Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Recent influenza reports have drastically increased since reports last month.
The flu season has been brutal so far, with many reported cases involving severe illnesses. Since the start of the influenza season, 578 people have been hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Health reports for the 2012-2013 season. This is up from 30 people who were reportedly hospitalized this flu season in a report from last month. In addition, four influenza-related deaths have been confirmed this season. This time last year, flu cases were lower in Minnesota than they are now, according to data on Google's Flu Trends. (Oakdale-specific data is not available on Flu Trends, but flu cases in the Twin Cities metro are in line with the state as a whole.) Overall in Minnesota, …
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Clinics in Edina, Fridley, Maple Grove and Shakopee quietly promote 'factual,' 'consistent' information on outbreak tied to steroid shots.
The number of Minnesotans infected with fungal meningitis is holding steady at three cases, but the number of people killed in a 10-state outbreak has hit 11. That's according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where scientists have linked the rare infection to injectible steroids produced in Massachusetts and provided to patients at clinics in Edina, Fridley, Maple Grove and Shakopee. The total number of people infected in the United States stands at 119. A spokesperson for Medical Advanced Pain Specialists (MAPS), one of two Minnesota medical groups that provided the tainted steroid, said MAPS staff is trying to help government agencies. Anne Trujillo, MAPS director of …
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The study showed that the levels of perfluorochemicals in Oakdale, Cottage Grove and Lake Elmo residents' bodies declined significantly, however, they're still much higher than the national average.
A study that measured the perfluorochemicals in Oakdale residents’ blood in 2008, and then tested the same residents again in 2010 showed the levels of the chemicals dropped significantly since health officials started taking measures to rid drinking water of the chemicals. Presence of PFOS dropped, on average, 26 percent, PFOA dropped 21 percent and PFHxS was down 13 percent in the 164 Oakdale, Lake Elmo and Cottage Grove residents who participated. However, the partcipants’ levels were still about double the national average for PFOS and about triple the national average for PFOA and PFHxS. Minnesota Department of Health officials held a public meeting at Skyview Elementary School Monday to explain the results of the study and answer …
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Eleven skin-lightening products were found to contain mercury.
Washington County is asking that residents keep skin care products found to contain mercury out of their trash cans and instead take them to a hazardous waste facility, according to a Washington County press release. The request comes after the Minnesota Department of Health advised the public to stop using 11 skin lightening products found to contain the chemical. The skin creams (shown here) contain mercury at levels ranging from 135 to 33,000 parts per million (ppm), according to the press release. Under federal law these products can contain no more than trace amounts of mercury, "and only if it is impossible to avoid adding it during the manufacturing process," according to the press release. The creams can be dropped off at the …
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The site is an initiative of a Washington County group working on improving health.
Come February, a new website will launch that aims to help Washington County residents eat better, lose weight, stop smoking and exercise more, according to a Washington County press release. Here are the basics about the site:
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Much of the remedial work within the city has already been done, officials say.
Although 3M chemicals contaminate Oakdale groundwater, city officials say they don't expect a lawsuit filed Thursday, Dec. 30, by Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson seeking damages from 3M for environmental degradation to have much impact on Oakdale. The company has already paid for a water treatment plant in Oakdale to remove contaminants from the water before it gets to the city's homes and businesses, and it is doing major cleanup work at a former Oakdale dumpsite to try to remove contamination at its source. "We're pretty satisfied with how things are going," said City Administrator Craig Waldron. "I'm not sure what else we could ask for." Waldon said the city is not a party to the lawsuit and the city council hasn't taken a …
Patty Busse
10:33 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011
It was great meeting you, Joan! Thanks much for your comments! more ›