Public Health

Pursuant to the provisions ofLSA RS 40:5.3, as amended and re-enacted by Act 1 of the First Regular Legislative Session of 1988, and RS 40:5, the Precautionary Closure of Molluscan shellfish waters in Louisiana effective dated December 11, 2015 is hereby rescinded.

Mothballs are classified as a pesticide and used to control moths, silverfish and other fiber pests in wool and other natural fiber clothing and materials. Mothballs should only be used as specified on the label, and their use is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has been awarded approximately $1.4 million through two competitive five-year grants funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve worker safety and reduce water contamination.

Under an oyster transplanting program, licensed Louisiana oyster harvesters may be permitted to move oysters from the public oyster seed grounds located in Lake Borgne and Mississippi Sound (DHH harvest areas 1 and 2) and transplant them to their private leases for later harvest. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries are implementing this program for the purpose of moving live oyster resources from restricted areas of the public oyster seed grounds to private leases.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has closed Oyster Beds 01 through 07 as a precautionary measure due to the presence of karenia brevis, also known as Red Tide, in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) awarded a combined $9.61 million in loans to Point Wilhite Hill Water System Inc. and Iberville Parish through the State's Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund (DWRLF). The low-interest subsidized loans will help improve the communities' drinking water systems.

With influenza (flu) season upon us, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Secretary Kathy H. Kliebert, DHH Regional Medical Director Dr. Tina Stefanski and Academy of Health Careers at Lafayette High School Director Jennifer Morrow promoted ways to fight the flu by receiving their annual flu vaccinations Nov. 18 at Lafayette High School.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) confirmed one new case of West Nile Virus this week. Of the 55 total cases this year, 34 are neuroinvasive disease (WN-NID), seven West Nile fever and 14 asymptomatic. DHH also confirmed two additional West Nile Virus deaths, bringing the total number of deaths this year to four. The deaths occurred in DHH Regions 4, 2, 7 and 9 consecutively.