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Recreational Water Advisory Lifted
Officials report residents can resume use of the Bogue Chitto River
LDH News
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State Updates West Nile and Zika Case Counts
The Louisiana Department of Health is providing updated information about West Nile and Zika virus cases in the state. There have been two additional West Nile and three additional Zika cases confirmed.
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Gov. Edwards, Our Lady of the Lake Announce New ER in North Baton Rouge
“As the son of a retired emergency room nurse, I know how critical it is for a community to have access to immediate care,” said Gov. Edwards. “While this mission has been a priority for me and many other local officials, it’s the voices of the people in this community that should be credited the most for making this day happen. I am grateful to everyone involved in making this new emergency room possible, especially Our Lady of the Lake and the community leaders who have carried this fight for nearly a year and a half.”
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Our Views: Good news on Medicaid gains
While Louisiana is making progress in its insurance coverage gap with the expansion of Medicaid for the working poor, is there going to be a health services gap?
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Expanded Medicaid Enrollment surges past 300,000; Data shows progress toward improved health
Nearly 12,000 adults, newly enrolled in Medicaid, have received preventative health care services since Medicaid eligibility was expanded on July 1. In addition, more than 305,000 new members have enrolled in the program.
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RECREATIONAL WATER ADVISORY: State health and environmental agencies warn citizens about Bogue Chitto River contamination
On Friday, September 16, a levee breach at the City of Brookhaven’s sewage plant released approximately six million gallons of storm water-diluted sewage to the East Branch of the Bogue Chitto River. Based on information provided by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the Louisiana Department of Health and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality are issuing a water contact advisory for swimming and fishing in the Bogue Chitto River for its entire length in Louisiana. The advisory is effective immediately.
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Louisiana Awaits Help As Media Moves On
This past month, as Americans triumphed in the (sometimes) glistening waters in Rio, other Americans —many thousands of them — once again waded through sludgy, knee-high and deeper inundations to rescue their families, their neighbors, and their cherished belongings. While the country’s attention bobbed between the Olympics and this endless tabloid election, Louisiana families paddled in the darkness – not only was the power out, the media’s bright lights failed to illuminate Louisiana’s struggle and story.
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What Louisiana Tells Us About the ACA Medicaid Expansion
One of the biggest health care stories these days doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves. It is the slow-but-steady expansion of Medicaid, the program that’s been providing insurance to the poor since the 1960s, as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If you follow the political debates about “Obamacare,” chances are you hear much more about changes to the private insurance market and what those changes mean for consumers.
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State Updates West Nile and Zika Case Counts
The Louisiana Department of Health is providing updated information about West Nile and Zika virus cases in the state. There have been 10 additional West Nile and two additional Zika cases confirmed.
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Mosquito-Borne Disease Update: State Reports Three More Zika Cases in Louisiana
This week, the Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed three additional cases of Zika virus. This brings the total to 26 cases of travel-associated Zika confirmed in Louisiana. There are no known locally transmitted cases here. Local transmission occurs when an infected mosquito in the area bites another person in the area and transmits the virus. This local transmission is much more likely in the parishes around Lake Pontchartrain than other areas of the state.
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Updated Mold Removal Guidance for Flood-Affected Residents
For residents who are returning to homes that have been affected by recent flooding, mold removal is a top priority.
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Information for Families with Children with Special Health Care Needs
Children with special medical needs are especially vulnerable