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Three New West Nile Cases, Two Deaths Reported
Baton Rouge --- The 2003 West Nile season still appears to be slowing, with only three new cases reported this week. The new cases were from Bossier, East Baton Rouge and Tangipahoa parishes.
LDH News
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Community Meeting Set to Discuss Cancer Rates in Hackberry
Hackberry, LA. --- Cancer incidence information for Cameron Parish will be presented by the Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) and Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals on Monday, November 3, 2003 in Hackberry, Louisiana.
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Say BOO To Dangerous Trick-or-Treating
Baton Rouge --- Amidst the excitement of eating oodles of goodies and watching ghosts and goblins go by, the Department of Health and Hospitals is encouraging everyone to remember some basic safety tips to keep Halloween safe and happy.
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Grants Awarded to 15 Rural Health Care Providers
Baton Rouge – The Department of Health and Hospitals has awarded grants to 15 health care providers throughout the state, giving them financial assistance to enhance or expand their community-based primary and preventive care services.
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West Nile Case Count Climbs Again
Baton Rouge --- Louisiana now has 84 cases of West Nile virus for the 2003 season. State health officials announced 10 new cases of the virus this week, with three parishes seeing the first human case of West Nile this year. However, since one case was removed from last week’s tally and another was reclassified, the case count only rose by nine, from 75 to 84 cases.
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Depression Screening Program to Begin in New Orleans
Baton Rouge --- While people who rely on public assistance usually seek help for physical ailments, their mental health needs can go unnoticed. Recent studies have shown that approximately 40 percent of people receiving public assistance are clinically depressed. Left untreated, depression can interfere with a person’s everyday health and transition back into society.
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West Nile Virus Cases Reach 75 Humans Statewide
Baton Rouge --- East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Mary, Tangipahoa, Webster and West Carroll parishes all reported new human cases of West Nile this week, which brings the 2003 total to 75 human infections in 20 parishes statewide.
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Statewide CommunityCARE Enrollment Nears Completion
Baton Rouge – The Department of Health and Hospitals’ goal to have all Louisiana parishes enrolled in CommunityCARE by December 2003 is nearing completion. Only Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes have not been enrolled in CommunityCARE, and Medicaid employees are recruiting doctors from those areas to join the program. These three parishes will be fully enrolled in the program by December.
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Antibiotics Overuse Can Lead to Supergerms
Alexandria --- Antibiotics do not cure colds. Unfortunately, prescribing antibiotic drugs for common viral infections or not finishing all of the medication leads to the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria within the body, increasing the number of bacterial infections that are harder to treat because these “supergerms” are present.
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DHH Secretary David Hood Receives American Medical Association Kudos
Gov. Mike Foster announced today that Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary David W. Hood was selected the winner of the 2004 Nathan Davis Award for career public service. The national award is given annually by the American Medical Association (AMA).
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First St. Louis Encephalitis Cases Reported
Baton Rouge --- State health officials report eight new cases of West Nile virus, raising the year’s total to 67 cases. In addition, five cases of St. Louis encephalitis and one death associated with that virus have been reported from the Livingston and East Baton Rouge parishes area.
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Youth Suicide Prevention/Awareness Week Sept. 21-27
Baton Rouge --- The statistics tell an alarming story: every 42 seconds, someone in this country attempts suicide. Someone dies from suicide every 17 minutes. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for adolescents in Louisiana.