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Baton Rouge --- After three weeks of West Nile inactivity, the Department of Health and Hospitals today reports seven additional West Nile virus cases. These are the first new cases confirmed in December. Also, an 87-year-old female from Bossier Parish who died in September is being reported as a West Nile-related death.
NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana smokers looking for an easy and thoughtful gift to offer to their loved ones this holiday season need only look as far as their back porch. In addition to fighting mall traffic, spending hundreds of dollars on expensive jewelry and fighting crowds for that perfect last-minute item, tobacco users can give the greatest gift of all: The gift of good health.
Baton Rouge – Teens in Louisiana continue to find it more difficult to purchase tobacco products than their peers in all but one other state.
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.
Baton Rouge --- Amid the celebrations and festivities that will take place throughout the next month, it is important to keep some basic safety tips in mind while preparing your home for the holidays.
The Office for Addictive Disorders has just completed the development of a new Youth Gambling Prevention Web Site - TheGamble.org. Designed with adolescents in mind, it has lots of information, games, quizzes, gambling prevention links and resources and much more!
Baton Rouge --- Technology is leading to faster fast food restaurant inspections. Inspection Tablet Facts OPH sanitarians have conducted 5,415 inspections so far using this new technology The electronic tablets with accessories cost $2,000 each Each tablet setup includes a camera, printer and other peripheral devices Florida and Arizona inspectors are using notebooks and smaller PDAs for restaurant inspections; however, Louisiana is the only state planning usage for all inspections Starting this month, sanitarians working within the Department of Health and Hospitals – Office of Public Health will begin filing their inspection reports with handheld tablet PCs.
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.
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.
Baton Rouge – In an audit of Louisiana’s ability to fight fraud and abuse in its Medicaid program, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) concluded the Department of Health and Hospitals’ efforts have been successful and the results have been impressive. The review also did not find any potential vulnerabilities for fraud or abuse in the state’s Medicaid program.
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.
Baton Rouge --- The West Nile outbreak continues lessening, with only two new cases of the virus reported this week in Rapides and Natchitoches parishes. A new case of St. Louis encephalitis also was reported from Livingston Parish.