Cases Of Hep A Among Gay, Bisexual Men Have Begun To Surge In LA
The Hep A outbreak had been mostly limited to homeless people, but public health officials are starting to see a rise in cases outside that population.
Los Angeles Times:
L.A. County Ramps Up Effort To Fight Hepatitis A As Cases Among Gay And Bisexual Men Surge
California health officials have stepped up their hepatitis A prevention efforts in recent days as new fronts emerge in the battle against the state’s massive outbreak. Most of the 20 people killed and more than 600 sickened in the outbreak that began in San Diego were homeless. (Karlamangla and Holland, 11/10)
In other public health news —
Desert Sun:
Young Children Are Suffering From Alarmingly High Rates Of Asthma Near The Salton Sea, Study Finds
Teachers and administrators at schools near the Salton Sea have grown accustomed to helping students with asthma, often keeping inhalers on hand in case dusty air triggers an attack. A new survey of the families of first- and second-graders at four schools in the Imperial Valley confirms that the children are suffering from alarmingly high rates of asthma and other respiratory problems. The survey was carried out by researchers from the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, who are focusing on the health of children near the shrinking lake. (James, 11/6)
Orange County Register:
Orange County’s First Flu Season Death Is A Toddler
A previously healthy male toddler is Orange County’s first flu-related death of the season, the Orange County Health Care Agency announced Thursday, Nov. 9. Lab testing this week confirmed the boy was infected with the influenza A virus. He was not vaccinated, officials said. (Smith and Bharath, 11/9)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Discovery May Show Earliest Stage Of Alzheimer's
A new way to detect Alzheimer’s disease at the earliest stages has been reported in a study led by researchers at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. The researchers found a biological molecule, or biomarker, that’s associated with brain inflammation. This is believed to be a trigger for the Alzheimer’s process, which takes many years to produce symptoms. (Fikes, 11/10)