Office of the Secretary

State health officials today confirmed nine new West Nile virus cases, urging Louisiana residents to continue to protect their health and Fight the Bite. No West Nile deaths occurred this week. The State is experiencing its most active year for West Nile since 2002, which was the major outbreak year of the virus in Louisiana. So far, there have been 321 cases and 12 deaths from the disease reported this year.

State health officials remind Louisiana residents that West Nile virus remains a threat, as the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals today confirms nine new West Nile virus cases. Also, one death from West Nile occurred this week. This year, Louisiana is experiencing the most West Nile cases since its 2002 outbreak year, with 312 cases and 12 deaths from the disease reported.

For the first time, Louisiana families, policymakers and advocates have a central, easily accessible website to track numerous indicators of children’s well-being, including health outcomes, educational progress and poverty level. This allows the public, at a glance, to see how the State compares nationally and what progress is being made.

State health officials today confirmed 36 new West Nile virus cases and one newly reported death from the disease. Louisiana is experiencing its highest number of reported West Nile infections in recent years, with 251 cases and 11 deaths from the disease thus far in 2012.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has rescheduled a public stakeholder meeting on its final Medicaid Pharmacy Program reform concept, which was originally set for Wednesday, Aug. 29 but postponed because of Hurricane Isaac.

BATON ROUGE - Many Louisiana residents will spend this weekend outdoors, cleaning up debris from Hurricane Isaac, and the Department of Health and Hospitals reminds them to take precautions against heat stroke.

Today, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals released its final pharmacy reform concept and announced a public stakeholder meeting next Wednesday, Aug. 29, to present the department’s plans and answer questions about the modernization of Louisiana's Medicaid pharmacy program.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals will hold a Telehealth Vendor Exhibition Fair from 8:30 a.m. until noon on Wednesday, August 22, in the Bienville Building, 628 North 4th Street, Baton Rouge, in conference room 118. This event is open to the public. There is no cost to attend, and participants do not need to register in advance.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein received the March of Dimes President’s Prematurity Leadership Award on behalf of the state, for programs and policies health officials have implemented in the past two years to reduce the number of babies born too early.