Category Archives: Health Care

Mosquito-borne chikungunya virus hits U.S.

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Aedes aegypti (left) and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are the most common transmitter of chikungunya. – CDC Photo

The drier than normal northern Arizona weather may actually have at least one bright spot this year. A mosquito-borne illness labeled chikungunya, that is prevalent in the Caribbean, has now appeared in the United States. The virus causes high fevers and intense pain after an incubation period of three- to seven-days.

The dramatic claim by Phoenix television news that the disease “may be” fatal is apparently meant to appeal to the “reality television” mentality of their audience. Yes, it “may be” fatal, but like Swine Flu almost always isn’t. The World Health Organization contends that it could be a factor in the deaths of some elderly.

There is no vaccine or cure for the illness, however. Treatment revolves around mitigating the symptoms as possible. The Center for Disease Control web site says that the disease has been transmitted to unborn children from a pregnant mother, but that is rare. In theory, they say, it could be transmitted in a blood transfusion but there have been no recorded cases of that happening.

According to FOX News, Dr. Jorge Parada, medical director of the infection prevention program at Loyola University, Chicago, and medical spokesperson for the National Pest Management Association, said.

“The mosquitos that transmit this infection are pretty widespread around the world, and that’s why the infection has been able to spread across the tropical Pacific and now into the Caribbean.”

He said that the spread of the disease is another consequence of our highly mobile society.

From the CDC web site:

Chikungunya virus is most often spread to people by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. These are the same mosquitoes that transmit dengue virus. They bite mostly during the daytime.

According to the World Health Organization, chikungunya is a viral disease first described in 1952 during an outbreak in southern Tanzania.

It is an RNA virus that belongs to the alphavirus genus of the family Togaviridae. The name ‘chikungunya’ derives from a word in the Kimakonde language, meaning “to become contorted” and describes the stooped appearance of sufferers with joint pain (arthralgia).

Their web site goes on to say:

“Most patients recover fully, but in some cases joint pain may persist for several months, or even years. Occasional cases of eye, neurological and heart complications have been reported, as well as gastrointestinal complaints. Serious complications are not common, but in older people, the disease can contribute to the cause of death.”

The CDC web site on chikungunya—not updated as of this writing—states that the disease was first noted in 2013 in the Caribbean and warned travelers about the transmission of the disease.

Dr. Parada echoes the sentiment of the CDC that bite prevention is the best medicine.

The CDC recommends a good mosquito repellent when going outdoors even during the day.

Collections of water, whether intended or not, are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Those in northern Arizona who may have stored some of what little moisture we have had should cover any water storage containers. Residents who transport water to their homes should check for leaks causing puddles to form and seal any leaks found.

In the event of a good monsoon season, residents should continually check for old tires or containers not meant for water storage and drain them. Check for leaks inside or outside the home which might provide a breeding puddle for mosquitoes and have them repaired.

Lego donations requested for cancer patient.

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11-year old Fionn is undergoing cancer treatment at the Phoenix Children's Hospital.

11-year old Fionn is undergoing cancer treatment at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

WILLIAMS – Local youth Story Schmitz is seeking donations of Legos for his friend Fionn who is undergoing cancer treatment at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Story started his drive last week and has received eight sets with over 1600 pieces. He is going to see Fionn at the end of the week and hopes to take all of the Legos he has collected to Fionn.

Schmitz is passing out a circular which states, “Fionn loves Legos and I think that this will really help him keep his chin up through chemo and radiation therapy.”

To find out how you can donate Legos you can email Story at legosforfionn@gmail.com.

“Help me make this terribly scary and painful time in Fionn’s life a bit better and easier for him by letting him know that, not only do we want him to have cool Legos, but also that many people, even people that he doesn’t know, are praying for him and want him to pull through this and come out on top,” Story wrote.

Secret Obamacare handbook the feds don’t want you to see is online

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By Tori Richards | Watchdog.org

A New Jersey woman who stumbled upon the document was so alarmed that she called the feds to report it. But her concerns fell on deaf ears.

A confidential training manual for Obamacare navigators that threatens prosecution for unauthorized dissemination is on the Internet for the world to see.

The 217-page manual reads like a primer for Amway or novice car salesmen, offering sales advice on how to disarm potential customers who could be lured into purchasing insurance through exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act.

TOP SECRET NO MORE: Now you can know what the navigators know.

TOP SECRET NO MORE: Now you can know what the navigators know.

Section headers include “Smile: Maintain a Positive Demeanor,” “Make the Customers Feel Welcome,” “Listen” and — in what must  now seem ironic given Barack Obama’s troubles with over-promising — “Build Trust: Be True to Your Word.”

The handbook also delves into the more serious topics of “Identifying Personally Identifiable Information,” “IRS Data Safeguards” and “Preventing Fraud.”

Nothing in the manual seems to rise to the level of a state secret — raising questions about why the federal government felt it necessary to classify information that has no reason to be classified.

Read more at Watchdog.Org

8 Foods Even The Experts Won’t Eat

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Food scientists are shedding light on items loaded with toxins and chemicals–and simple swaps for a cleaner diet and supersized health. Experts from different areas of specialty explain why they won’t eat these eight foods.

Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables, and meats that are raised, grown, and sold with minimal processing. Often they’re organic, and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. But in some cases, the methods of today’s food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what’s safe–or not–to eat. ” Their answers don’t necessarily make up a “banned foods” list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you better health–and peace of mind.

1. The Endocrinologist Won’t Eat: Canned Tomatoes

The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

2. The Farmer Won’t Eat: Corn-Fed Beef

Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. But more money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us.

3. The Toxicologist Won’t Eat: Microwave Popcorn

Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer.

4. The Farm Director Won’t Eat: Nonorganic Potatoes

Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes–the nation’s most popular vegetable–they’re treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting.

5. The Fisheries Expert Won’t Eat: Farmed Salmon

Nature didn’t intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT.

6. The Cancer Researcher Won’t Drink: Milk Produced With Artificial Hormones

Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk.

7. The Biotech Specialist Who Won’t Eat Conventional Soy: GMO Unfermented Soy

Genetically engineered food is a cause of great concern due to the manipulation of DNA and genetic code including transfers from one species to another. Fermented Soy Is The Only Soy Food Fit for Human Consumption and since almost 90% of soy in the world is genetically modified, if you are not ensuring sources are organic, long-term health problems are inevitable, especially since soy has been found to affect hormonal balance and even cause cancer.

8. The Organic-Foods Expert Won’t Eat: Conventional Apples

If fall fruits held a “most doused in pesticides contest,” apples would win. Why? They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don’t develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently.

Read more details at Eat Locally Grown

North County Health Care Health Fair and Open House this Saturday

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WILLIAMS—The North County HealthCare clinic in Williams will hold a Health Fair and Open House this Saturday the 29th between 8 am and 12 pm. The clinic is located at 301 South 7th Street. The event includes a tour of the clinic, a raffle, health information and more.

There will be a cholesterol screening (if you fast for 10 hours prior), blood pressure and glucose checks and cancer screening programs.

Community agencies will be represented for information and assistance. You can call 928-635-4441 for more information.

The Shocking Ingredients In Beer

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I have to confess, I’m not a beer drinker, but there’s someone in my household that loves it, so I had to figure out the truth. Is beer really healthy? Why are the ingredients not listed on the label? Which brands can we trust? Which brands are trying to slowly poison us with cheap and harmful ingredients? All of these questions were going through my head at once at lightning speed. So a year ago, I started to research what was really in beer and after questioning several beer companies, reading books about food science, and talking to experts, the information I discovered was downright shocking.

I see it all the time. Someone who eats organic, makes the right choices at the grocery store, is fit and lives an extraordinarily healthy lifestyle but then drinks beer like it is going out of style.

Caring about what you eat doesn’t necessarily translate into caring about what you drink and this is a HUGE MISTAKE.

Before we get into what exactly is in beer that you should be worried about, let’s talk about how body reacts to alcohol in general.

Read more by the Food Babe

Coconino County Public Health to Continue with Dental Clinic

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FLAGSTAFF—–Following a thorough review and input from community stakeholders, the Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) will continue to offer dental clinic services for the public.

The CCPHSD Dental Clinic offers a host of services including, dental cleanings, exams, fluoride treatments and extractions for primarily low-income residents. Another key component of the program is dental preventative education and outreach to teach area school children the importance of proper dental hygiene.

Earlier this year, as part of the County’s strategic budget process, the County began evaluating and prioritizing all public programs to determine how to best utilize taxpayer funding. These evaluations were done to determine whether there was a duplication of services and to study whether the County could partner with an outside agency or group to deliver services.

The CCPHSD Dental Clinic received the same evaluation, which included a community questionnaire, the review of health data and meetings with the dental community, including local dentists and key stakeholders.

“The information gathered revealed that direct-care services are critical to low-income individuals where the availability of these needed services is limited,” said CCPHSD Interim Chief Health Officer Kimbal Babcock. “The findings indicated that discontinuing direct dental services would result in negative health effects and more expensive needs in the future for low-income and uninsured individuals. By continuing to utilize the clinic, we are also renewing our commitment to serve our residents who are in most need of these critical programs.”

Based on the program’s review, the County opted to continue utilizing the clinic and its dental prevention and outreach programs. However, the CCPHSD will continue to find efficiencies to ensure taxpayer funding is used most-effectively.

The Dental Clinic is located at 304 S. Humphries Street in Flagstaff and can be reached at 928-679-7825. For more information on the clinic and services offered, and eligibility requirements please visit the CCPHSD webpage at www.coconino.az.gov/health.

The Surprising Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

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By Pina LoGiudice

Conventional thought used to consider fats like coconut oil to be unhealthy and contribute to heart disease. We now know that this isn’t true. In fact, coconut oil is actually a heart-healthy food that can keep your body running smoother in a few different ways.

What are the health benefits of coconut oil?

Studies have show that intake of coconut oil can help our bodies mount resistance to both viruses and bacteria that can cause illness. Even more, it also can help to fight off yeast, fungus and candida.

Coconut oil can also positively affect our hormones for thyroid and blood-sugar control. People who take coconut oil also tend to have improvements in how they handle blood sugar since coconut can help improve insulin use within the body. Coconut oil can boost thyroid function helping to increase metabolism, energy and endurance. It increases digestion and helps to absorb fat-soluble vitamins.

Can coconut oil reduce cholesterol?

Coconut oil has a saturated fat called lauric acid, a type of MCT. It has been shown that lauric acid increases the good HDL cholesterol in the blood to help improve cholesterol ratio levels. Coconut oil lowers cholesterol by promoting its conversion to pregnenolone, a molecule that is a precursor to many of the hormones our bodies need. Coconut can help restore normal thyroid function. When the thyroid does not function optimally, it can contribute to higher levels of bad cholesterol.

How does coconut help keep weight balanced?

Coconut fats have special fats called medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). It has been shown that breaking down these types of healthy fats in the liver leads to efficient burning of energy. One 2009 study found that women who consumed 30 milliliters (about 2 tablespoons) of coconut oil daily for 12 weeks not only did not gain more weight, but actually had lowered amounts of abdominal fat, a type of fat that is difficult to lose, and contributes to more heart problems.

Read more at Dr. Oz

Outbreak of Rare Strain of Hepatitis A Spreads to Hawaii

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By Dan Flynn |

Another Western state was touched by the outbreak of a rare strain of hepatitis A, adding two more individuals to the list of those sickened nationwide.  Hawaii is the sixth state to be added to the growing outbreak.

State health officials in Hawaii say two adults, one from the island of Oahu and the other from Kauai, are among those sickened with the liver disease.  Like at least another 30 victims on the mainland, the Hawaii residents are believed to have consumed a frozen organic berry mix purchased at local Costco outlets.

The national warehouse outlet based in Seattle has removed the product from its shelves, and contacted it members who purchased the mixed berry product.  But the weekend passed without any official recall by manufacturer of the suspect product, Townsend Farms, based in Oregon.

Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend contains berries from multiple locations (Argentina, Chile and Turkey) and a pomegranate seed mix from Egypt, according to health officials.

Read more at Food Safety News

SEE ALSO: Case Count Rises to 49 in Hepatitis A Outbreak Linked to Frozen Berries

Take Precautions to Prevent Hantavirus

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Residents, visitors urged to protect themselves against the Hantavirus

FLAGSTAFF, AZ––As warmer temperatures and wetter weather return to Northern Arizona, so does the threat of Hantavirus, a rare but fatal disease spread by infected rodent droppings.

The Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) reminds the public to take a few precautions when entering and cleaning sheds, garages, campers, cabins, barns and other buildings to protect themselves from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).

“As preparations for summer activities begin, we want to remind everyone to take the time to use appropriate precautions when entering and cleaning structures and buildings,” said Kimbal Babcock, CCPHSD Interim Chief Health Officer.

HPS is transmitted to people who come into contact with or breathe the urine, droppings and saliva of wild mice, primarily deer mice. The illness starts with fever, headache and muscle aches, and progresses rapidly to severe difficulty in breathing and, in some cases, death.

The last reported case of Hantavirus in Coconino County was reported in 2007, but to prevent HPS, public health officials recommend the following:

Proper clean-up methods:

  • Open all door and windows, leave them open for 30 minutes before cleaning.
  • Do not stir up dust by vacuuming, sweeping, or any other means.
  • When rodent droppings or nests are found in and around the home, spray them liberally with a household disinfectant and allow them to soak for at least 15 minutes. Any rodent droppings and rodent nests should be sprayed with a pesticide to kill fleas before disinfecting or disposing the carcasses.
  • After disinfecting, wear rubber gloves and clean up the droppings with disposable materials such as paper towels, rags or disposable mop heads.
  • Seal all materials, droppings or nests in double plastic bags and dispose of them in the trash.

Rodent-proof your home:

  • Prevent rodents from entering the home by plugging or sealing all holes and gaps to the outside greater than 1/4-inch in diameter. Use steel wool, thick wire screen, metal flashing or cement to seal holes.
  • Eliminate or reduce rodent shelter around the home by removing outdoor junk and clutter, and by moving woodpiles, lumber, hay bales etc., as far away from the house as possible.
  • Do not make food easily available to rodents. Do not leave pet food in dishes. Dispose of garbage in trash cans with tight-fitting lids.

Certain forms of outdoor recreation, such as camping and hiking, can pose a risk for Hantavirus exposure.

  • A few precautions should be taken, including:
  • Campers should not pitch tents or place sleeping bags in close proximity to rodent nests, burrows, or in areas of heavy rodent activity.
  • Before use, properly clean tents and other camping gear that have been stored where rodents may have had access.
  • If possible, do not sleep on the bare ground and zip tents closed to keep animals out.
  • Use only bottled water or water that has been disinfected by filtration, boiling, chlorination, or iodination for drinking, cooking, washing dishes and brushing teeth.