Sacramento Resident First To Succumb To West Nile This Season
Officials have warned that this year the state is experiencing a particularly active season for the virus.
Capital Public Radio:
First West Nile Death Of The Year Occurs In Sacramento County
A senior citizen in Sacramento County is the first person to die of West Nile virus this year.The Public Health Department and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith released a statement Friday morning:“West Nile virus can cause a deadly infection in humans, and the elderly are particularly susceptible, as this unfortunate fatality illustrates,” said Dr. Smith. “West Nile virus activity in the state is increasing, so I urge Californians to take every possible precaution to protect themselves against mosquito bites.” (8/5)
In other health care news from across the state —
The Press Democrat:
Sonoma County Grapples With Rush Of Retirements In Wake Of Settlement Talks On Health Benefits
The sudden retirement of nearly four dozen Sonoma County government employees earlier this summer on a rumored change in retiree medical benefits has left county officials scrambling to stave off gaps in services and backfill staffing shortages among road maintenance crews, public health nurses and county planners. The retirements — 47 in June alone — represent a roughly 175 percent increase from the monthly average for the year prior. Most of the former employees — many of them already close to retirement age, according to the county — acted on a feared change in benefits stemming from settlement talks in an eight-year legal battle over the county’s cut in retiree health benefits. (Hart, 8/7)
Marin Independent Journal:
Marin Electronic Medical Record System Hacked, Ransom Paid
Marin Medical Practices Concepts, a Novato company that provides medical billing and electronic medical records services to many Marin physicians, had its computer system hacked and paid a ransom to regain access to its own data. There is "no evidence" that any patient data were compromised, according to a company official. As a result of the security breach, many Marin doctors have been unable to access patients' electronic medical records for more than a week. (Halstead, 8/5)