La Paz County, AZ- Summer Monsoons bring much needed rain to La Paz County but they also bring an annoying pest: mosquitos. La Paz County Health Department would like to remind residents and visitors to avoid mosquitoes when outdoors during dusk to dawn hours. “It’s that time of year again when mosquitoes are active,” said Katie Turnbow, Public Information Officer for the La Paz County Health Department. “Some mosquitoes carry the West Nile virus and our goal is to prevent mosquito bites in the first place.”

West Nile virus is a potentially serious illness and has been found in 48 of the states.  Most people who are infected with West Nile virus experience no symptoms or may experience mild illness such as a fever, headache, and swollen glands 3 to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.  It is estimated that 1% of people bitten by an infected mosquito will develop encephalitis, inflammation of the brain.  Symptoms of encephalitis include high fever, headache, muscle weakness or paralysis, seizures, and confusion. People with symptoms should see a doctor.

Mosquito activity usually peaks in August so right now is a good time to put prevention practices to use. Avoid mosquito bites by wearing shoes, socks, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors during dawn and dusk and use a mosquito repellent. Mosquito proof your home by removing all standing water and checking window screens for holes. Mosquitos don’t need much water to breed so turn over your plastic containers, pools and other water-holding containers. Remove the mosquito’s favorite breeding site: discarded tires.

Monsoon rains can provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes that often travel several miles for a blood meal. Interestingly, only female mosquitoes rely on blood for sustenance while male mosquitoes feed on nectar. It takes 10-20 days for a mosquito to go from egg to adulthood.

The La Paz County Health Department is committed to serving and educating the community of La Paz County on all public health issues. For more information, go to www.lpchd.com.

La Paz County, AZ- La Paz County Health Department is pleased to announce National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW); an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases, April 26st-May 1st.  Whopping cough (pertussis) is a fast growing concern in the United States and Arizona where rates are at an all time high since 1950. Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease that causes severe coughing in all ages, but it is more likely to kill infants. The Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine) is the best way to protect against pertussis but vaccination rates are staggering low among the group that spreads it the most: adults.

“56% of infant pertussis cases can be traced back to an adult spreader because only 14% of adults were vaccinated for pertussis in 2012 ,” said Diana Grazier, Director of Nursing for La Paz County Health Department. “In order to protect the youngest in our communities, adults should come in for a Tdap vaccination, especially if they are pregnant, live with an infant or care for an infant.”

Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis takes deep breathes which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age. Each year, 10,000 to 40,000 cases of pertussis are reported. Out of those cases, many lead to hospitalization. Infants are at greatest risk for getting pertussis and then having severe complications from it, including death. About half of infants younger than 1 year old who get pertussis are hospitalized, and 1 or 2 in 100 hospitalized infants die.

“Infants are especially vulnerable. That’s why we target the adults in order to create a cocoon of protection,” said Grazier. Adults need just one Tdap vaccination and La Paz County Health Department has it. Tdap is $40 at the health department or free to adults with no insurance but it is in limited supplies so please call ahead. Residents can also talk to their healthcare provider about the Tdap vaccine. For more information, visit www.lpchd.com. 

La Paz County, AZ- The Great American Smokeout is a day when smokers are encouraged to quit for a day, quit for life. This year members of Arizona’s statewide anti-tobacco youth coalition Students Taking a New Direction, better known as STAND, will take that one step further urging Arizonans to ‘decide today for life-long-strong lungs.’

In partnership with the American Lung Association (ALA), STAND will be holding events throughout Arizona not only promoting the health impact of living and working in a smoke free environment. STAND members are partnering with members of the ALA’s Better Breather’s club to provide interactive demonstrations on how smoking can affect your lungs.

“When it comes to smoking and the health effects, it is usually cancer related problems that you hear about,” said Lee Ann Anderson of the La Paz County Health Department’s Public Health Education and Prevention Program. “We want to also remind people that smoking affects your lungs too. But not just your lungs, it affects those around you too.”

STAND members will also be showcasing their efforts to make their community smoke free by passing out quit kits at an informational booth at Blue Water Resort and Casino from 9:00am-2:00pm, and the Teen Solutions Coalition will be promoting tobacco prevention at Wallace Junior High from 12:00-1:30pm.

Community prep will also occur as coalitions across the state will display pledge walls in high traffic areas for smokers and non-smokers alike to either pledge to quit for the day or to never start. To further promote and draw attention to their cause, STAND members will change their personal and coalition Facebook profile photo to a singular image.

Participants are members of STAND, Students Taking a New Direction, a statewide coalition of students ages 13-18 who work to not only raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use, but urge elected officials at all levels of government to treat cigarettes as hazardous materials - including creating regulations for storage, transport, sale and disposal. www.standaz.com

The Great American Smokeout is organized nationally by the American Cancer Society. It is held the on the third Thursday of November each year. In Arizona, it is supported by the Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Tobacco & Chronic Disease. The first Great American Smokeout was held in 1977. www.cancer.org/smokeout

La Paz County, AZ- The dates are set for the first La Paz County adult flu clinics and the La Paz County Health Department has plenty of vaccine. The influenza vaccine will be provided at: 

Bouse Booster Club on November 4th from 11:00-noon; Desert Gold RV Park in Brenda on November 4th from 1:00-2:00pm. Quartzsite Improvement Association in Quartzsite on November 6th from 4:00-5:00pm. Walk-ins are accepted at the La Paz County Health Department but call 928-669-1100 to make sure a nurse is available.

A ten dollar donation for the influenza vaccine is appreciated for the adult vaccine. There is very little wait time with the Health Department influenza vaccine clinics. The Health Department does not bill Medicare for the vaccine so the lines move quickly.

Each flu season is unique, but Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that, on average, approximately 5% to 20% of U.S. residents get the flu. Even though influenza is a common illness, it can have serious complications. Some of the complications caused by flu include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. Children may get sinus problems and ear infections as complications from the flu. Those aged 65 years and older and persons of any age with chronic medical conditions are at highest risk for serious complications of flu. More than 200,000 persons are hospitalized for flu-related complications each year. About 36,000 Americans die on average per year from the complications of flu.

If you think you have influenza (abrupt onset of fever, muscle aches and pains, cough and/or sore throat), please contact your health care provider for information on how to treat symptoms.

“Getting the flu shot is an excellent way to prevent getting the flu but it is not the only way. There are prevention techniques available to help prevent the flu,” said Diana Grazier, La Paz County Health Department Director of Nursing.

Though getting your flu shot is the best way to protect against influenza, these simple actions can stop the spread of germs.

• Wash your hands.  Washing your hands often with soap and water or using a hand sanitizer will help protect you from germs.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.  When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick.  You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.  It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.  Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Other good habits, such as getting plenty of sleep, engaging in physical activity, managing stress, drinking water, and eating good food, will help you stay healthy in the winter and all year.  Hand sanitizer is an inexpensive way to ensure germ free hands and is available at most stores.

For more information on the influenza vaccination visit www.lpchd.com

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La Paz County, AZ- “It’s very hot outside,” said Marion Shontz, Director of the La Paz County Health Department.  “Be informed, drink plenty of water, and try to stay indoors as much as possible.” 

The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued an Excessive Heat Warning for the southwest portion of Arizona.  Temperatures are expected to be in the 120s this weekend. Extremely high or unusually hot temperatures can affect your health. On average, 675 deaths from extreme heat events occur each year in the United States. Most vulnerable are the elderly, those who work or exercise outdoors, infants and children, the homeless or poor, and people with a chronic medical condition.      

When outdoors or in the heat for any period of time drink 2 to 4 cups of water per hour and avoid alcohol or drinks containing high amounts of sugar. Wear a wide brim hat and loose clothing while outside.  Stay in the shade as much as possible. Spend more time in air-conditioned or well-ventilated places when possible.

Some of the more common health conditions that occur during prolonged heat are dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Symptoms of dehydration include: dry or sticky mouth, lack of urination or dark urination, headache, nausea, not producing tears, and sunken eyes. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:  headache, dizziness or lightheadedness, weakness, nausea or vomiting, cool moist skin, and dark urine.

Symptoms of heat stroke should be taken very seriously and are different from heat exhaustion.  Get to an emergency room or call 911 if any of the following symptoms appear while exposed to heat immediately.  Symptoms of heat stroke include: fever of 104 or higher, irrational behavior, extreme confusion, dry hot and red skin, rapid shallow breathing, rapid weak pulse, seizures, and unconsciousness.  Heat stroke can be fatal. 

“We joke that Arizona has dry heat but remember, it can also be a dangerous heat,” cautioned Public Information Officer, Katie Turnbow. For more information on extreme heat visit www.lpchd.com 

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