Category: Public Health

A Closer Look At Your Health: Idaho moms do a good job of breastfeeding their babies

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Idaho’s breastfeeding rate is one of the highest in the nation, and that’s something we like to celebrate during National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Breast milk is best, if possible, and we’d like to keep encouraging new moms to consider breastfeeding their babies.

Why is breastfeeding so much better than anything else?

Breastfeeding is the natural, normal way to feed a baby, and it provides a multitude of health benefits for moms and babies. Breast milk provides nutrients that aren’t available any other way and boosts a baby’s immune system. It reduces the risk for a variety of infectious diseases, ear infections and diarrhea. It’s also great for the mom, who often loses pregnancy weight faster and has a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer. It’s good for the environment because there’s no packaging or factories needed to produce it. And – the best part – it’s ready whenever your baby is hungry!  Continue reading “A Closer Look At Your Health: Idaho moms do a good job of breastfeeding their babies” →

Time to check immunization records as kids head back to school

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This month is National Immunization Awareness Month. As summer is winding down and kids are getting ready to go back to school, be sure to check immunization requirements, especially for kindergartners and seventh graders. It’s also a good time to check records for everyone in your family. Getting immunized is a safe and important step to protecting our families and ourselves against serious and even deadly diseases throughout our lives.

What vaccines do we need, and when?

Check with your doctor, or visit www.immunizeidaho.com for immunization schedules for all age groups, including adults. Remember that immunizations not only protect the people who receive the vaccines, they also help protect those not able to be vaccinated because they have weakened immune systems, as well as those who are most vulnerable for serious complications, such as infants and young children, the elderly, and people with chronic health conditions.  Continue reading “Time to check immunization records as kids head back to school” →

Central District Health Department WIC program earns national-level kudos

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CDHD AwardWeb
From left: Lorraine Fortunati, Laurie Valdez, and Cindy Galloway from Central District Health receive the Loving Support Gold Premier Award of Excellence from Idaho WIC staff Cristi Litzsinger, Kris Spain, and Mimi Fetzer. 

The Idaho WIC program would like to congratulate Central District Health Department and its Peer Counseling Program, which recently was awarded the Loving Support Gold Premiere Award of Excellence.

The award was developed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to recognize and celebrate local WIC agencies that provide exemplary breastfeeding programs and support services. The intent is to provide models and motivate other local agencies and clinics to strengthen their breastfeeding promotions and support activities and ultimately increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates among WIC participants. Idaho WIC employees from the Department of Health and Welfare presented the award to the health district last week.

“Peer counselors are key to Idaho WIC’s breastfeeding success and continue to provide mother-to-mother breastfeeding support to WIC participants,” said Cristi Litzsinger, Idaho WIC program manager. “It’s exciting that the program at Central District Health has received this national recognition. We are thrilled to be continually recognized for our efforts in supporting breastfeeding.” Continue reading “Central District Health Department WIC program earns national-level kudos” →

Elmore County reports first human case of West Nile Virus infection this summer

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Idaho’s first 2016 human case of West Nile virus (WNV) infection was confirmed in an Elmore County woman in southern Idaho. The woman, in her 30s, is recovering at home from West Nile fever.

Besides the Elmore County human infection, eight other Idaho counties have detected WNV in mosquitoes since June 28th. An infection of a horse from Payette County also was reported this week.

“West Nile activity has ramped up significantly during the last few weeks across southern Idaho, so people are strongly encouraged to fight the bite of mosquitoes to protect themselves and their families,” says Dr. Leslie Tengelsen, state public health veterinarian. “This is a good warning for all of us to take protective measures, including wearing insect repellent and reducing mosquito habitat around our homes.” Continue reading “Elmore County reports first human case of West Nile Virus infection this summer” →

There are many things adults want to give to loved ones – illness is not one of them

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You want to pass on certain things like family traditions, a grandmother’s quilt or dad’s love of books – but no one wants to pass on a serious illness. Take charge of your health and help protect those around you by asking about vaccines at your next doctor’s visit.

Vaccinating our children is fairly commonplace in the United States. But many adults don’t know which vaccines they need, and even fewer are fully vaccinated. Each year, tens of thousands of adults needlessly suffer, are hospitalized, and even die as a result of diseases that could be prevented by vaccines. In 2014, only 28 percent of adults ages 60 and older had received a shingles vaccine and only 20 percent of adults older than 19 had received a Tdap vaccine.

Vaccine-preventable diseases make you very sick, and they can also make your family members sick. You can help protect your health and the health of your loved ones by getting your recommended vaccines so you don’t spread the infection to them. Babies, older adults and people with weakened immune systems (like those undergoing cancer treatment) are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases. They are also more likely to have severe illness and complications if they do get sick.

Continue reading “There are many things adults want to give to loved ones – illness is not one of them” →

Idaho traveler tests positive for Zika virus infection

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A north Idaho woman over the age of 60 who recently traveled to Mexico is confirmed to have been infected with Zika virus, which can cause severe birth defects if infection occurs in pregnant women. This is the first reported case of Zika virus infection in the state, with Idaho becoming the 47th state to report a travel-related Zika virus infection this year.  The woman reportedly had symptoms, but did not require hospitalization.

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that is most commonly spread through the bite of the Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which are not found in Idaho. Because of this, there is no danger to the general public of the virus circulating through casual contact. Continue reading “Idaho traveler tests positive for Zika virus infection” →

Wildfire Smoke Begins Impacting Air Quality

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Smoke from several Idaho wildfires is impacting air quality for residents of southern and central Idaho.

Smoke from the 10,000 acre Pioneer Fire north of Idaho City, is causing intermittent levels of “Unhealthy” to “Very Unhealthy” air for Idaho City and nearby communities, with smoke drifting down into the Treasure and Magic Valleys causing air quality in the “Moderate” category. The Comet Fire north of Salmon also is producing air quality in the “Moderate” category for Salmon area residents.

Older adults, infants, children and people with medical conditions such as asthma, lung disease, and heart disease are more sensitive to poor air quality and may want to take precautions when air quality is moderate or worse. People who use inhalers for asthma or other conditions should keep them close at hand. Continue reading “Wildfire Smoke Begins Impacting Air Quality” →

Make sure your family is protected against tetanus

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Summer fun often includes lots of time outside, and more than likely some of that time is spent barefoot. When shoes are optional, cuts and scrapes happen more often. Bacteria in the soil can work their way into your body through those cuts and scrapes and make you sick with tetanus.

What is tetanus?

Tetanus is a bacterial infection that affects your nervous system. The bacteria invade the body and produce a toxin that causes your muscles to tighten and cramp painfully. Infection mainly affects the neck, chest, and stomach. Complete recovery can take months, and if it’s not treated it can be deadly. The last reported case in Idaho was in 2013. Continue reading “Make sure your family is protected against tetanus” →

Tips for safely canning your garden harvest and avoiding botulism

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Canning your garden harvest is a great way to preserve it and share it with family and friends, but it can be risky if it’s not done correctly. I know it’s early yet, but harvest time will be here before we know it, and it’s important to be knowledgeable about proper canning techniques so you can make sure your home-canned vegetables aren’t contaminated by the germ that causes botulism.

What is botulism?

Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a bacteria that produces powerful toxins that can lead to serious illness, including paralysis, and even death. The bacteria produce hardy spores that can survive in soil. Fruits, meats, fish, and vegetables could be contaminated with the bacterial spores before canning. The spores can survive, grow as bacteria, and produce toxins in improperly canned jars of food. It can be deadly to take even a small taste of food that has this toxin in it.  Continue reading “Tips for safely canning your garden harvest and avoiding botulism” →

DHW is compiling list of free ultrasound providers, will be available Aug. 1

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The Department of Health and Welfare is in the process of compiling requests to be included in a list of providers, clinics and other facilities that offer free ultrasounds to pregnant women in Idaho who are contemplating abortion.

Providers must fill out a form to be included on the list through July 29. The final list will be available online and in hard-copy form on Aug. 1. Hard copies of the list will be provided whenever resources are given to a woman seeking an abortion.

Starting in 2017, the list will be updated annually on Jan. 1. The program must receive all requests by Dec. 15 to be included in the annual update. Requests must be made using the form on this website, and providers must make the request annually to stay on the list.

For more information, please visit www.abortioninfo.dhw.idaho.gov.