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HEALTH OFFICIALS ISSUE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE BLOOM CAUTION FOR LAKE BURKETT – CENTER
Contact:Kent [email protected] ORLANDO, FL – The Florida Department of Health in Orange County has issued a Health Caution for the presence of blue-green algae in Lake Burkett (center of lake). This is in response to a site visit and water sample taken by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on 01/03/2023. The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Burkett (center of lake). Blooms have the potential to produce toxins, and what triggers them to begin doing so remains poorly understood. For this reason, it is important to exercise caution, as bloom conditions are dynamic and could change at any time. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection collects…
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HEALTH OFFICIALS ISSUE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE BLOOM CAUTION FOR STARKE LAKE – BOAT RAMP
HEALTH OFFICIALS ISSUE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE BLOOM CAUTION FOR STARKE LAKE – BOAT RAMP Contact:Kent [email protected] ORLANDO, FL – The Florida Department of Health in Orange County has issued a Health Caution for the presence of blue-green algae in Starke Lake – Boat Ramp. This is in response to a site visit and water sample taken by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) on December 7, 2022. The public should exercise caution in and around Starke Lake – Boat Ramp. Blooms have the potential to produce toxins, and what triggers them to begin doing so remains poorly understood. For this reason, it is important to exercise caution, as bloom…
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Sen. Klobuchar calls on top health officials to address medicine shortage
In a letter to top health officials, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and three of her fellow senators, urged the amoxicillin shortage to be addressed. “We write to express our strong concern regarding the shortage of amoxicillin,” the letter begins. The four senators called on the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to “convene the Drug Shortage Task Force and work stakeholders, including providers, on identifying factors and potential solutions to mitigate the amoxicillin shortage.” The urgency is shared as much of the nation — including Minnesota — deals with sharp spikes in respiratory illnesses. Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) data shows as…
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LA Health Officials Recommend Return to Indoor Masking as COVID-19 Cases Rise
This isn’t a headline from 2020 or 2021. On November 17, 2022, LA County health officials made a strong recommendation for residents to wear masks indoors. In the last 30 days, the region saw a 70 percent jump in new COVID-19 cases. Officials suggest mask usage for public indoor spaces like transit but fell short of offering the same guidance for indoor dining at restaurants. COVID-19-positive patients checking into area hospitals increased from 388 to 648 since late October. According to the Los Angeles Times, approximately 1,466 new cases were reported in LA County, versus 869 cases a day a month ago. Over the last few years, LA County health…
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Vt. officials float plan to privatize state retirees’ health care
MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Retired state employees could be getting a new private health care plan but the union representing them is sounding the alarm. State employee retirees right now have Medicare through the federal government and supplemental health care plans through the Vermont State Employees Union. Those supplemental plans are similar to what current state employees have. But a new plan from the Scott administration would switch some 6,000 retired employees into a private Medicare Advantage plan. “It provides extra benefits that Medicare doesn’t cover. It provides a lot of extras that you wouldn’t get with Medicare,” said Vt. Human Resources Commissioner Beth Fastiggi. She says those benefits include…
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Greenville city officials increase employee health care costs, dental stays flat
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) -The Greenville City Council and Greenville Utilities Commission came together Monday night for a joint meeting to address employee health and dental insurance benefits. The joint City-GUC Pay & Benefits Committee unanimously voted to adopt proposed changes during the meeting, which included an increase in health insurance costs by five percent for employees covered by themselves and an 11 percent increase for those with a spouse or dependents. Dental coverage stayed the same. Greenville Mayor P.J. Connelly said the city has tried hard to budget both expenses over the last few years, but inflation impacted that effort. “We’ve done a really good with budgeting over the last…
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HEALTH OFFICIALS ISSUE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE BLOOM ALERT FOR LAKE SPEER
Contact: Kent [email protected] ORLANDO, FL – The Florida Department of Health in Orange County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake Speer. This is in response to a water sample taken on July 5, 2022. The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Speer. Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions: Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom. Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water. Keep pets away from the area. Waters…
