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Accident Closes Kiddie Pool in Glen Rock

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Glen Rock NJ, from Glen Rock Mayor Bruce Packer ,on Saturday Evening, the kiddie pool was closed down due to a loose accident. Bathing codes dictate how long we must stay closed and treat the water. In a case like today’s, we need to treat for a minimum of 12.75 hours. In addition to treating the water, we will need to do a deep clean of the kiddie pool and scrub the affected areas.

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Rabies: A Forgotten Killer

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Health Department and the CDC share this important information. Rabies is a virus that infects wildlife, especially bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes in the US. It can spread to people and pets when they are bitten or scratched, causing fever, agitation and death. Rabies is 100% preventable with post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) that includes rabies vaccine and medications to fight infection, as long as people get PEP before symptoms start. Understanding the risk and knowing what to do after contact with wildlife can save lives.

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Be Careful in the Sun

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, With warm weather here and spending more time outdoors, the Ridgewood Health Department and the CDC would like you to be careful when you step outside. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. UV damage can also cause wrinkles and blotches or spots on your skin. The good news is that skin cancer can be prevented, and it can almost always be cured when it’s found and treated early.

Take simple steps today to protect your skin:
• Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. Put on sunscreen every 2 hours and after you swim or sweat.
• Cover up with long sleeves and a hat.
• Check your skin regularly for changes.

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Measles – It isn’t Just a Little Rash

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Health Department and the CDC remind you that Measles is more than just a little rash. Measles can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children.

Measles symptoms typically include:
• High fever (may spike to more than 104° F)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• Rash breaks out 3-5 days after symptoms begin

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CDC : Measles could become endemic in the United States again

CDC

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, according to the CDC measles could become endemic (constant presence of a disease in an area) in the United States again, especially if vaccine coverage levels drop. This can happen when people

  • forget to get vaccinated on time,
  • don’t know that they need a vaccine dose (this is most common among adults), or
  • refuse vaccines for religious, philosophical or personal reasons.

Research shows that people who refuse vaccines tend to group together in communities. When measles gets into communities with pockets of unvaccinated people, outbreaks are more likely to occur. These communities make it difficult to control the spread of the disease. And these communities make us vulnerable to having the virus re-establish itself in our country.

High sustained measles vaccine coverage and rapid public health response are critical for preventing and controlling measles cases and outbreaks.

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Public Health Alert: Measles Exposure in Bergen County

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the staff of the Ridgewood bog

Hillsdale NJ, The New Jersey Department of Health is warning residents about a suspect case of measles—a highly contagious disease— who could have possibly exposed others to the infection while in Bergen County between February 17 and February 25, 2019. Testing at the CDC has confirmed the infection. The individual, who is a New Jersey resident, had recent contact with a community outside New Jersey experiencing an ongoing outbreak of measles.

Anyone who visited the following locations may have been exposed to measles:

  • AFC Urgent Care Hillsdale, 2 Broadway, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
    • February 18, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Walgreens Pharmacy, 383 Washington Ave, Hillsdale, NJ, 07642
    • February 18, 2019 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
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CDC Food Safety Alert: E. coli Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Washington DC, CDC is advising consumers, restaurants, and retailers not to eat, serve, or sell any romaine lettuce as it investigates an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to romaine. Read the investigation announcement: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-11-18/index.html.

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Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi continues to follow up on the adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque facility

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Rivervale NJ, Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi continues to follow up on the adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque facility.

On her Facebook page she says , “Early this morning I had a conference call with the New Jersey Commissioner of Health. Another child has died due to the adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque facility bringing the total number of deaths to 11 and total number of infections to 34. The infection rate is now at approximately 75% of all children in that unit. There are many unanswered questions as to the sanitary practices of the facility leading up to this heartbreaking disaster. All remaining children are being separated within the facility to ensure no additional infections. The Commissioner has agreed to sit down in person and discuss necessary legislative solutions to ensure that a situation like this never happens again. It is unconscionable that patients are still becoming infected as recently as four days ago.

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CDC Warns of Salmonella Outbreak From Raw Chicken

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, CDC and public health and regulatory officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Infantis infections linked to raw chicken products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) is monitoring the outbreak.

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To Screen for Prostate Cancer or Not? That is the Question and Here are Some Facts

CDC

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Health Department reminds you that even though Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is officially observed in September, it should be observed every month throughout the year.

Men wonder if they should be screened for prostate cancer. Before arriving at a decision to be screened or not, it is important that men talk with their doctor about their personal risk for prostate cancer and their options. Men should learn about the possible benefits and harms of screening so that they can make the best choice for them.
Cancer screening means looking for cancer before it causes symptoms. The goal of screening for prostate cancer is to find cancers that may be at high risk for spreading if not treated, and to find them early before they spread. However, most prostate cancers grow slowly or not at all.

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Fed’s Establish Regional Medicare Fraud Strike Force

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ,  Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division today announced the formation of the Newark/Philadelphia Regional Medicare Fraud Strike Force (Regional Strike Force), a joint law enforcement effort that brings together the resources and expertise of the Health Care Fraud Unit in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section (HCF Unit), the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of New Jersey and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as well as law enforcement partners at the FBI, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

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Prevention is key in fight against tickborne disease

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July 15,2018

Rebecca Eisen Ph.D. (CDC)

 

Ridgewood NJ, Tickborne diseases are on the rise and prevention should be on everyone’s mind, particularly during the spring, summer, and early-fall when ticks are most active. From May through July, people will get more tick bites and tickborne diseases than any other time of year in the United States. It’s especially important to take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones (including pets) from ticks during this season, as well as any time during warmer months when you’re outside.

Many people do not know they are at risk. Each year, more than 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported nationwide, while studies suggest the actual number of people diagnosed with Lyme disease is more likely about 300,000. Despite these numbers, a recent national survey reported that nearly 20 percent of people surveyed in areas where Lyme disease is common were unaware that it was a risk. Additionally, half of people interviewed in another study reported that they did not routinely take steps to protect themselves against tick bites during warm weather.

No sure way to predict how bad a season will be
Preventing Lyme and other tickborne diseases is important every year. Predicting the number of Lyme disease or other tickborne infections, and how an upcoming season will compare to previous years, is complicated. Ticks that spread disease to people can have up to 2 to 3-year lifecycles, and many factors can affect their numbers, including temperature, rainfall, humidity, and the amount of available hosts for the ticks to feed on, such as mice, deer and other animals. In any given year, the number of ticks in an area will be different from region to region, state to state, and even county to county.

Know the risk
What is known is that regardless of the number of ticks this year, people should be aware that ticks could be in the areas where they live, work and play. Everyone should take steps to help protect themselves and their loved ones, including pets, While not all ticks carry the same diseases, ticks can be found in every state. Throughout the continental United States, some diseases occur more frequently in some areas than others:
Lyme disease risk is focused in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest, with pockets of lower risk along the west coast. However, the range of the tick that transmits Lyme disease also is expanding. While nearly 95 percent of Lyme disease cases occur in 14 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin, infected ticks can also be found in neighboring states and in some areas of Northern California, Oregon and Washington.

Other less known, but serious tickborne diseases include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, Powassan virus, and babesiosis. These diseases tend to be concentrated in specific parts of the country. Babesiosis and anaplasmosis occur in the same areas as Lyme disease—mainly in the Northeast and upper Midwest. More than 60 percent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases occur in five states: Arkansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

Take steps to protect against ticks
Taking steps to protect yourself and your family from getting a tick bite is the best defense against Lyme disease and other tickborne infections. Whether you’re working, enjoying your yard, camping, hiking, hunting or otherwise in the outdoors, CDC recommends that people:
Avoid areas with high grass and leaf litter and walk in the center of trails when hiking.
Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone. EPA’s helpful search tool can help you find the product that best suits your needs. Always follow product instructions.
Use products that contain permethrin to treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents or look for clothing pre-treated with permethrin.
Treat dogs for ticks. Dogs are very susceptible to tick bites and to some tickborne diseases. They may also bring ticks into your home. Talk to your veterinarian about the best tick prevention products for your dog.
Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors to wash off and more easily find crawling ticks before they bite you.
Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body upon returning from tick-infested areas. Parents should help children check thoroughly for ticks. Remove any ticks right away.
Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors. If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed.

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CDC: “Leaves of three, Let it be!”

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Photos courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture

June 19,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, its that time of the year again for all gardeners when you may find a little poison ivy growing in your garden , So we posted from the CDC away to identify these poisonous plants.

POISONOUS PLANTS (lead photo)

Plant Identification
The old saying “Leaves of three, Let it be!” is a helpful reminder for identifying poison ivy and oak, but not poison sumac which usually has clusters of 7-13 leaves. Even poison ivy and poison oak may have more than three leaves and their form may vary greatly depending upon the exact species encountered, the local environment, and the season. Being able to identify local varieties of these poisonous plants throughout the seasons and differentiating them from common nonpoisonous look-a-likes are the major keys to avoiding exposure.
Poison Ivy

Eastern poison ivy is typically a hairy, ropelike vine with three shiny green (or red in the fall) leaves budding from one small stem
Western poison ivy is typically a low shrub with three leaves that does not form a climbing vine
May have yellow or green flowers and white to green-yellow or amber berries
Poison Oak

Photos courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture

Typically a shrub with leaves of three, similar to poison ivy
Pacific poison oak may be vine-like
May have yellow or green flowers and clusters of green-yellow or white berries
Poison Sumac

Photos courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture

Woody shrub that has stems that contain 7-13 leaves arranged in pairs
May have glossy, pale yellow, or cream-colored berries

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CDC: Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness

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June 19,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the CDC offers some helpful tip to deal with the heat in the summer.

Stay Cool
Wear Appropriate Clothing: Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
Stay Cool Indoors: Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library—even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area.
Keep in mind: Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, they will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off. Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.
Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully: Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to recover.
Pace Yourself: Cut down on exercise during the heat. If you’re not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.
Wear Sunscreen: Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out. Continue to reapply it according to the package directions.
Tip: Look for sunscreens that say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels- these products work best.
Do Not Leave Children in Cars: Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open. While anyone left in a parked car is at risk, children are especially at risk of getting a heat stroke or dying. When traveling with children, remember to do the following:
Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked open.
To remind yourself that a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal in the front with the driver.
When leaving your car, check to be sure everyone is out of the car. Do not overlook any children who have fallen asleep in the car.
Avoid Hot and Heavy Meals: They add heat to your body!

Stay Hydrated
Drink Plenty of Fluids: Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
Warning: If your doctor limits the amount you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
Stay away from very sugary or alcoholic drinks—these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
Replace Salt and Minerals: Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be replaced. A sports drink can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat.
If you are on a low-salt diet, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic conditions, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.
Keep Your Pets Hydrated: Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets, and leave the water in a shady area.

Stay Informed
Check for Updates: Check your local news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips and to learn about any cooling shelters in your area.
Know the Signs: Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them.
Use a Buddy System: When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness. If you are 65 years of age or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a day during a heat wave. If you know someone in this age group, check on them at least twice a day.
Monitor Those at High Risk: Although anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others:
Infants and young children
People 65 years of age or older
People who are overweight
People who overexert during work or exercise
People who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation
Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.

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Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Mbandaka Infections Linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks Cereal

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June 16,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Washington DC, The New Jersey Department of Health is working with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and several other states on an outbreak of Salmonella Mbandaka associated with Kellogg’s Honey Smacks Cereal.

As of June 14, 2018; 73 people have been infected from 31 states. NJ currently has three confirmed cases associated with this outbreak, one each in Bergen, Mercer and Gloucester. Thirty (77%) of 39 people interviewed reported eating cold cereal and 14 people specifically reported eating Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal. New Jersey cases interviewed so far did not report consuming the product. Additional details on this outbreak can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/Mbandaka-06-18/index.html 

On June 14, 2018, the Kellogg Company recalled 15.3 oz. and 23 oz. packages of Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal that have a “best if used by” date from June 14, 2018 through June 14, 2019. The recalled products were distributed across the United States as well as in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, the Caribbean, Guam, Tahiti and Saipan. Consumers are being advised to not eat any of the recalled Honey Smacks cereal even if no one got sick and to throw the rest away or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Any containers that the cereal was stored in should be washed with warm, soapy water before re-using. Additional details on the recall can be found at: https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm610815.htm