Results tagged “flu”

Why won't Dr. Jonathan Fielding answer basic questions about H1N1? Reporters at USC's journalism project, Neon Tommy, have done a fantastic job investigating the epidemic disease. Fielding apparently declined to go on KCRW's Which Way, L.A.? Tuesday night to engage in a conversation with Neon's Callie Schweitzer (however, he did speak with host Warren Olney), who in turn published an open letter to Fielding.

The first batch of H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccinations have arrived in Los Angeles County, health officials announced at a noon press conference today. 92,000 doses are here with larger shipments expected in coming weeks. By the end of the month, 1 to 1.5 million doses should be in local clinics and doctors' offices.

Are you following doctor's orders this year? “This year both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu virus will be circulating throughout the United States,” said Dr. Gil Chavez, acting chief deputy director of the California Department of Public Health, in a statement today. “I encourage Californians to get a seasonal flu shot now and an H1N1 flu shot when it becomes available later this fall. The seasonal flu shot will not protect you from the H1N1 flu virus, also known as swine flu. It will, however, protect you from the seasonal flu strains that we expect this year.”

Seeing a rise in influenza cases and outbreaks in Los Angeles County, the Department of Public Health is asking residents to heed caution. “During this summer, the recommendations for avoiding illness are the same as during the fall or winter months: wash your hands, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and stay home if you are sick,” said Jonathan E. Fielding, Director of Public Health and Health Officer, in a statement.

The state reports 69 cases of swine flu, including six from LA County, but it appears they are not importing data from Long Beach, which runs its own citywide health department. The oceanside city reports five cases, totaling 74 cases for California by LAist's count.

As predicted by health officials last week, Swine Flu would undoubtedly hit Los Angeles County. That news came Saturday night shortly before the 11 p.m. news hour--it was a total of three then--and today the number was upped to 11 across the county. Five of those cases are in Long Beach.

The LA County Coroner's office told a group of reporters at 1:30 p.m. that they have "no confirmed swine flu cases at this time." Two recent deaths were reported this morning as possibly related to the disease. After test results, the Coroner's Office said one of the deaths is definitely not swine flu and the other one is inconclusive at this time. However, at a public meeting with the LA County Board of Supervisors, County Health Director Dr. Jonathan Fielding says to expect Swine Flu in LA County. He recommends that you wash your hands often. So far, there have been no deaths in the United States.

With gas prices dropping, it seems likely that people will ramp up their holiday travel plans in an effort to reconnect with far-away family and friends (or a tropical island and a Mai Tai). While we are disappointed to see more cars on the road as we move farther and farther away from $4/gallon, December will surely be about planes, trains, and automobiles, hotels and relative's homes, airports and truck stops.

As the saying goes, “Mom knows best”. This is especially true when we’re under the weather, and though there are but few PTA members with legit science and medical degrees, it seems like most Moms could whip up an acute care clinic from the trunk of their Volvo if pressed. We turn to them for tummy aches and acne, scrapes and sunburns, chickenpox and colds (and nearly everything in between), and though their specialized mixture of Eastern and Western medicine comes with Care Bear band aids and kisses, it’s quite possible that hand me down remedies work because they’ve got some serious science behind them. Thus, in homage to Moms everywhere, we bring you this special ScientIST segment – Dr. Mom Knows Best – to reveal the truth behind the folklore.

One: If you're planning to vote in this extremely historic election (in more ways than we can count), registration forms must be postmarked by Monday the 20th. Two: If you're planning to be healthy this fall and winter season (and if you believe in them) then Monday is the first day of free flu vaccinations complimentary of the county's Department of Public Health, who say there is no shortage of vaccine this year, therefore it's free of charge to everyone.

Ah the joys of a terrible stomach flu on a college campus. As of last night, the latest numbers were out: "The number of USC students with norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus, has reached 330 over the last five days, university officials said Tuesday.... The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed that the virus is the norovirus, which periodically breaks out on campuses, cruise ships and in nursing homes." The Daily Trojan reports the same numbers in an article today and says the end is in sight.

Well, if that’s not the reason for us encountering a shortage of a particular cough syrup this week at area drug and grocery stores, then it must be the cold and/or flu season hitting the LA area. (Extra Extra told us on Friday night that the first case of the flu was recently reported in the Valley – so maybe that’s causing the Robitussin run.)

Though we’re not doctors (we only like to watch them on TV), LAist would venture to guess that it’s the height of cold and flu season. And there seems to be a particularly nasty bug thingy (you like our medical terminology?) that’s making its rounds in LA and the rest of the country. This particular poster, unfortunately, has been privy to random acts of spewing by her significant other. What we originally thought was...