoms consistent with WNV infection. The man did not acquire the virus locally.
......“We continue to urge the public to take appropriate precautions to protect against contracting West Nile Virus,” said Wilma Wooten, County of San Diego Public Health Officer.
.......“Even though this case was not acquired locally, we are in the time of the year when the virus is usually most active in San Diego County.”
People should avoid outdoor activity at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active and use insect repellent with DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. Other precautions include wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors; ensuring that windows and doors have tight fitting screens without holes or tears; and not sleeping outside, unprotected while camping.
......For more information or to report dead birds, please call the County’s WNV information line toll free at (888) 551-INFO (4636) or visit the County Web site at www.SDFighttheBite.com.
Chula Vista Student Diagnosed with Whooping Cough
.......A 7-year-old student who attends Discovery Charter Elementary School in the Chula Vista Elementary School District has been diagnosed with pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough. The student was up-to-date with vaccinations.
......“We continue to see an increased amount of whooping cough cases this year,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health Officer. “It’s extremely important for parents to ensure that they and their children are protected against vaccine preventable diseases including whooping cough.”
.......Named for the "whoop" sound children and adults sometimes make when they try to breathe in during or after a severe coughing spell, whooping cough usually starts with flu-like symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing, fever and a mild cough. These symptoms may be mild and brief, or last up to two weeks, but are often followed by severe coughing fits that may be associated with vomiting. Fever, if present, is usually mild. It is treatable with antibiotics.
.......Whooping cough can occur at any age, but infants and young children are at highest risk of life-threatening complications, the most common of which is pneumonia. In adolescents and adults, rib fractures and difficulty sleeping may occur. Anyone who is not immunized is at a higher risk for severe whooping cough.
........There have been 83 cases of whooping cough in San Diego County this year. For more information about whooping cough, please call the HHSA Immunization Branch at (619) 692-8661, or visit the web site at www.sdiz.org.
Every Child, Every Time at Every Place
....World Asthma Day 2009 will take place on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. This year’s theme is
“You Can Control Your Asthma.”
....It’s important for every childand every adultwith asthma to have an asthma action plan. The plan should be updated every time the patient is seen by their doctor and the asthma action plan should be available every place the child spends time on a regular basis.
Last fall, a middle school student from City Heights died from asthma complications.
....In 2007, there were 30 asthma deaths in San Diego County; two of those were children.
County health officials, together with medical and community representatives and parents, will officially launch a campaign to encourage parents, schools, and primary care providers to develop an asthma action plan for children affected by the disease.
....The campaign will launch in the City Heights community, the area in San Diego County with the highest rates of asthma, asthma deaths, and asthma hospitalizations.
WHO: Supervisor Ron Roberts, District 4, County of San Diego Board of Supervisors
Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., County Deputy Public Health Officer
Dr. Aaron Zaheer, Community Clinic Provider
Tim Allen, City Heights Educational Collaborative
Lourdes and Jaime Sandoval, mother and son with asthma
WHEN: MONDAY, MAY 4, 2009 AT 10:30 A.M.
WHERE: Rosa Parks Elementary School 4510 Landis StreetSan Diego
....The San Diego County Asthma Coalition is comprised of County Health and Human Services Agency, the American Lung Association, Price Charities, Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, the San Diego Unified School District, and other organizations.
Worker at Chula Vista Hair Salon Diagnosed with Infectious TB
....The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) is taking  steps to notify clients of a Chula Vista hair salon of an employee  diagnosed with infectious tuberculosis (TB).
....The individual worked at Creative Hair Styles at 231 3rd Street, Suite B, in Chula Vista. Clients who were in the salon for an appointment lasting two hours, or several shorter visits up to eight cumulative hours between January 21, 2009 and April 15, 2009 should contact their physician. As many as 40 regular clients and other walk-in clients were potentially exposed.
....“Anyone who is showing symptoms of TB should go to their doctor and get tested,” says Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health Officer. “Fortunately, it is curable. We want the public to be informed about TB, in hopes of keeping the disease from spreading.”
....Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss. Most people who are exposed to TB do not develop the disease.
Tuberculosis is not uncommon in the San Diego region. In 2009 to date, there are 47 confirmed cases of TB in San Diego County. In 2008, there were 264 total reported cases of TB.
....Individuals with no medical provider, or anyone who would like more information, may call the County TB Control Program at (619) 692-8621.
Optimists enjoy better health and longer lives
....Optimists live longer, healthier lives than pessimists, U.S. researchers said in a study  that may give pessimists one more reason to grumble.
....Researchers at University of Pittsburgh looked at rates of death and chronic health conditions among participants of the Women's Health Initiative study, which has followed more than 100,000 women ages 50 and over since 1994.
....Women who were optimistic -- those who expect good rather than bad things to happen -- were 14 percent less likely to die from any cause than pessimists and 30 percent less likely to die from heart disease after eight years of follow up in the study.
....Optimists also were also less likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes or smoke cigarettes.
The team, led Dr. Hilary Tindle, also looked at women who were highly mistrustful of other people -- a group they called "cynically hostile" -- and compared them with women who were more trusting.
...."Cynically hostile women were 16 percent more likely to die (during the study period) compared to women who were the least cynically hostile. 23 percent more likely to die from cancer," said Tindle, who presented her study at the American Psychosomatic Society's annual meeting in Chicago.
....Tindle said the study does not prove negative attitudes cause negative health effects, but she said the findings do appear to be linked in some way.
Mental Health Month
....With increasing economic troubles piled on to the stress of work and family demands, more and more Americans are suffering. In fact, 58 percent of Americans reported about struggles in their lives at the end of 2008. This represents an increase of more than 22 million Americans who reported struggling earlier in the year.
....During these difficult times, Mental Health America wants Americans to know that there are tools that can buffer the effects of stress and help them cope better with the many challenges they face. This May, in honor of Mental Health Month, the organization is launching the Live Your Life WellSM website to provide people with 10 specific, research-based tools that can combat stress and promote health and well-being. Visit today the Live Your Life WellSM website: mentalhealthamerica.net Visit today the Live Your Life WellSM Mental Health Month in San Diego ~> ~> ~> "Breaking the Chains of Stigma"
 The Learning Festival
....May is Older American’s Month and the San Diego County Library and the Health and Human Services Agency’s Aging & Independence Services (AIS) are partnering on a month- long Learning Festival for seniors.
...The Learning Festival will highlight the many ways older adults can keep learning and the many programs available in San Diego County. The Learning Festival, began with a kickoff event April 30 and will run throughout May at County Library branches. Each of the County Library branches will have interesting and fun programs of particular interest to older adults.
...“As we get older, those who continue to challenge themselves mentally and physically live longer and healthier lives,” says Chairwoman Dianne Jacob, County Board of Supervisors, District 2. She and Supervisor Pam Slater-Price hosted the Aging Summit last year that focused on the issue of Lifelong Learning where the idea for the Learning Festival was born.
...Family caregivers will receive special attention, too, during the month-long Learning Festival, as several County Library branches will have programs designed particularly for them, with respite services available so their loved ones have assistance while the caregivers get a break.
...To find out about the Learning Festival programs near you, see www.learningfestival.org or call the County Library main office at (858) 694-2415.
Swine Flu Symptoms and Precautions
....SAN DIEGO- The first human swine influenza virus, H1N1, was reported in the United States in 1930. Swine flu is a cause of respiratory disease in pigs throughout the world and can occasionally cause human disease.The seasonal influenza vaccine (i.e., flu shot) does not protect against swine H1N1 viruses.
.....The symptoms of swine influenza in people are similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal influenza infection and include fever, lethargy, coughing and lack of appetite.
To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen is collected within the first 4 to 5 days of infection.
....>>> INDIVIDUALS ARE ENCOURAGE TO TAKE THE  FOLLOWING STEPS TO STOP THE SPREAD OF INFLUENZA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES:
• Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to friends and co-workers or students.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to get rid of most germs and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest and exercise. More
After going around the world Finally,
BODY WORLDS exhibition is in San Diego
....An estimated 26 million people have seen the Body Worlds shows in 47 cities around the world since they started in 1995. Body Worlds is an anatomical art exhibition of real human bodies. It was created by Gunther Von Hagen, using his invention of Plastination. It's a process that makes it possible to preserve tissues and organs of the body, by stopping it from decomposing.
....BODY WORLDS exhibition is an unique opportunity to learn, see and understand our own physiology and health. Visitors to the San Diego Natural History Museum will: Learn about the brain and how it functions and develops, learn about the body’s various locomotive, digestive, nervous and vascular systems, explore how our bodies respond to movement and physical challenges, and understand the long-term impact of disease, the effects of tobacco, and the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.
BODY WORLDS exhibition is open from March 5, 2009 though October 4, 2009
....For more information, exhibition hours, and on line reservations please visit The San Diego Natural History Museum website www.sdnhm.org or call 619.232.3821.
Seniors to Teach Good Health Habits
....Would you like to help in the fight against childhood obesity? A new program wants to enlist you to join other volunteers in teaching children healthy habits.
The OASIS Active Generations Program is an intergenerational nutrition/activity program that partners older adults with children in grades 3 to 5. Adult volunteers work as a team and are trained to teach eight interactive lessons at selected sites. Each session is 90 minutes and includes three components: an interactive lesson about health, a healthy snack and physical activity. For more information, contact Kim Haedrich at (619) 574-0674 or for North County, contact Carolyn Collins at (760) 432-0635.
> ICANSANDIEGO, A Locally Created Diabetes Prevention Campaign
....Diabetes is a growing epidemic in our nation, costing more than 75,000 lives and $174  billion annually. Diabetes is a leading cause of kidney failure, blindness, lower-limb amputations, heart disease and stroke. And it’s all largely preventable.Research shows that people at high risk for developing diabetes can prevent or delay the disease by losing weight, increasing physical activity and improving their diets.
An estimated 1 in 14 San Diegans has diabetes – but roughly 25 percent of them don’t know it. Recognizing the significant impact diabetes prevention can have on local families and our health care systems, the San Diego Diabetes Coalition (SDDC) has developed ICANSANDIEGO, an awareness campaign aimed at empowering the public to make effective lifestyle changes that can help prevent diabetes. cccc cc....ecThe imageLink with I CAN SAN DIEGO at City Heighs Farmer's Market-Your Tube |
