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Parish health units across the state of Louisiana will be joining in the observance of National Infant Immunization Week, an annual event to promote the benefits of immunizations and to focus on the importance of having children up-to-date on their immunizations by age two. This year’s event will be held from Saturday, April 22 through Saturday, April 29, 2006.
A study conducted by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health shows dust and sediment from Hurricane Katrina did not cause an increase in severe respiratory problems for people living in the Greater New Orleans area.
It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a community effort to raise a healthy child. Creating a better environment for children that will allow them to grow up stronger and healthier is the focus of this year’s National Public Health Week.
In December, the Department of Health and Hospitals began a campaign to increase the number of hospital workers who received an annual influenza vaccine. The immunization campaign resulted in many hospitals throughout Louisiana making bolder efforts to vaccinate their workers against this serious and potentially fatal illness. The Louisiana Hospital Association assisted DHH in the effort by sending educational materials to infectious control practitioners in member hospitals.
Following the deactivation of Victim Identification Center in Carville, La. last week by the federal Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team, the process to identify and release human remains attributed to Hurricane Katrina will continue from Orleans Parish.
Thousands of people have incurred medical costs since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and have no way to pay these bills. Relief for these individuals is now available.
Louisiana’s electronic system for tracking childhood immunizations has received the highest award from the American Immunization Registry Association for its excellent service during Hurricane Katrina.
Individuals who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina are urged to contact the Find Family National Call to determine if they are being classified as a missing person. In addition, family members, friends and relatives who once called the Center to report a missing person, and who have since found that person, are also asked to call the Center.
Beginning this weekend, New Orleans will see a surge of tourists and visitors to the city for Mardi Gras. The Department of Health and Hospitals has worked with the New Orleans City Health Department, the federal Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Louisiana Hospital Association and LSU medical system to provide medical treatment in the area.
Recovered Bodies – At this time, state officials, working in conjunction with coroners from local parishes, have recovered 1,103 bodies.
When the bell at the Find Family National Call Center finished ringing at 1:24 p.m. yesterday afternoon, 10 more missing people had been found, and the total number of people missing because of Hurricane Katrina had fallen to below 2,000.