Florida is partnering with LifeSouth, SunCoast, and other local blood centers to receive blood donations and help distribute them appropriately across the state. Locations for these community-based blood centers can be found at FloridaDonates.com.

DOH-Lake encourages residents and visitors to make an appointment with alternative providers to support the blood supply for Florida’s hospitals and fellow Floridians.

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Nationally, stroke is a leading cause of death. Recognizing a stroke quickly can be lifesaving, as fast treatment can lessen the brain damage that can occur. Quick treatment increases the chance for survival.

Spot a Stroke F.A.S.T. and Call 9-1-1

• Face – If one side of the face droops, it’s a sign of a possible stroke.
• Arms – If the person cannot raise both arms out, it’s another possible stroke sign.
• Speech – Slurring words and poor understanding of simple sentences can also serve as a stroke sign.
• Time – If you see any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1 immediately!

Stroke Risk Factors

• High blood pressure.
• Excessive alcohol use.
• Not being physically active.
• Diabetes.
• High cholesterol.
• Smoking.
• Heart disease.

Tips to Lower Risk

• Consuming a healthy diet.
• Maintaining a healthy weight.
• Being physically active and exercising regularly.
• Not smoking.
• Limiting alcohol consumption

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According to Abbott, “These products are being recalled because a small percentage of bottles (less than 1%) in the recalled lots have bottle caps that may not have sealed completely, which could result in spoilage.” The brands included in this recall are: 

• Similac® Pro-Total Comfort®
• Similac® 360 Total Care®
• Similac® 360 Total Care® Sensitive
• Similac® Special Care® 24
• Similac® Stage 1
• Similac® Water (Sterilized)
• Similac® NeoSure®

The Department has notified current WIC participants who may have been issued a recalled product to provide them with alternative options.

In addition to these formula products, the following product has also been recalled:

• Pedialyte® Electrolyte Solution

According to Abbott, this recall should not impact overall formula supply. Floridians who use these products should visit Abbott’s website to view a list of impacted products or use the lot number checker online. It is important to verify the lot number on the bottom or the side of the bottle, as not all products are included in the recall. If your product is included in the recall, immediately discontinue use of the product and contact Abbott customer service at 1-800-986-8540 for further instructions.

For all feeding-related questions or concerns about your child’s health, contact a health care professional or the Florida Department of Health in Lake County WIC office at (352) 771-5559.

About the Florida Department of Health

The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

The post Abbott Voluntarily Recalls Certain Lots of 2 fl. oz./59 mL Bottles of Ready-to-Feed Liquid Products; Recall Is Not Expected to Impact U.S. Infant Formula Supply appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

“Rabies is a potentially fatal disease. It is important not to handle wild animals, to be aware of unusual acting animals and to keep pets vaccinated against rabies,” said Aaron Kissler, Administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Lake County.

Rabies is transmitted through exposure to the saliva and nervous tissue from a rabid animal through a bite, scratch, or contact with mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose or mouth. The Florida Department of Health in Lake County works with The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Animal Enforcement and The Lake County Animal Shelter in responding to incidents of animal bites, tests animals for rabies through the Department of Health StateLaboratory, and quarantines animals as necessary. The Florida Department of Health in Lake County can also advise victims of animal bites where to obtain rabies vaccinations, the only known effective treatment for rabies prevention in humans.

The following are steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones against rabies:

Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets.

• Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact Lake County Sheriff’s Office AnimalEnforcement at 352-343-2101 press # 5.
• Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.
• Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.
• Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
• Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and pets.

Unusual acting animals should be reported to Lake County Sheriff’s Office AnimalEnforcement at 352-343-2101 press # 5 for handling. Anyone who is bitten or scratched by wild animals or strays should call to report the incident to their doctor immediately, as well as Lake County Sheriff’s Animal Enforcement and their local health department. The contact number to report an animal bite to the Florida Department of Health in Lake County is 352-253-6130.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

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DOH-Lake Community Health Site
located at 560 W. DeSoto Street, Clermont.
Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Florida Department of Health Leesburg
located at 2113 Griffin Road, Leesburg
Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

 Florida Department of Health Umatilla
located at 249 E. Collins Street, Umatilla.
Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

• Sites will be offering 1^st & 2^nd Pfizer vaccine doses
• No appointments necessary.
• Dates and times are subject to change.

All Florida residents are now eligible to receive any COVID-19 vaccine as prescribed by the Food and Drug Administration.  The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for persons 12 and up (all minors must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian).

 To find a COVID-19 vaccine near you visit, vaccines.gov , text your zip code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233.

As a reminder,  clinics are now open, please see below our services and hours of operations:

Florida Department of Health Clermont
875 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont
(352) 771-5500 opt 2

Services:  Family Planning, STI, Tuberculosis, HIV, Immunizations, Quick Scripts, Children school physicals.

Hours:  Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Florida Department of Health Leesburg
2113 Griffin Road, Leesburg
(352) 771-550 opt 2

Services:  Family Planning, STI, Tuberculosis, HIV, Immunizations, Quick Scripts, Children school physicals.

Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Florida Department of Health Umatilla
249 E. Collins Street, Umatilla
(352) 771-5500 opt 2

Services:  Family Planning, STI, Tuberculosis, HIV, Immunizations, Quick Scripts, Children school physicals.

Hours:  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For the latest local immunization information, visit our website at lake.floridahealth.gov or follow us on Twitter at @FLHealthLake.  For questions, please call the DOH-Lake COVID-19 Hotline at (352) 801-2755 Monday- Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For general information on COVID-19 in Florida, visit www.floridahealth.gov/covid-19, email covid-19@flhealth.gov or call (866) 779-6121.

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St. Patrick Catholic Church Site located at 6803 Old Hwy 441, Mt. Dora. Tuesday – 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday – 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (extended hours) Thursday – 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Open for 1^st and 2^nd doses on a first-come, first-served basis.

As a reminder, this will be the last week of operation for the Amazon Distribution Site located at 7453 Republic Drive, Groveland. The hours of operations will be as follow:

Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Wednesday will have extended hours till 7 PM)

Open for 1^st and 2^nd doses on a first-come, first-served basis.

Schedules are based on vaccine availability. Dates and times are subject to change.

The Lake Square Mall immunization site is available by appointment only. Residents may preregister for an appointment online at myvaccine.fl.gov or by phone at 866-201-6909 (or 833- 476-1031 for TTY users).

During this phase, we’ll continue to vaccinate the following populations: Persons 40 years of age and older; Health Care personnel with direct patient contact; Long-term care facility residents and staff; Persons under 40 deemed medically vulnerable by a physician (Required Form)

For the latest local immunization information, visit our website at lake.floridahealth.gov or follow us on Twitter at @FLHealthLake. For questions, please call the DOH-Lake COVID-19 Hotline at (352) 801-2755 Monday- Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

COVID-19 in Florida, visit www.floridahealth.gov/covid-19, email covid-19@flhealth.gov or call (866) 779-6121.

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“During these times it is vital that all Floridians are able to seek quality medical attention from licensed practitioners,” said State Surgeon General Scott Rivkees. “Those who volunteer to return to work will be a valuable asset to helping Florida during this state of emergency.”

Inactive medical doctors, osteopathic physicians, physician assistants, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, respiratory therapists, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics will have the option to temporarily reactive their inactive license for a period of 90 days to assist during the public health emergency due to COVID-19.

A license that is reactivated under this provision will return to inactive status when the public health emergency ends or before the end of the public health emergency if the State Surgeon General determines that the health care practitioner is no longer needed.

The Department of Health stands ready to assist our health care providers in responding to this pandemic. We appreciate all practitioners who want to help protect the citizens of Florida and serve during this emergency.

The post Florida Department of Health Temporarily Reactivates Inactive Health Care Practitioner Licenses in Response to Public Health Emergency COVID-19 appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

“We want to remind our residents that with rain comes mosquitoes” said Aaron Kissler, Health Officer for the Florida Department of Health in Lake County.  “After a storm it is important for everyone to act quickly in order to prevent mosquito breeding by practicing “Draining and Cover” whenever and wherever possible”

DOH-Lake advises the public to remain diligent in protecting themselves from mosquito bites by remembering to “Drain and Cover”.

DRAIN standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying

• Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.
• Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren’t being used.
• Empty and clean birdbaths and pet’s water bowls at least once or twice a week.
• Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
• Maintain swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.

 COVER skin with clothing or repellent

• CLOTHING – Wear shoes, socks, and long pants and long-sleeves.  This type of protection may be necessary for people who must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.
• REPELLENT – Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.

• Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective.

• Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.

COVER doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house

• Repair broken screening on windows, doors, porches, and patios.

For additional information, please visit us at http://lake.floridahealth.gov/ or follow us on twitter at@FLHealthLake.

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To provide information to the public, FDOH has launched a dedicated webpage for Hepatitis A:FloridaHealth.gov/hepa. On this page, visitors can find general information, frequently asked questions, and surveillance data from FDOH, as well as fact sheets for the general public, health care providers, and food service workers. For questions about Hepatitis A, the department has also established a dedicated email address: HepA@flhealth.gov, and information line: 1-844-CALL-DOH (1-844-225-5364), available Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm.

“I am declaring this Public Health Emergency as a proactive step to appropriately alert the public to this serious illness and prevent further spread of Hepatitis A in our state,” said Florida Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees. “The best way to prevent hepatitis A is through vaccination. It is important that we vaccinate as many high-risk individuals as possible in order to achieve herd immunity. I will continue to work with Governor DeSantis and Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez to take proactive steps to protect the health of Florida’s residents and visitors.”

Pursuant to the Public Health Emergency, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) will request assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This declaration signals to health care providers the importance of screening and vaccination for all individuals considered at high risk for contracting Hepatitis A. While anyone can contract hepatitis A, individuals who are considered by the CDC and FDOH to be high risk include: those who are experiencing homelessness; intravenous and non-intravenous drug users; men who have sex with other men; individuals in an emergency room or other acute care setting, after being administered an opioid antagonist, such as naloxone; individuals working with homeless persons or intravenous drug users outside of health care settings; and first responders.

The declaration also recommends vaccination for individuals or who are at heightened risk for suffering serious complications from contracting hepatitis A. This includes individuals with chronic liver disease, clotting factor disorders, and individuals over 60 years of age with a serious underlying medical condition, as determined by their health care provider, in critically impacted counties.

In Florida, the critically impacted counties are:  Brevard, Citrus, Glades, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Liberty, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas, Sumter, Taylor, and Volusia. Hepatitis A case counts for 2019 thus far have already surpassed those in 2018. From January 1, 2019, through July 27, 2019, 2,034 hepatitis A cases were reported.

Through this declaration of a Public Health Emergency, the State Surgeon General reminds all individuals to practice good handwashing procedures to prevent further spread of Hepatitis A.  All individuals should wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using bathrooms, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food. Additionally, the declaration emphasized the importance of consistent sanitation practices for public and private facilities with restrooms and showers. The Department of Health has created detailed infographics for sanitation practices designed to prevent the spread of Hepatitis A. These infographics and additional resources are available at FloridaHealth.gov/hepa.

What is a Public Health Emergency Declaration?

A “public health emergency” is not a “state of emergency”. A public health emergency, as defined by Florida Statute 381.00315(1)(c), is a declaration by the State Surgeon General that allows the Department of Health to take actions necessary to protect public health.

What is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious disease that attacks the liver. People infected with hepatitis A are most contagious from two weeks before the onset of symptoms to one week afterward. Not everyone who is infected will have all the symptoms. Symptoms usually start within 28 days of exposure to the virus with a range of 15-50 days. Symptoms can include:

• Jaundice (yellowing skin and whites of eyes)
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue/tired
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Dark-colored urine
• Pale or clay-colored stool

How is Hepatitis A treated or Hepatitis A infection prevented?

Hepatitis A vaccine is the best method of preventing infection.

Practicing good hand hygiene plays an important role in preventing the spread of Hepatitis A.

Use soap and running water and wash for at least 20 seconds, wash hands after changing a diaper or caring for a person, and wash hands before preparing, serving or eating food.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not kill the Hepatitis A virus.

No medicines can cure the disease once symptoms appear. People with Hepatitis A symptoms should seek medical care immediately.

Most people get better over time but may need to be hospitalized.

Previous infection with Hepatitis A provides immunity for the rest of a person’s life.

People that are exposed to Hepatitis A may be given vaccine or immune globulin within 14 days of exposure to prevent infection.

How Hepatitis A is Investigated by the Department of Health

After a case of Hepatitis A has been reported to the FDOH by a health care provider, a county health department (CHD) epidemiologist will interview the individual and collect information regarding the timeline of their previous 50 days, including travel, occupation, drug use, food history and more. The epidemiologist will then identify close contacts of the ill person. If given within 14 days, the Hepatitis A vaccine will help prevent infection among anyone exposed to the virus. As with the national outbreak, the majority of cases of Hepatitis A in Florida are close contacts of persons experiencing homelessness or persons who use or inject drugs. Less than 5% of cases have been identified among food workers. To date, FDOH has not identified a case of hepatitis A transmission from a food worker to a restaurant patron.

The post A Public Health Emergency Is Issued In Response To Hepatitis A Outbreak appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

2019 Focus Group Conference Calls 

Date: Fourth Friday of every month 

Time: 

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (OBESITY focus group) 

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (SUBSTANCE ABUSE focus group) 

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (ACCESS to FOOD & NUTRITION focus group) 

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (ACCESS to PRIMARY CARE focus group) 

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (DIABETES focus group) 

By Computer or Phone: You can join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone at https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/867260533, JoinGoToMeeting.com or audio-only: (866) 899-4679 Code/ID: 867-260-533 

Who should attend? 

• Citizens 

• County Government & Municipalities 

• Schools, Colleges & Universities 

• Hospitals & Emergency Medical Service Providers 

• Philanthropic & Health Financing Organizations 

• State Agencies & Programs 

• Elected Officials 

• County Health Department Staff 

• Social Service Facilities & Service Providers 

• Coalitions & Advocacy Groups 

• Media Outlets 

• Mental Health Facilities & Service Providers 

• Healthcare Facilities & Service Providers 

Interested attendees may RSVP to DOHLakeCHIP@flhealth.gov. More information about CHIP activities can be found at lake.floridahealth.gov or by contacting Page Barningham at (352) 483-7967. 

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