August 2006

August 15, 2006
Annie Kim
WREG TV
MEMPHIS, TN – The new school year means new teachers and new friends for students. But health officials are focused on developing healthy minds through good habits.
“Children going back to school are going to be exposed to colds, upper respiratory things,” said School Health Supervisor Kathleen Johnston.
Five year old Ladvicus Sampson is starting Kindergarten this year. Jamie Sampson said she’s making sure her son practices good hygiene.
“Make sure he keeps his face clean, his nails clean and his hands clean all of that,” said Sampson.Continue Reading Back to School Health Concerns

August 15, 2006
Newswise — Educating your child’s immune system is an important part of preventing disease and an important part of preparing for the upcoming school year.
Children can be immunized against a number of serious infectious diseases by receiving vaccines, said Andrew J. White, M.D., a pediatrician at Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Some vaccinations are given at birth and most are scheduled throughout early childhood, but important boosters should be given to school-age children.
“By following a regular schedule, and making sure a child is properly immunized, parents can ensure the best defense against dangerous childhood diseases, such as polio, measles and hepatitis,” said White. “This protection is long-lasting, and will work this school year, next school year and into adulthood.”Continue Reading Add Vaccinations to Your Child’s Back-to-School Supply List

Aug 15, 2006
WILMINGTON — August is National Immunization Awareness Month. A lot of people don’t like needles, but getting vaccinated is important to your health and disease prevention. That’s the message from the New Hanover County Health Department.
The health department says they have some new vaccines and ways of helping you keep track of what you’ve been vaccinated against.
If you get your shots at the health department, they’re registered with the North Carolina immunization registry. It’s a computerized database that keeps track of all your shots.Continue Reading August is National Immunization Awareness Month

2006-08-14
NINETY-THREE teachers and students have been quarantined in a high school in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region after 69 students contracted acute hepatitis A, health officials said.
Fifty-six of the 69 students were still hospitalized yesterday. Yu Yang, deputy director of the Pingnan County Health Bureau, said Siwang Township reported 77 acute hepatitis A cases from July 21 to Wednesday, 69 of whom are students of the Siwang Township No. 2 High School.
As of yesterday, 13 of the 77 patients had recovered and been discharged from hospital.Continue Reading Outbreak leads to quarantine

(Xinhua)
2006-08-13
NANNING — Ninety-three teachers and students have been quarantined in a high school in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as 69 students of the school have contracted acute hepatitis A over the past 20 more days, local health official said on Sunday.
At press time, 56 of the 69 students are still hospitalized.
Yu Yang, deputy director of the Pingnan County Health Bureau, said Siwang Township reported 77 acute hepatitis A cases from July 21 to August 9, 69 of whom are students of the Siwang Township No. 2 High School. As of Sunday, 13 of the 77 patients have recoverd and been discharged from hospital.Continue Reading Hepatitis A knocks down 69 students in Guangxi

CP Health News
August 10, 2006
LOWER SACKVILLE, N.S. (CP) – Three more people have been diagnosed with hepatitis A – a temporary, flu-like illness – following an outbreak in a community outside Halifax.
That brings to 10 the number of confirmed cases of the virus in Lower Sackville, N.S.

Aug 9, 2006
Canadian Press
LOWER SACKVILLE, N.S. (CP) – Three more people have been diagnosed with hepatitis A – a temporary, flu-like illness – following an outbreak in a community outside Halifax.
That brings to 10 the number of confirmed cases of the virus in Lower Sackville, N.S.
In mid-July, dozens of people began experiencing flu-like symptoms.
Public health officials said last month they had traced the infection back to a community barbecue in mid-June.
But Geoff Wilson, a spokesman for the Capital Health District, said Tuesday other potential sources are being considered as well.
He said they’re attempting to trace the whereabouts of each infected person.Continue Reading Nova Scotia health officials confirm three more hepatitis A cases

The Chronicle Herald
Halifax, Nova Scotia
August 9, 2006
Three more people in Lower Sackville have been found to be infected with hepatitis A, public health officials announced Tuesday.
These cases are connected to a local outbreak that began in early June. Last week, the Capital district health authority said seven cases had been identified…

August 9, 2006
Journal Pioneer (Summerside)
CP
Three more people have been diagnosed with hepatitis A following an
outbreak in a community outside of Halifax.
That brings to 10 the number of confirmed cases of the virus in Lower
Sackville, N.S.
In mid-July dozens of people began experiencing flu-like symptoms.
Public health officials said last…

by Angie Newsome
ANEWSOME@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
August 8, 2006
ASHEVILLE — Lice. Colds. Ringworm. Ah, to be a kid in school.
Getting sick at school is a rite of passage, like learning to write or do algebra. Just take a look at the chart above, which includes everything from mumps to meningitis.
But there are some things you can do to keep diseases at bay as the school year gears up. Last year, a whooping cough outbreak spread throughout the county, more than 50 cases.
The top piece of advice from Dr. Susan Mims, medical director at the Buncombe County Health Center? Wash your hands.
“I can’t emphasize enough that with all the immunizations and all the things we offer that probably the most effective way to prevent the spread everything on the list is good hand washing,” she said. “We need to teach them to wash their hands and model that for them.”Continue Reading With school year starting, have children wash hands to stop spread of disease