Infectious disease

Clinics serve nearly 2,300 people; restaurant reopens; investigation continues

May 7, 2007 -- More than 2,280 people received immune globulin (IG) shots at two public clinics held in Slayton, Minnesota on Friday and Saturday after health officials learned of cases of hepatitis A illness in two food workers at the Pizza Ranch restaurant earlier in the week. Those receiving the shots were people who may have been exposed to hepatitis A through food eaten at the restaurant from April 20 through May 1.    » read more »

Release Date: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 4, 2007
Contact: Janey Pearl, ADHS Public Information: (602) 364-1201
Michael Murphy, ADHS Public Information: (602) 542-1094
Craig Levy, ADHS Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases: (602) 364-4562
gray rule

West Nile Virus has made its first appearance of 2007 in Arizona, and state and local health officials are encouraging residents to take precautions against the disease.    » read more »

Some patrons of Slayton restaurant may have been exposed

May 2, 2007 -- The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating two cases of hepatitis A in food workers at a Pizza Ranch restaurant in Slayton Minnesota.

The restaurant closed voluntarily May 1 as a precaution after the illness was confirmed in one food worker.    » read more »

Mobilizing volunteers in more than 50 U.S. cities for Malaria Awareness Day

WASHINGTON, Wednesday, April 25, 2007 — In recognition of Malaria Awareness Day, the American Red Cross is joining with partners to expand the fight against malaria. Malaria impacts more than 300 million people each year, claiming the lives of approximately 3,000 children every day. This is the first Malaria Awareness Day in the United States—a day recognized by many African countries to show solidarity against malaria.    » read more »

April 25, 2007 -- MRS. BUSH: Welcome, everyone, to the White House. Thank you very much for being a part of this Malaria Awareness Day.

Today, citizens around the world are making a historic commitment to end malaria. In European capitals, parliaments are debating how their governments can help. In Ontario, Canadians are commemorating their first World Malaria Day by raising money for bed nets for Uganda. Across the continent of Africa, people are teaching their families, friends, and neighbors how to protect themselves from this deadly disease.    » read more »

Families USA Commemorates Malaria Awareness Day

Washington, D.C. - Families USA joins health leaders around the country and the world in recognizing the need for increased spending to combat malaria, an infectious disease that kills more than 1 million people annually.

This year’s first-ever U.S. Malaria Awareness Day (announced at last December’s White House Summit on Malaria), in conjunction with Africa Malaria Day, should be lauded for attempting to reduce the burden of malaria and shining a much-needed spotlight on this massive global problem.    » read more »

April 24, 2007 -- PIERRE, S.D. – As South Dakotans head outdoors in the spring weather, state officials remind them of the need to take precautions against tick-borne disease.

“Every year we have reports of tick-borne diseases such as tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease,” said Dr. Lon Kightlinger, State Epidemiologist. "The good news is that ticks typically need to be attached for several hours for infection to occur. That means you can reduce your risk when you’re outdoors by checking for ticks often and removing them quickly."    » read more »

19 April 2007 -- Malaria kills more than one million people each year, with nearly all of those deaths children in Africa. As the continent marks Africa Malaria Day, on April 25, new treatments have been developed that could help the international community move closer to reducing deaths by 50 percent in three years.

It is often said laughter may be one of the best medicines. This point is proven in rural Kenya, where crowds of people are drawn to comic skits that also teach people about the dangers of malaria.    » read more »