Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), today warned consumers – especially pregnant women and the parents of infants and young children – not to eat Raquel’s brand hummus salads, wraps, sandwiches and other food items. They may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous bacteria that can cause serious health problems. No illnesses have been reported in connection with this problem.

With a five fold increase in reported Whooping Cough cases year over year, the California Department of Public Health is putting out the alerts and expanding the recommended vaccination schedule. “In particular, all family members and caregivers of infants should get the booster vaccine,” said CDPH Chief of the Center for Infectious Disease Dr. Gilberto Chávez, who also is the state’s epidemiologist.

Los Alamitos Medical center wants you to know that protecting your skin against the sun’s harmful rays is the best way to prevent cancer and other skin-related diseases. The American Academy of Dermatology released this staggering statistic: one in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. The sun’s rays have long-term effects, too. The National Institute on Aging credits prolonged sun exposure for wrinkles, dryness and age spots.

The California Department of Public Health, CDHP, yesterday announced fines against 7 California hospitals for “noncompliance with licensing requirements {which} has caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury or death to patients.”  In the case at St. Joseph Hospital, the patient died.

Yesterday the California Department of Public Health, CDPH, announced administrative penalties against 13 California hospitals, including the three Orange County facilities. For Hoag, it is the third such penalty in less than three years. Western previously received one other penalty in March 2009, and this was the first for St. Jude. All of these penalties are for serious patient care shortfalls and will cost each hospital $50,000.

For the first time since the H1N1 pandemic became a major statewide concern, yesterday California Department of Public Health Director Dr. Mark Horton downgraded the state’s characterization of the disease‘s prominence in California. Previous to this week, the state was said to have “widespread disease”. That means that more than 50% of the state’s 6 regions were reporting outbreaks of influenza like illnesses which were higher than normal for this time of year. Now, only two of the regions, including Southern California, are experiencing higher than normal flu activity. Thus, the presence of H1N1 in California is considered to be “regional”, rather than “widespread”.

In the latest H1N1 weekly report by the California Department of Public Health, Director Dr. Mark Horton reported the third weekly decline in the hospitalization rate, but also higher deaths in the current week. Although the rate of weekly hospitalizations has been falling, Dr. Horton continues to expect a third wave of the disease. Further, the situation for pregnant women is critical and the tests are not reliable.

During the latest week, the Orange County Healthcare Agency reported 4 more OC H1N1 deaths, bringing the county pandemic total to 44. H1N1 ICU Hospitalizations in Orange County now total 201, up from 186 patients in the previous week. While Dr. Mark Horton, Director of the California Department of Public Health, CDPH, indicated there is a moderating trend emerging nationally, California is one of 25 states where the disease is still considered to be “widespread”.

In the regular weekly update, The California Department of Public Health, CDPH, recently reported swine flu deaths in California have now reached 318, an increase of 21 during the week. In Orange County, the total deaths have climbed to 35, up from 32 one week ago. For both Orange County and the state, the weekly death rate is less than the previous week. However, new hospitalizations were considerably higher than the previous week.

John Dankha, recalling days spent in the cancer center with his own mother, often found comfort in the art collection housed in the healthcare facility. “Art became an important part of our time together,” remembers Dankha. “The corridors were lined with art pieces. It provided us a pleasant diversion and helped to elevate our spirits.” His wish was that his own art could have a positive influence during the trying times of others.

With all the talk about healthcare reform, the constant stream of advertising for back pain treatments, and the claims of success for various forms of advanced cancer treatments, when was the last time a medical doctor offered a money back deal?,
Imagine this—if the doctor does not accomplish what you ask for, and pay for, you get your money back. The patient must be a “prime candidate”, but if you qualify and don’t get the result, you get your cash back.

Even though there was one more H1N1 death reported in Orange County during the last week, the California Department of Public Health, CDPH, said the only region of the state where the epidemic continues is the Inland Empire. For the second time in as many weeks, CDPH downgraded the official description of the influenza epidemic in California. Further, for the first time since it began, Orange County has been removed from the epidemic list.

Yesterday, the California Department of Public Health, CDPH, issued an immediate recall for two imported candies which have been distributed in Southern California. Dr. Mark Horton, director of CDPH, warned consumers not to eat Ticorindo candy imported from Mexico or Chen PiMei Candy imported from China. CDPH tests of the candy found unacceptable levels of lead. Horton said in a statement “Consumers in possession of this candy should discard it immediately.”

The Orange County H1N1 weekly death rate is holding steady, but statewide, the number of weekly new hospitalizations has been decreasing for the last 3 weeks. Dr. Mark Horton, Director of the California Department of Public Health, CDPH, says the disease is “wide spread” and is “continuing to be a significant threat to the people of California.” Yesterday, as he referenced one vaccination recall, he repeated the necessity of vaccinations for all Californians.

The Orange County Healthcare Agency reported 1 more H1N1 death in the county, but statewide, the weekly death rate hit a record. As deaths were increasing, new hospitalizations were declining. For the last weekly report, the California Department of Public Health, CDPH, reported 405 new hospitalizations. This brought the total pandemic hospitalizations in California to 6,474.

In the regular weekly update, The California Department of Public Health, CDPH, recently reported swine flu deaths in California have now reached 297 since the pandemic began this spring. Hospitalizations now exceed 5,380 statewide. In Orange County, deaths are at 32, an increase of 8 in one week. According to Dr. Mark Horton, Director of CDPH, we should expect a significant increase in the number of deaths from H1N1 in the coming months.