Category: Public Health

A Closer Look At Your Health: Preventing norovirus

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(Note: A Closer Look At Your Health airs at 6:50 a.m. most Tuesdays on KBOI News Radio 670. This is an edited transcript of the segment that aired April 5.)

This nasty little virus tends to be thought of as a cruise ship illness because outbreaks on ships sound like a terrible vacation — and that’s when the media tends to cover it the most. But for most of us, there’s a better chance of becoming infected in restaurants, long-term care facilities like nursing homes and in other places where people gather and share bathrooms, including day cares, schools, camps, and big events. It’s so highly contagious – a very small amount of the virus can make you sick. It’s estimated that a person will get norovirus five times in their life.

What does norovirus do to us?

It’s not pleasant. Norovirus causes gastroenteritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. That leads to stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The virus is found in the vomit and stool of infected people. Other symptoms include stomach pain, fever, headache and body aches.  Continue reading “A Closer Look At Your Health: Preventing norovirus” →

It’s not too late to get the flu. Seriously.

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Don’t let the warmer temperatures fool you – flu is still circulating widely in Idaho. The number of flu-related deaths has seen a bump in the past several weeks, and public health officials are advising Idahoans to take precautions to avoid getting sick.

“It’s a very late season compared to previous seasons,” said DHW’s State Epidemiologist Dr. Christine Hahn. “People are still at risk for serious complications related to the flu. This season’s vaccine is a good match for the circulating strains. If you haven’t gotten it yet, it would be a good idea to do so.”

So far this season, the state has had reports of 16 flu-related deaths, many of which didn’t happen until the last couple of months. The number of deaths typically lags behind the season, so it’s possible there will be more. The state reported 32 flu-related deaths during the 2014-2015 flu season.  Continue reading “It’s not too late to get the flu. Seriously.” →

What you need to know about Zika virus infection and pregnancy

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Zika virus is scary for women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. A lot of information has been in the news about this mosquito-borne infection and how it affects pregnancies, and we thought it would be a good idea to revisit this topic to discuss what we do and don’t know.

So let’s go over the basics first. How does a pregnant woman get infected with Zika?

The most common way is from the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquito that can carry the virus is not found in Idaho, but it is found in some southern areas of the United States as well as the countries having an outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention keeps a list and issues travel advisories for countries experiencing an outbreak. A pregnant woman also can be infected if she engages in unprotected sexual activity with a man who is infected.  Continue reading “What you need to know about Zika virus infection and pregnancy” →

Saint Alphonsus earns designation as Time Sensitive Emergency Level II Trauma, Stroke Center

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Group photo with certificates
From left: Nichole Whitener, Neurology and Research Integrity manager at Saint Alphonsus; Dick Armstrong, director of Idaho Department of Health and Welfare; Jane Spencer, ACNS-BC, Stroke Program coordinator at Saint Alphonsus; Dr. Karen Porth, neurologist at Saint Alphonsus Neuroscience Institute; Dr. Bill Morgan, trauma surgeon and trauma medical director at Saint Alphonsus, as well as chairman of the Time-Sensitive Emergency Council show the certificates touting the designations the hospital has earned.

Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise has become the first hospital in Idaho to be designated by the State of Idaho’s Time Sensitive Emergency (TSE) Statewide Council as a Level II Stroke Center. Saint Alphonsus has simultaneously received recertification as the region’s only Level II Trauma Center. The designations represent an evidence-based approach to highly organized systems of care in the event of a stroke or traumatic injury. Saint Alphonsus achieved the designations by demonstrating improved patient outcomes, lowered costs, reduced preventable deaths and improved quality of life for patients.

The Time Sensitive Emergency Council is an organization selected by the Idaho Legislature to develop a statewide Time Sensitive Emergency system of care to address three of the top five causes of death in Idaho: trauma, stroke, and heart attack. The Level II Stroke and Trauma designations account for performance in 911 access, response coordination, transport, pre-hospital response, hospital emergency and acute care, rehabilitation, quality improvement, public education and prevention efforts. Idaho’s TSE program has created three designation levels for stroke centers, five levels for trauma centers and two levels for heart attack centers.  Continue reading “Saint Alphonsus earns designation as Time Sensitive Emergency Level II Trauma, Stroke Center” →

Children act fast, and so do poisons. Would you know what to do in an emergency?

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Most poisoning emergencies are unexpected and happen quickly in our homes. The majority of non-fatal poisonings involve children younger than 6. And for adults, poisoning is the No. 1 cause of injury death in the United States. This week is National Poison Prevention Week, so it’s a good time to think about what you would do in a poisoning emergency.

Are young children most at-risk for a poisoning accident?

In 2014, poisoning was the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths among all Idahoans, with children younger than 6 being most at-risk. It is extremely important for parents of small children to keep medications, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, cosmetics and other potentially poisonous items out of their reach. The Nebraska Regional Poison Center, which receives all of Idaho’s calls, had more than 15,000 calls in 2014 from Idaho residents. The majority of those were from parents of children ages 6 and younger. Continue reading “Children act fast, and so do poisons. Would you know what to do in an emergency?” →

Colorectal cancer is preventable with screening

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No one really wants to think too hard about getting a colonoscopy. It’s embarrassing, kind of gross, and it’s uncomfortable. But it’s something everyone needs to consider because colorectal, or colon, cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Idaho and the third most common cancer overall for men and women.

Who should be tested?

Everyone who is 50 and older should get screened. You don’t have to have a family history of colon cancer to be at risk. Regular screening for everyone in that age range would mean as many as 60 percent of deaths from colon cancer could be avoided. Idaho currently ranks 44th in the nation for colon cancer screening, with 1 in 3 Idahoans older than 50 needing to be screened. We can definitely do better!  Continue reading “Colorectal cancer is preventable with screening” →

County Health Rankings: Valley County is Idaho’s healthiest

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Idaho has some good things going for it: Residents largely have access to gyms, trails and other locations for exercise; we don’t overdo it when it comes to preventable hospital stays; and most of our children are being raised in two-parent families.

And if you live in Valley County, you are fortunate to live in one of Idaho’s healthiest counties.

This is all according to The County Health Rankings and Roadmaps (CHRR), which were published today. The report analyzes a heap of data to evaluate our overall health and well-being at the community level. It evaluates individual counties according to their overall health, which can be either quite exciting or distressing, depending on your county’s ranking.  Continue reading “County Health Rankings: Valley County is Idaho’s healthiest” →

This cute little chick could harbor Salmonella bacteria. Make sure you wash your hands after touching it.

They’re cute, but Easter chicks, ducklings, and even adult chickens can carry Salmonella

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Chicks and ducklings in local farm supply stores are a sure sign of spring. It’s time to establish or replenish backyard flocks. It’s also just before Easter, when some people may be thinking about giving baby birds to children as gifts.

This cute little chick could harbor Salmonella bacteria. Make sure you wash your hands after touching it.
This cute little chick could harbor Salmonella bacteria. Make sure you wash your hands after touching it.

But it’s important to be aware that all poultry can transmit potentially harmful bacteria to people who touch them. Public health and agriculture officials encourage people to be aware of the risks of Salmonella infection before purchasing poultry, particularly for the very young, the old, and those with compromised immune systems.

“Owning chicks and ducklings can be fun, but we want to discourage impulse buying of these animals for Easter,” said Dr. Leslie Tengelsen, state public health veterinarian. “They grow into adults fairly quickly, and a long-term commitment to raising them needs to be in place. Those who raise backyard poultry should be knowledgeable about animal care and disease risks before venturing into that activity. Chickens and ducks can transfer potentially harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella, to anyone who handles them if precautions aren’t taken.”  Continue reading “They’re cute, but Easter chicks, ducklings, and even adult chickens can carry Salmonella” →

Are you getting enough sleep?

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Getting enough sleep is a nightly battle for busy Americans, who need at least 7 hours each night. But it’s a battle worth winning because sleep is such an important part of good health.

Why is it a bad idea to consistently not get enough sleep?

Getting enough sleep is just as important to your overall health as regular exercise and healthy eating. Sleeping less than 7 hours a night on a regular basis can affect a person’s ability to make good decisions and increases the chance of getting into a vehicle accident. Sleep deprivation also increases the risk for heart disease, diabetes and several other chronic diseases. It could even cause a person to gain weight or die at a younger age than those who get the recommended amount of sleep.  Continue reading “Are you getting enough sleep?” →

Idaho’s Epidiolex Expanded Access Program has now enrolled 15 children

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Idaho’s Epidiolex Expanded Access Program hit a new double-digit milestone recently. 15 children are now enrolled and taking part in the program, and another 7 are scheduled for screenings.

A little history…

The governor’s office authorized the establishment of an FDA-approved Epidiolex Expanded Access program for children with treatment-resistant epilepsy in April 2015 and directed the Department of Health and Welfare to oversee it. So we’ve been working with a doctor, the drug company, FDA and the Drug Enforcement Agency to create the program and get it up and running. Dr. Robert Wechsler, who is running the program, began screening and enrolling children in December.  Continue reading “Idaho’s Epidiolex Expanded Access Program has now enrolled 15 children” →