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The Department of Health and Hospitals today confirms 53 new human cases of West Nile virus. These new cases mark 145 reported infections of West Nile in Louisiana so far in 2012, the highest number of cases the state has seen in the past several years. The state also confirmed three deaths from West Nile this week. So far in 2012, nine people have died from this disease.
Louisiana continues to see an increase in West Nile virus infections, with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals reporting 15 new cases and four deaths from the disease. So far this year, six people have died from the virus, and DHH has detected 68 cases. More than half – 37 -- of this year’s cases are West Nile neuro-invasive disease, the more serious form of the virus that infects the brain and spinal cord and can cause brain damage or death. This is the highest total of West Nile neuro-invasive infections that have occurred in the state since 2006.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has confirmed the state's first West Nile Virus deaths in four years. Two people have died of neuroinvasive disease (NID), the most serious form of the virus, this year. These deaths are the state's first since 2008, when one person died of the disease. Since there has been a recent sharp increase in NID cases, DHH is now reporting total West Nile Virus deaths as part of its weekly surveillance report.
August is National Breastfeeding Month, and Gov. Bobby Jindal proclaimed this month in Louisiana as an opportunity to highlight the health benefits of breastfeeding, encourage more families to choose this option and call on the community to support breastfeeding and make it easier for women and families to participate.
The new school year is almost here, but will your child be ready? Besides shopping for supplies, the back-to-school checklist should include making sure your child has an up-to-date immunizations record. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals reminds parents that ensuring children have received their necessary vaccinations is not only important, it’s the law.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has confirmed 19 additional human cases of West Nile Virus, bringing this year's total to 33, which includes 13 new cases of the potentially deadly neuroinvasive disease (NID). The new NID cases were reported from Caddo, Concordia, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Ouachita, Rapides and St. Tammany parishes. There were also new West Nile Fever (WNF) cases in Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge and St. Tammany parishes and new asymptomatic cases in Concordia, Rapides and Terrebonne parishes. These cases are detailed parish by parish in DHH's weekly Louisiana Arbovirus Surveillance Reports Section of the DHH Website here.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has confirmed four additional human cases of West Nile Virus, bringing this year's total to 14, which includes one case of neuroinvasive disease from St. Tammany Parish. The four new cases are from Bossier, East Baton Rouge, St. Tammany and West Baton Rouge parishes. These cases are reported in DHH's weekly Louisiana Arbovirus Surveillance Reports Section of the DHH Website here.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has confirmed six additional human cases of West Nile Virus, bringing this year's total to 10, which includes two cases of neuroinvasive disease. The six new cases come from East Feliciana, Jefferson, Rapides, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes. These cases are reported in DHH's weekly Louisiana Arbovirus Surveillance Reports Section of the DHH Website here.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has confirmed three additional human cases of West Nile Virus, one of them the potentially deadly neuroinvasive disease. The neuroinvasive disease case was an adult in Vernon Parish and the two adult asymptomatic cases were in Tangipahoa Parish. The new cases were confirmed last week. This year, Louisiana has had a total of four human West Nile Virus infections; one was neuroinvasive disease and three were asymptomatic cases.
With many in Louisiana retreating to the water to cool off as summer temperatures rise, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) urge parents and caregivers to keep children safe in and around water this summer by ensuring that young children are properly supervised.
Louisiana had the nation's fourth highest AIDS case rate in 2010, and Baton Rouge and New Orleans were first and fifth, respectively, among U.S. cities in AIDS case rates. These high rankings emphasize the necessity for Louisianians to take action by getting tested for HIV.
Louisiana is experiencing record-breaking high temperatures. The heat, coupled with high humidity, can cause potentially deadly heat-related illnesses. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the Department of Children and Family Services encourage residents to take simple precautions to ensure their safety in the summer heat: