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Pennsylvania Department Of Health

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Flu Cases Declining But Still a Health Threat

More than 3,500 cases of flu, including seven deaths, have been reported in Lehigh Valley through Feb. 5.

  Flu-related emergency department visits and doctor visits continued to decline last week, but the number of reported flu cases remained above average, according to the latest flu statistics released Feb. 5 by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The flu is still considered to be widespread in Pennsylvania. Across the state, a total of 1,974 flu cases were reported last week, down from 3,683 the previous week. In the Lehigh Valley, the number of confirmed flu cases this season is 3,554, from Oct. 2 through Feb. 5: No one was reported to have died from flu-related complications in the Lehigh Valley last week, though there were 21 flu-related deaths across the state. That brings to 123 the total number of flu-related deaths this season, …

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Flu Blamed in 2 Lehigh County Deaths

Statistics released Tuesday show 35 flu-related deaths last week, including two in Lehigh County. But health officials say the number of reported flu cases is going down.

  Two people died from flu-related complications in Lehigh County in the past week, as the number of flu cases statewide declined, the state Department of Health reported Tuesday.  No deaths were reported in Northampton County. Also, Lehigh Valley Hospital spokesman Brian Downs said Tuesday that an infant who died at the hospital earlier this month did not have the flu, as earlier believed. Initial indicators had pointed to the flu, Downs said, but test results were "negative for flu." Read More: Flu Outbreak Leads to Visitor Restrictions at Hospital in Lehigh Valley Statewide, there were 35 flu-related deaths in the past week, bringing to 75 the total number of flu-related deaths this season, from Oct. 2 through Jan. 19. Confirmed flu …

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

22 Dead from Flu in Pa. - Did You Get Your Flu Shot?

Statistics released Tuesday from the state Department of Health show flu cases continue to rise locally and across Pennsylvania.

  The number of flu cases in the Lehigh Valley and throughout Pennsylvania spiked in early January as health officials continue to deal with one of the worst flu outbreaks in years. Flu season is so bad this year that Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township set up a mobile tent Tuesday outside the Emergency Room to handle patients with flu-like symptoms. The state reported Tuesday there were 18 influenza-related deaths last week, bringing to 22 the total number of flu-related deaths this season, according to the state Health Department website. Most of the reported deaths were among those 65 and older, but two of the people who died were "otherwise healthy" people under age 50, the state health officials said. No pediatric…

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chris

10:58 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013

I agree with Morgan jobs need to give more sick days there shoul be 12 sick days a year people can not go with out money these days so they go in sick and everyone else gets sick so they can make money I'm home sick and just lost two days pay so now there goes an unpaid bill most people live pay check by paycheck. Dont blame the sick people blame the selfish comapines   more ›

Saturday, October 20, 2012

State Continues to Contact Possible Meningitis Outbreak Patients

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Friday that additional patients who may have been exposed to meningitis from contaminated medications are being contacted.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health continues to follow up with patients who may have been exposed to contaminated medications produced by the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Mass., as part of a nationwide investigation into a fungal meningitis outbreak, according to a press release. To date, there is only one case of fungal meningitis in Pennsylvania associated with this outbreak. Illness occurred in a patient who received an epidural steroid injection at Allegheny Pain Management in Altoona. The facility was one of two locations in Pennsylvania that received doses of the specific lots of steroid medication responsible for the national outbreak.  As a precautionary measure, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) …

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Vaccination Deadline Looms for Students, Parents

The Pa. Department of Health says time is running out for parents to comply with vaccination requirements.

Parents are running out of time to comply with new school immunization requirements, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. When the school year began, families were given eight months to bring students up to date with their vaccinations. On April 27, the department announced a two-week grace period. Final deadlines vary based on when each district began its school year. The health department estimates that the grace period will end in most districts within the next week. For example: New immunization regulations that took effect last August require: While the department established the new regulations, enforcement is left to individual school districts. School districts maintain the right to exclude students from school if …

Friday, January 13, 2012

It's Not Too Late To Get Flu Vaccine

The height of the flu season is late January through February, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Flu activity has been sporadic this winter, with 150 cases reported by Jan. 7, far less than in previous years, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.  But we're not out of the woods yet. The height of the flu season is late January through February, said health department spokeswoman Christine Cronkright. The good news is, it's not too late to get a flu vaccine to better protect yourself from the flu -- and the fever and body aches that go with it. The state Department of Health’s website and the flu vaccine finder provide information by county or zip code as to where to get flu shots. And if you happen to be going to the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg this week, the state is giving away free vaccinations from 9 a.m. to…

Monday, August 29, 2011

Possible Measles Exposure at Kohl's in Lower Nazareth

The possible exposure happened on Friday, Aug. 19 between 4pm and 9:30pm -- less than a month after a possible measles exposure in Lehigh County.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is warning the public that someone who may have measles could have exposed others to the highly contagious illness on Aug. 19 at Kohl’s Department Store in Lower Nazareth Township. The person is a New Jersey resident and has yet to be positively diagnosed, but a measles diagnosis is likely, according to a press release. The possible exposure happened at the Northampton County department store between 4pm and 9:30pm on Friday, Aug. 19. “Based on the date of exposure, it is possible that symptoms could develop as late as Sept. 9 if individuals who visited the department store were infected during that timeframe,” the release states. Individuals possibly exposed at Kohl’s in Northampton County would not …

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Salisbury Resident

10:57 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Of course, Ms. Porter, ALL shoppers and ALL store locations are like this, and ALL PEOPLE have the intention of infecting everyone they come in contact with. For this reason I will never step foot in a store again. Wow...   more ›

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Free Measles Vaccine Clinic Today

Department of Health warns of possible exposure in Lehigh County

A free measles vaccine clinic will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. today at the Lehigh County State Health Center, 3730 Lehigh Street, Whitehall. No appointment is necessary. State health officials are urging residents who may be susceptible to measles to get vaccinated in the wake of possible local exposure to the highly contagious illness. The Department of Health yesterday announced that someone who may have measles could have exposed others to it last Friday at KNBT bank and the liquor store on Chestnut Street in Emmaus, Lehigh County. Other potential exposure occurred in Berks, Bucks and Delaware counties last week. This possible exposure is in direct link to the July 11 exposure reported at the Rite Aid Drug Store, 3145 Main St., in …

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Possible Measles Exposure in Lehigh County

State Department of Health issues warning to residents.

The state Department of Health is warning the public that someone who may have measles could have exposed others to the highly contagious illness last Friday at two stores in Emmaus, Lehigh County. Other potential exposure occurred in Berks, Bucks and Delaware counties last week. This possible exposure is in direct link to the July 11 exposure reported at the Rite Aid Drug Store, 3145 Main St., in Morgantown, Berks County. The possible exposure happened in: Lehigh County: • KNBT Bank, 73 Main St., Emmaus on Friday, July 22 from 4:30pm to 9pm; • Pennsylvania Liquor Store, 1325 Chestnut St., Emmaus on Friday, July 22 from 4:30pm to 9pm. Berks County: • BB’s Grocery Outlet, 6180 Morgantown Road (Old MOM’s Mall) on Tuesday, July 19, between …

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