STDs are rising rapidly in Idaho – Here’s what you need to know to protect your health

On By idhwmediaIn Public HealthLeave a comment

TMRtest-F-1000

Talk. Test. Treat. This is national Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness Month and those are three simple things you can do to protect your health. Most people don’t really want to talk about sexually transmitted diseases, but the truth is that a hidden epidemic of STDs is happening in this country – and here in Idaho – right now. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20 million new infections happen each year, and that there are now more than 110 million sexually transmitted infections in men and women in the United States. STDs can cause infertility, stillbirth, neonatal death and other health issues. Continue reading “STDs are rising rapidly in Idaho – Here’s what you need to know to protect your health” →

It’s the Week of the Young Child! We’re celebrating early learning, young children, teachers and Idaho families!

On By idhwmediaIn Family and Community ServicesLeave a comment

WOYC

Contributed by: Ashtin Glōdt, Program Specialist, Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). From April 16 to 21, Idahoans will be celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, and families.

Locally, the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (Idaho AEYC) leads the celebration efforts with community events across the state. This year the Idaho AEYC will be holding a FREE family-friendly outdoor celebration at the Boise Botanical Gardens on Saturday, April 21st. Visit idahoaeyc.org for more information about community events and how to get involved in the Idaho AEYC. Continue reading “It’s the Week of the Young Child! We’re celebrating early learning, young children, teachers and Idaho families!” →

UPDATED: Idaho E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce from Yuma, Ariz.

On By idhwmediaIn Public Health1 Comment

April 20, 2018: UPDATE: As of today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expanding its warning to cover ALL types of romaine from the Yuma, Ariz., growing region, including whole heads and hearts of romaine in addition to chopped romaine from that area. Also, the number of cases in Idaho has increased to 10. More details here.

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Public health officials in Idaho are investigating an outbreak of E. coli infections that are linked to a national outbreak affecting at least 10 other states.

Chopped romaine
Chopped romaine lettuce

At this time, eight Idaho residents have become sick with E. coli infections. All eight people who have become ill report eating romaine lettuce in the 10 days prior to becoming ill. Three individuals were hospitalized, and two have developed kidney failure linked to the E. coli infection. All hospitalized individuals were adults between the ages of 20 and 55. No deaths have been linked to this outbreak.

Initial investigations by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and public health officials in affected states indicate that chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Ariz., growing region, could be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and causing illness. No common grower, supplier, distributor, or brand has been identified yet. Continue reading “UPDATED: Idaho E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce from Yuma, Ariz.” →

Idaho health agencies and EMS join Boise hospitals in national exercise to transport patients with highly infectious disease

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Photo courtesy of Idaho Department of Health and Welfare / Chris Smith
A role-playing “patient” is prepared for boarding a Kalitta Air 747 medical transport aircraft through the nose cone as part of a full-scale emergency preparedness exercise to rehearse capabilities for moving patients with highly infectious diseases, such as Ebola. Four “patients” were transported Wednesday morning from Saint Alphonsus Health System and St. Luke’s Health System by Ada County Paramedics and St. Luke’s Air to the Boise Airport.

 

BOISE – State, local and national emergency personnel rehearsed moving patients with highly infectious disease in Boise today as part of the largest national preparedness exercise of its kind in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services history.

The three-day exercise culminated Wednesday at the Boise Airport/Gowen Field, where four role-playing patients were loaded onto a Kalitta Air 747 medical transport aircraft and flown to regional treatment centers in Spokane, Wash., and Los Angeles, Calif. Idaho does not have the capability to treat patients with highly infectious diseases such as Ebola.

The drill started early Monday morning when people acting as patients with Ebola symptoms arrived at Treasure Valley healthcare facilities. The patients were cared for at the clinics and hospitals, then transported by ambulance to other facilities, before eventually being moved to the Boise Airport and transferred into the medical transport aircraft.

Participants behaved throughout the exercise as if the incident was real, taking necessary actions and employing appropriate resources to manage and protect the patients, the workforce and the environment, as well as safely transport the patients. Continue reading “Idaho health agencies and EMS join Boise hospitals in national exercise to transport patients with highly infectious disease” →

Respect, Ask, Intervene, Notice & Nurture: Preventing sexual assault in Idaho

On By idhwmediaIn Public HealthLeave a comment

sexual violence IdahoThe #MeToo movement on social media has really highlighted the idea that sexual assault is a significant concern for everyone. According to the 2012 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 2 in 5 women and 1 in 5 men in Idaho have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. Since April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, it’s a good time to learn how to support survivors and spread awareness. Continue reading “Respect, Ask, Intervene, Notice & Nurture: Preventing sexual assault in Idaho” →

News from DHW: BYU-Idaho professor Timothy Rarick of Rexburg named to Board of Health and Welfare

On By idhwmediaIn GeneralLeave a comment
Timothy Rarick
New IDHW board member Timothy Rarick, Ph.D.

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter has appointed Rexburg resident Timothy Rarick, Ph.D., to a four-year term on the Idaho Board of Health and Welfare. Rarick is a professor in the Department of Home and Family at Brigham Young University-Idaho and co-founder of the family life education blog FamilyGoodThings.com.

Writing, blogging, teaching, advocating and speaking extensively as “Dr. Tim” on parenting principles, child development, the family as the fundamental unit of society, fatherhood, and other topics, Rarick brings a research-based perspective on children, parents, and families to the board. He also serves on the advisory board for United Families International, the board of Educate Empower Kids, and has spoken several times during the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations. Continue reading “News from DHW: BYU-Idaho professor Timothy Rarick of Rexburg named to Board of Health and Welfare” →

Traveling this spring or summer? Measles may be just a plane ride away

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infographic-measles-contagiousMeasles is one of the most highly contagious diseases in the world. It is just a plane ride away, and sometimes you don’t even have to get on a plane. We have seen several recent reports about people in airports in other states being exposed to measles after an infected person traveled through. As you might be traveling for spring break or making summer vacation travel plans, it’s important to make sure your measles vaccination is up to date. Continue reading “Traveling this spring or summer? Measles may be just a plane ride away” →

Idaho Society of Individual Psychology honors IDHW’s Brandon Clark of Lewiston

On By idhwmediaIn Behavioral Health, GeneralLeave a comment
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IDHW Reg. 2 Clinician Brandon Clark of Lewiston was honored by the Idaho Society of Individual Psychology during its annual conference March 2-3, 2018 in Boise.

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare employees were among those attending this year’s annual Idaho Society of Individual Psychology (ISIP) conference March 2-3 in Boise, with the Division of Public Health, Suicide Prevention Program, and Optum Idaho among the sponsors of the event.

IDHW Region 2 Clinician Brandon Clark, who is on the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team in Lewiston, was awarded the “Significant Adlerian Contributor” award for 2018. Continue reading “Idaho Society of Individual Psychology honors IDHW’s Brandon Clark of Lewiston” →

Saturday, March 24 is World Tuberculosis Day – let’s make history, and #EndTB

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WorldTBDay

(Left to right) IDHW Tuberculosis Program Manager Scott Hutton, Dr. Christine Hahn and Dr. Marcia Witte of the Division of Public Health prepare a display in IDHW’s Central Office to recognize World Tuberculosis Day on Saturday, March 24, 2018.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s ​Tuberculosis Program staff helped promote World TB Day 2018 this week with a display illustrating the lengthy treatment regimen using candy to illustrate the amount of medicine used to treat the disease.  Continue reading “Saturday, March 24 is World Tuberculosis Day – let’s make history, and #EndTB” →