California to get federal funds to help identify and treat babies born with microcephaly The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it has awarded more than $16 million to 40 states and territories, including California, to establish, enhance and maintain information-gathering systems to rapidly detect microcephaly – a serious birth defect of the brain – and other adverse outcomes caused by Zika virus infection. According to the announcement, the California Department of Public Health will receive $720,000. The funding will help states and territories ensure that infants and their families are referred to appropriate health and social services. The awards will ... August 8, 2016 Awards, General Public Health, Zika Virus, Maternal and Child Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
August is National Immunization Awareness Month; talk to your patients about the importance of vaccination August marks National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), a national effort to promote vaccinations and protect children and adults from serious, and sometimes deadly, preventable diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), immunizations are one of the top 10 public health accomplishments of the 20th century. Among children born between 1994-2013, vaccination will prevent an estimated 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths over the course of their lifetimes. As part of this important effort, the California Medical Association (CMA) and its county medical societies ... August 8, 2016 General Public Health, Vaccinations, Immunizations 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Medical Association promotes child and adult vaccinations during National Immunization Awareness Month August marks National Immunization Awareness Month, a national effort to promote vaccinations to protect children and adults from serious, and sometimes deadly, preventable diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), immunizations are one of the top 10 public health accomplishments of the 20th century. Among children born during 1994-2013, vaccination will prevent an estimated 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths over the course of their lifetimes. In response, CMA President Steve Larson, M.D., MPH, issued the following statement: “By protecting your loved ones, we ... August 8, 2016 General Immunization, Practice Resources, Public Health, Vaccination, I Heart Immunity 0 0 Comment Read More »
Prepare for Zika transmission in the U.S. with August 10 webinar The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Medical Association (AMA) are hosting an important one-hour webinar next week focused on transmission of the Zika virus in the United States. The webinar will be next Wednesday, August 10, 2016, at 4 p.m. PT. All interested parties are invited to participate in this free webinar. CDC Medical Epidemiologist Susan Hills will present an update on the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the current outbreak. CDC Medical Officer Kiran Perkins, M.D., MPH, will present on the implications for pregnant ... August 5, 2016 General Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health, Webinars, Zika Virus, CDC 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDC urges aggressive screening of pregnant women for Zika The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging physicians to be more aggressive in screening pregnant women for the Zika virus. The new guidance comes amid growing concerns about Zika, which, if contracted by pregnant women, can result in severe birth defects — including microcephaly, which stunts children’s brain development. It has also been implicated in miscarriages and diseases like Guillain-Barre, a neurological disorder that causes temporary paralysis. The CDC update recommends that all pregnant women in the United States and its territories should be “assessed for possible ... August 5, 2016 General Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health, Zika Virus, CDC, Infectious Diseases 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Foundation releases PSAs to raise awareness about important adult immunizations The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation has released public service announcements (PSA), in English and Spanish, to raise awareness about the importance of adult immunizations. The Foundation suggests that physicians turn their attention to adults, who haven’t been as diligent about getting their own shots. Vaccines are important at all ages. While there has been a lot of focus on unvaccinated children, physicians must not lose sight of the vaccines that are important at every age and stage in life. Millions of Californians are newly covered under the Affordable Care Act ... August 5, 2016 General I Heart Immunity, Immunization, Public Health, Vaccination, CMA Foundation (CMAF) 0 0 Comment Read More »
County issues Heat Advisory, high heat temperatures expected this weekend County issues Heat Advisory, high heat temperatures expected this weekend - English Flyer Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare Health Officer for San Bernardino County has issued another excessive heat warning for high temperatures today and through this coming weekend. Temperatures are expected to be above 105°F for the Inland Valley areas and up to 110°F for the high deserts. The mountain areas below 6000 feet will see temperatures up to 102°F. “As another heat wave hits our county, we need to remember to try and stay cool. Check on those most vulnerable, ... July 21, 2016 General Heat Advisory, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDC warns of multistate outbreak of B. cepacia possibly tied to liquid docusate The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a joint warning for a multistate outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia infections (also known as B. cepacia complex). To date, 47 B. cepacia cases have been confirmed from health care facilities in five states. Reports of possible cases from additional states are currently being investigated. CDC has confirmed that two samples of unused oral liquid docusate product received from one of the affected hospitals have tested positive for B. cepacia complex. B. cepacia is a gram-negative ... July 14, 2016 General Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Infectious Diseases, Public Health, CDC 0 0 Comment Read More »
California Cancer Registry publishes materials to help inform patients about cancer reporting The California Cancer Registry (CCR) has published free materials to help physicians better inform patients about the registry and cancer reporting. A patient information brochure and poster are now available to physicians to distribute to cancer patients at the time of their diagnosis. CCR, a program of the California Department of Public Health's Chronic Disease Surveillance and Research Branch, is California's statewide population-based cancer surveillance system and is recognized as one of the leading cancer registries in the world. Since 1988, the registry has collected information about almost all cancers ... June 8, 2016 General Cancer, Public Health, California Cancer Registry (CCR) 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA releases white paper on public health threat of flavored tobacco products The public health threat to youth and minority populations from smoking is climbing because of tobacco companies’ development and predatory marketing of new products such as candy and fruit flavored e-cigarettes, according to a new white paper published by the California Medical Association (CMA). Despite decades of policies and education about the deadly health toll of tobacco’s deadly, new products that appeal to young people and are falsely thought to be healthier have led to an uptick in the numbers of new smokers and in continued use among established smokers, ... June 8, 2016 General Public Health, Smoking, Tobacco, Electronic Cigarettes 0 0 Comment Read More »
