Category: Public Health

Rabies: What to do when you wake up and there’s a bat in the room (after you scream!)

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As people head out to enjoy the outdoors this summer or stay outside later with daylight savings time, it’s a good time to talk about how to avoid being exposed to rabies, which is a fatal disease caused by a virus. While many people still associate contracting rabies with domestic dog bites, since 1960 the majority of all rabid animal cases in the U.S. have been with wild animals and bats.

Why is rabies so scary?

Because it is 100 percent fatal for people and animals who do not get timely medical attention. A couple of people in the United States die each year from it, usually because they’ve been bitten or scratched by an animal and didn’t seek medical attention soon after. Continue reading “Rabies: What to do when you wake up and there’s a bat in the room (after you scream!)” →

Think you may have strep throat? See your health care professional ASAP

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Strep throat is pretty common in children, and medical professionals can do a quick test to determine if an infection is strep. The trick is to get the test and get treatment started as soon as possible to help you feel better, prevent long-term health problems such as joint, heart, and kidney disease, and prevent spreading it to others.

What differentiates a sore throat from strep throat?

Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils that is caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. Continue reading “Think you may have strep throat? See your health care professional ASAP” →

West Nile virus detected in eastern Idaho mosquitoes

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WNVLogo2007Mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus (WNV) were detected in Bannock County on June 1, 2017, prompting health officials to remind people to take precautions to fight the bite. The positive mosquitoes, which are the first detected in the state this year, were collected by the Bannock County Mosquito Abatement District.

Last year, 10 counties across the state reported finding WNV-positive mosquito pools; nine people and 10 infected horses were reported. Although this first detection in 2017 occurred in eastern Idaho, WNV has been detected in most counties since it was introduced into the state in 2004; the majority of detections have been in central and southwestern Idaho. Continue reading “West Nile virus detected in eastern Idaho mosquitoes” →

Stay safe and healthy when you cool off in the water this summer

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It’s finally warming up outside, and as school ends and summer begins, you may be thinking about taking the kids to the pool, water park, lake or beach. Before you go, here are a few tips to keep you and your family safe from drowning – and from possibly getting sick.

Let’s start with drowning. What the most important thing to do to help keep people and children safe?

Ten people drown in the U.S. every day, and many are children. From 2011 through 2015, drowning was the second-leading cause of injury death for Idaho kids aged 1 to 9, exceeded only by motor vehicle accident fatalities. The most important thing to do is to simply pay attention. Continue reading “Stay safe and healthy when you cool off in the water this summer” →

Protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays

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Memorial Day weekend traditionally kicks off the summer season for most Idaho families. We’ll be spending lots of time in the sun (we hope), and many of us won’t protect ourselves from its damaging rays. So I’m here to tell you that Friday is Don’t Fry Day, and it’s a good time to make a promise to yourself to be more responsible in the sun. Sunburns add up. Every time you get a sunburn, your risk for skin cancer increases.

If you’re outside for less than an hour, is it really necessary to take precautions?  

The sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage skin – especially fair skin — in as little as 15 minutes, but it can take up to 12 hours for the full effect of sun exposure to show up. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with melanoma being the deadliest form. Idahoans have a higher rate of melanoma than the national average and the highest death rate in the nation. Continue reading “Protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays” →

Memorial Day Weekend is the start of summer – let’s make it a safe one this year

On By idhwmediaIn Public Health1 Comment

DworshakCampIdaho experienced one of the harshest winters on record and this spring has been unseasonably soggy, but Memorial Day weekend has finally arrived as the unofficial start to the summer season. As you get ready to hit the road, pack coolers for picnics and camping trips, and enjoy the sun, water and great outdoors, here are some health and safety reminders so you and your family have an enjoyable summer.  Continue reading “Memorial Day Weekend is the start of summer – let’s make it a safe one this year” →

Wet spring may mean higher mosquito-borne virus risk – Fight the bite!

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WNVLogo2007It seems like it’s just starting to warm up and feel like spring, so is it mosquito season already?

Mosquito abatement districts are surveying and treating for mosquitoes earlier than usual this year because spring has been so wet and there has been widespread flooding across Idaho. Now is a good time to go over the precautions you should take to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites.

Other than an itchy bite mark, what’s the risk of getting bit by a mosquito?

Zika virus has been in the news a lot, but in Idaho and the rest of the United States, we worry the most about mosquitoes transmitting West Nile virus. This early in the season, we’ve had no reports of West Nile in mosquitoes, humans or horses. Last season in Idaho, West Nile virus was detected in nine symptomatic people, 10 horses, and a multitude of mosquitoes located across fifteen different counties. Fortunately, there were no deaths. Continue reading “Wet spring may mean higher mosquito-borne virus risk – Fight the bite!” →

Know the ABC’s of viral hepatitis

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hepatitis awarenessViral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and it’s estimated that 4.4 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis, and most don’t know they’re infected. May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to learn more about this infectious disease, your risks of getting infected and to find out your status by getting tested.

What are the different types of hepatitis?

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver, and there are three common types of hepatitis in the United States: Hepatitis A, B, and C. Continue reading “Know the ABC’s of viral hepatitis” →

Are your children current on their immunizations?

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This week is National Infant Immunization Week and it’s also World Immunization Week, so it’s a good time to talk about the importance of protecting infants in Idaho and around the world from vaccine-preventable diseases.

This week, the focus is on infants. Why infants specifically instead of all children?

While it’s important that all children have received the recommended vaccinations, giving babies the recommended immunizations by the time they are 2 is the best way to protect them from 14 serious childhood diseases, including whooping cough and measles. Parents are encouraged to talk to their child’s doctor to make sure their babies’ immunizations are up-to-date.

Some parents may not trust that vaccines are safe, so they may not immunize their children. What would you say to those parents?  

We know that parents want to do what’s best for their children, and if they have concerns about the safety or necessity of a particular vaccine, they should talk to their children’s doctors about that. Generally, vaccines are very safe, and they are monitored continuously to make sure they stay that way.  Continue reading “Are your children current on their immunizations?” →

Best way to stay safe around canals? Stay away

On By idhwmediaIn Public Health1 Comment

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Across the state, Idaho is experiencing record spring run-off from a historic winter season snowpack, causing rivers and streams to run fast and full. To help water managers reduce the risk of flooding, many irrigation canals have opened early. So, it’s a good time to talk about canal safety and drowning prevention.

What’s the best way to stay safe around irrigation canals?

That’s simple: Stay away. Never, ever swim or play in a canal. And that message is not just for children, it’s for adults too. Both children and adults drown each year in Idaho canals, and records from the Idaho Care Line show that more children drown in canals than any other body of water in Idaho annually. In fact, Idaho has the nation’s second highest unintentional drowning rate for children aged 1-to-5. Continue reading “Best way to stay safe around canals? Stay away” →