• Offices & Administration
• About LDH
• LDH News

LDH News

• August 06, 2003

  Health Department Announces No-Cost Immunizations

  Baton Rouge—Due to the overwhelming success of the recent three-day immunization program, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health announced today that it would continue to have no-cost immunizations during the entire month of August at all parish health units throughout the state. All parents are encouraged to call their private physicians or parish health units if they are unsure about whether or not their children need shots.

• August 04, 2003

  West Nile Case Count Climbs to 15

  Baton Rouge --- The Department of Health and Hospitals today reports five additional cases of West Nile virus meningo encephalitis in Louisiana, raising the state’s count of human cases to 15. The patients reported this week come from Iberia, Lincoln, Ouachita, St. Tammany and Terrebone parishes. Terrebone Parish had a previously reported case of West Nile virus, but the other four parishes are reporting the first human cases this year.

• July 31, 2003

  State Encourages Parents to Seek Health Coverage for Their Kids

  Baton Rouge – Noting that the Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP) is “a key to improving the health of the state” Governor Mike Foster has declared August 2003 as LaCHIP Month in Louisiana. The Department of Health and Hospitals is teaming up with retail outlets, community organizations and government entities to give families preparing for Back-to-School an opportunity to apply for no-cost health insurance from LaCHIP.

• 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 23, 2003

  State and Local Officials Host State and Local Officials Host Full-Scale Emergency Health Response Drill

  New Orleans—The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospital’s Office of Public Health, Region 1, in conjunction with the Region 1 Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and other partners from the greater New Orleans area, will be hosting a full-scale bioterrorism preparedness drill in New Orleans on Thursday at the city’s Emergency Operations Center located in City Hall.

• July 23, 2003

  State and Local Officials Host State and Local Officials Host Full-Scale Emergency Health Response Drill

  New Orleans—The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospital’s Office of Public Health, Region 1, in conjunction with the Region 1 Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and other partners from the greater New Orleans area, will be hosting a full-scale bioterrorism preparedness drill in New Orleans on Thursday at the city’s Emergency Operations Center located in City Hall.

• 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 14, 2003

  16 Birds Positive for WNV; Also 2 Possible Human Cases

  Baton Rouge--- As Louisiana enters the fourth month of West Nile surveillance, the total count for dead birds infected with the virus stands at 97 birds, with 16 new birds testing positive this week.

• 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.

• July 02, 2003

  Keeping Your Drinking Water Safe After Tropical Storm Bill

  Baton Rouge – If you lost water pressure at your tap or if the water pressure was extremely low, Jimmy Guidry, MD, State Health Officer, recommends that homeowners disinfect their water by any one of the following methods prior to consumption (including drinking, cooking, brushing teeth or preparing food):

• June 30, 2003

  West Nile Virus Testing Total Climbs to 81 Dead Birds

  Baton Rouge --- Although no humans have tested positive for West Nile virus this year, the disease still is appearing in the state’s feathered population. Ten dead birds from eight parishes tested positive for the virus last week, raising the state’s testing and surveillance total to 81 dead birds from 42 parishes.

• June 20, 2003

  More Dead Birds: West Nile Count Reaches 71

  Baton Rouge --- After two weeks with no birds testing positive for West Nile virus, the Department of Health and Hospitals today announced that 19 new West Nile virus cases in dead birds have been detected. This brings the total to 71 for this year. Seven parishes that previously had no reports of infected dead birds also have been added to the list. Those seven parishes are Ascension, Bossier, Claiborne, Evangeline, LaSalle, St. Charles and St. John. The virus now has appeared in 41 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes.