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• December 09, 2003

  Study Shows LaCHIP Reducing Uninsured

  Baton Rouge – A recent study of 10,000 households for the Department of Health and Hospitals indicates the number of children without health insurance has declined. An analysis of the study points to the Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program as a key factor in the reduction. According to the survey, 21.1 percent of Louisiana residents between the ages of 19 and 65 are uninsured, but for those under age 19, only 11.1 percent are without health care coverage.

• November 25, 2003

  Officials Report Seven New West Nile Cases, Two Deaths

  Baton Rouge --- After a recent lull in West Nile activity, the Department of Health and Hospitals today reports seven new West Nile cases, a new St. Louis encephalitis case and two West Nile –related deaths.

• November 17, 2003

  Report Shows Improvement in Louisiana Health

  Baton Rouge— The organization’s State Health Rankings Report ranks Louisiana at 49, up one from last year’s ranking. The report ranks state health based on nine risk factors and eight outcomes, measured from indicators compiled by federal agencies.

• October 01, 2003

  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.

• September 23, 2003

  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.

• September 15, 2003

  Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables!

  Baton Rouge --- When was the last time you munched on crunchy carrot sticks, tart green grapes or a delicious red apple during a snack break at the office? If you regularly forgo the above in favor of chips, candy or crackers, you are in the majority. According to a 2002 Chronic Disease Surveillance Report issued by the Department of Health and Hospitals --- Office of Public Health, more than 84 percent of Louisiana residents do not consume the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

• September 03, 2003

  Health Department Announces Six New West Nile Cases

  Baton Rouge --- The state’s total of 2003 West Nile cases reached 46 Tuesday, with the addition of six new cases from Bossier (two cases), Caddo (two cases), Livingston (one case) and Morehouse (one case) parishes. Although state health officials have reported new cases each week since mid-July, Louisiana’s case count remains significantly lower than that of other states.

• August 19, 2003

  Thirty-Four West Nile Virus Cases In Louisiana

  Baton Rouge --- State health officials today report 13 new human cases of West Nile virus in Louisiana, raising the total from 21 to 34. Nine new cases were from Caddo Parish, where the state’s outbreak is centered. Caddo has 22 out of Louisiana’s 34 cases. Bossier, Livingston, St. Tammany and Union parishes each reported one case in this week’s testing results.

• August 13, 2003

  Immunization Program Vaccinates More Than 11,000

  Baton Rouge — By the scheduled end of the program on Saturday, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health had vaccinated more than 11,846 people statewide through its three-day immunization initiative. Public health officials note that this approximate count may be even higher when final numbers from all of the clinics are reassessed later this week.

• July 28, 2003

  Health Department Reports 10 Confirmed West Nile Cases

  Baton Rouge --- The Department of Health and Hospitals today reports an additional seven cases of West Nile virus meningo-encephalitis, bringing the year’s count to 10 cases so far. One case is from Jefferson Parish, and the other six new cases all came from Caddo Parish. These cases are in addition to the three cases in Caddo, Lafourche and Terrebone parishes that DHH confirmed earlier this month. Five of the total victims are female and the other five are male.

• July 21, 2003

  DHH Releases Blood Mercury Study Results

  Baton Rouge – Above-normal levels of mercury have been found in the blood of some people who consume large amounts of fish from select waterways in north Louisiana. The findings are the result of a five-month study that included 77 participants (43 males and 34 females) from Morehouse, Ouachita and Union parishes.

• July 03, 2003

  Health Department Offers Summertime Safety Tips

  Baton Rouge --- The summer season is a time for swimming, picnicking and playing outdoors. Unfortunately, the good times can quickly turn bad in the form of heatstroke, drowning accidents and mosquito bites. To help keep summer safe, the Department of Health and Hospitals is issuing a list of common summer health threats and steps people can take to lessen their risk of each one.