Public Health News
Welcome to the Department of Public Health's Online Newsroom, a one-stop source for community members seeking public health information, news, and new activities within the Department.
Real-Time News
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
Follow the most recent seasonal influenza activity map for the entire country as well as the activity levels from previous weeks in the current flu season.
The seasonal flu vaccines are available at this time. The vaccine will protect you from the seasonal flu strains expected this year but will not protect you from the H1N1 flu virus. Seasonal flu shots are recommended for:
- Children age 6 months up to 19 years;
- Pregnant women;
- People age 50 and older;
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions;
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;
- People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:a. Health care workers; b. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu; c. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months old.
In California, most seasonal flu vaccine is provided by individual healthcare providers, large employers and pharmacies.
More Resources
Guidance on Seasonal Flu/H1N1
Guia de H1N1/Gripe
CDPH Vaccine Information
Vacunas y Mi Salud
USDA TO LAUNCH HIGH TUNNEL PILOT STUDY TO INCREASE AVAILABILITY OF LOCALLY GROWN FOODS
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2009 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced a new pilot project under the 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative for farmers to establish high tunnels - also known as hoop houses - to increase the availability of locally grown produce in a conservation-friendly way. Merrigan and other Obama administration officials highlighted opportunities available for producers in a video posted on USDA's YouTube channel at, which shows high tunnels recently installed in the White House garden. Read More
Dec. 6 – 12 is National Handwashing Awareness Week.
Proper handwashing is essential in preventing the flu and many other diseases. To learn more about the importance of handwashing in the prevention of disease, visit the Henry the Hand .
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 "Communities Putting Prevention to Work" (CPPW)
The Tulare County Public Health Department is submitting a joint-proposal with the State of California (CDPH) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 "Communities Putting Prevention to Work" (CPPW). If funded this award will allow Tulare County, in collaboration with various partners, to implement policy, system-level, and environmental change in one focused area: 1) obesity, physical activity and nutrition. If funded, this proposal will make disease prevention and health promotion a top priority for deterring the appalling and unacceptable health status data in Tulare County.
This proposal will only be effective through mobilizing and expanding existing local resources, developing sustainable population-based and proven strategies, and incorporating “Health in all Policies” through systems, organizational and environmental changes in communities and schools.TCPHD organized a small meeting of stakeholders with expertise in nutrition education and obesity prevention on November 10, 2009. The small meeting consisted mainly of gathering ideas based on individuals' expertise and experience and to explain the requirements of the proposal.
TCPHD staff have had to move quickly and have been working on the proposal whose deadline is quickly approaching. As more information is available, a mini-grant proposal will be made available for initiatives that increase access for physical activity and healthy foods opportunities. This mini-grant proposal will specifically solicit collaborative efforts from cities, community-based organizations, and selected school districts in Tulare County.
November is American Diabetes Month®
a time to shine a spotlight on a serious disease that leads to potentially life-threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation.
This year, we need to take a bolder, more audacious approach to American Diabetes Month. Consider that:
* 24 million children and adults in the United States live with diabetes
* 57 million Americans are at risk for type 2 diabetes
* 1 out of every 3 children born today will face a future with diabetes if current trends continue
In a State ranking of counties by death rates due to specific causes, Tulare ranked among the worst in California for Diabetes (55 out of 58) . (CDPH, 2009) The burden of diabetes in Tulare County has continued to increase over the last several years. In the most recent CHIS survey, 11.3% of all Tulare residents have diabetes, whereas only 7.8% of Californians have been diagnosed with diabetes. Each year Tulare County an average of 112 Tulare County residents die due from Diabetes and Diabetes complications. Diabetes ranks in the top ten causes of death in Tulare County. Premature diabetes deaths (deaths before age 75) among Tulare County residents contribute to an average of 869 Years of lost life.
Resources from the American Diabetes Association.
Diabetes and African Americans
Diabetes and Native American Populations
Recursos en Español
Worksite Wellness Diabetes Resources
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month!
Lung Cancer Awareness Month (LCAM) is a national campaign dedicated to increasing attention to lung cancer issues. By organizing rallies, distributing educational material, holding fund-raising events, contacting Congress, and speaking to the media, those involved in LCAM bring much-needed support and attention to a disease that each year kills more people than breast, prostate, colon and pancreas cancers combined.
Each year Tulare County an average of 146 Tulare County residents die due from lung cancer. Lung Cancer ranks in the top FIVE causes of death in Tulare County. Premature diabetes deaths (deaths before age 75) among Tulare County residents contribute to an average of 951 Years of lost life.
What you Need in your Emergency Preparedness Stockpile Link to PDF
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). Since the program began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer deaths have declined.
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month educates women about the importance of early detection. More and more women are
getting mammograms to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. If you’re age 40 or older, join the millions of women who get mammograms on a regular basis.As a result, breast cancer deaths are on the decline. Encourage the women in your life to get mammograms on a regular basis.
For more information, call your local physician visit the NBCAM webpage or call one of the following toll-free numbers: American Cancer Society, (800) 227-2345, National Cancer Institute (NCI), (800) 4-CANCER, Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, (800) 221-2141.
California WIC Programs Expanded
The California Department of Public Health has announced the California Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program will expand the diversity of nutritious foods offered to program participants. This is the first major change to the foods that WIC provides since the program began in 1974. Read More
2009 Mass Vaccination Exercise
Organized by our Public Health Preparedness unit and with the participation and assistance of many partners and agencies, the mass vaccination campaign held on Thursday October 1, offered free vaccines at three different locations throughout the county--Mooney Grove Park in Visalia, Jamison Stadium in Porterville and the Heritage Complex in Tulare-- Read More.
While the seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to protect against the 2009 H1N1 flu, seasonal flu vaccines are recommended for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
Gov. Schwarzenegger Calls on Innovative Californians to Help Fight H1N1
Here is your chance to show your talent and help save lives! Last month, Governor Schwarzenegger and CDPH Director Dr. Mark Horton (shown here) asked members of the YouTube and Twitter generation, and all other Californians, to use their creativity to make video public service announcements to help stop the spread of H1N1. Read about the Governor’s news conference and learn more about the CDPH Film Festival contest, including how you can win a $500 prize.
For contest details, including rules, resources and video ideas, visit CDPHfilmfest.org. Entry deadline to post videos is October, 16, 2009.
School Absentee Surveillance Begins
In 2008 Tulare County initiated the first year of its school absentee surveillance program. Working with over 40 voluntary schools, this weekly "snapshot" of school absences has allowed the the department to create an initial picture of absence and flu trends in Tulare County schools.
In most of the United States more than half of all states are reporting widespread influenza activity. So far, most flu is 2009 H1N1 flu (sometimes called "swine flu"). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention anticipate both 2009 H1N1 flu and seasonal flu to cause illness, hospital stays and deaths this season.
As flu activity begins to increase and the flu season begins, we ask schools and parents to help support our school absentee surveillance program. Schools throughout Tulare County have received information on how to enter data into our new electronic system. As in other years, we are asking parents to be vigilant to their children's symptoms. Children with flu-like symptoms should stay home. If you call to excuse your child from school, please inform the school attendants that their absence is due to flu related symptoms. This information will help us monitor for unusual patterns of illnesses and will help in planning community health resources.
New County Wide Surveillance System
This fall Tulare County will initiate a new integrated public health system to dramatically improve health surveillance programs in Tulare County. The program EpiCenter, developed by Health Monitoring Systems, will link all three hospital systems into one public health monitoring network. EpiCenter will process Public health data in real time help identify new and emerging threats. Local Public health staff find the system will also help in monitoring non-infectious conditions such as motor vehicle accidents, self-inflicted injuries, or other health indicators that benefit from public health activities. Launching EpiCenter will propel the department of Public Health into the 21st century and will allow the department to expand beyond biosurveillance and syndromic surveillance to develop a true community health surveillance program.
HEALTH ALERT