May 2, 2016

Spotlight on Maternal Child Health

In honor of National Nurses Week (May 6 - May 12), here are some highlights of the work done by home-visiting nurses and staff in Public Health's Maternal Child Health section!

Representative Nancy Nathanson recently joined a home visit with one of Lane County Public Health's Nurse-Family Partnership nurses. 


PBS featured the work of Nurse-Family Partnership in a recent segment on PBS NewsHour. You can watch the feature here. 

To learn more about the great work done by the Maternal Child Health section to support families in Lane County, please see here. 

April 4, 2016
National Public Health Week: Healthiest Nation 2030

The first full week in April each year is recognized as National Public Health Week. This year's theme is Healthiest Nation 2030, chosen to raise awareness of the reality that Americans suffer more health problems and live shorter lives than many of our peers in nations with similar incomes. Read the National Public Health Week infographic to learn more about the facts and what you can do to improve your health and that of your family and your community. 

President Obama has issued a proclamation for National Public Health Week: you can read it here.  

You can learn more about Lane County Public Health's programs and services at our Open House, this Thursday, April 7, from 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Please join us! 


March 24, 2016
World TB Day: Unite to End TB

Lane County Public Health's Communicable Disease team is part of the global fight against tuberculosis. For more information about TB world-wide and World TB Day, please see here. The Oregon Health Authority also has resources for a more local perspective.

March 4, 2016
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month

Problem gambling is a serious public health issue in Oregon, affecting thousands of individuals and families.

Free and confidential help is available 24/7 in Oregon: call the 24-hour helpline, 1-877-MY-LIMIT or online at www.opgr.org. 

To learn more about local efforts to raise awareness about Problem Gambling, please see our Prevention section. 

February 18, 2016
Live Healthy Lane - results available now

Over 300 people participated in Live Healthy Lane: Defining our Future, which was held simultaneously in Eugene, Florence and Cottage Grove on February 10, 2016. Visit www.livehealthylane.org to see the results of the Community Health Needs Assessment and to learn about how to be involved in next steps. Below are some images from the event in Eugene.

The voting in action


A view of the room


February 12, 2016
Cottage Grove Tobacco Retail Licensing Ordinance Passes

On Monday night, the Cottage Grove City Council cast a second and final vote (6-1) to pass a tobacco retail licensing (TRL) ordinance that closely mirrors the Lane County TRL. While three other cities – Eugene, Springfield, and Oakridge – in the county have had TRL laws since the early 2000s, Cottage Grove is the first city in the county to pass a TRL law that mirrors Lane County’s. The city ordinance does the following:
- Requires a license to sell tobacco or inhalant delivery system products or paraphernalia
- Prohibits new retailers within 1,000 feet of public schools
- Prohibits free samples of products
- Prohibits self-service displays and mobile vending
- Requires posting of health warning and Quit Line information

Additional details can be found in the Cottage Grove Sentinel. 

February 10, 2016
Live Healthy Lane - opportunity to vote online today only

If you are not available to join the Live Healthy Lane event tonight, you can still vote to help determine community health priorities. A survey will be available at http://www.livehealthylane.org/ from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. PST today. 

Si no puede asistir hoy al evento Vive Saludable Lane, tendremos disponible en línea una encuesta de votación abierta de las 12:00 del mediodía hasta las 7:00 de la noche. De esta manera Ud. puede enviar su opinión de manera electrónica.

February 4, 2016
Immunization School Review and School Exclusion

Lane County Public Health's Communicable Disease team has completed the first phase of their annual school immunization review, in accordance with Oregon state law. Parents and guardians across Lane County may soon receive Exclusion Letters based on the information reviewed in their child's immunization record. Exclusion Day is February 17, 2016. For frequently asked questions about school review and exclusion day, please see here. 

For information about opportunities to get your child immunized, please see here or consult with your child's healthcare provider.

If you would like to get a nonmedical exemption for one or more of your child's required vaccinations, please see here. 

Si su hijo/a necesita vacunas, ver aquí para informarse sobre los consultorios en el Condado de Lane y servicios ofrecidos. 

January 27, 2016
Join us for the "Live Healthy Lane: Defining Our Future"
We asked, you answered: find out the results of the Community Health Needs Assessment and help shape Lane County's healthy future! Community events are happening in Eugene, Cottage Grove and Florence on Wednesday, February 10, 2016, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. See full details  here.

Registration is required by February 5: www.LiveHealthyLane.org

All are welcome! Please share with your friends and neighbors! 

¡Le invitamos a participar! Vive Saludable Lane: definiendo el futuro

Nosotros preguntamos y ustedes respondieron: entérese sobre los resultados de la encuesta de las necesidades de la comunidad y ayude a formar un futuro saludable para el Condado de Lane. Los eventos están en Eugene, Cottage Grove y Florence, miércoles, 10 de febrero del 2016, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. Para más detalles, ver aquí.

Es necesario registrarse antes del 5 de febrero:  www.LiveHealthyLane.org

¡Todos están bienvenidos! Le pedimos que reenvíe esta invitación a las personas que puedan estar interesadas en asistir.

January 8, 2016
Lane County Health Bulletin: Pertussis

Lane County's Health Officer, Dr. Patrick Luedtke, shares the following information about pertussis in Lane County. For the complete bulletin, including further information on pertussis and vaccine recommendations, please click here.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by bacteria:

• It begins with a runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever and mild cough. The cough gradually becomes more severe.
• After a week or two, the second stage of the illness begins, characterized by coughing spasms ending with a gasp or whoop as the patient tries to get air.
• Sometimes the coughing fits are so severe, they result in vomiting. This stage of the illness may persist for up to two to three months.

Pertussis is particularly dangerous, even fatal, for infants who are too young to be fully immunized.

Current Situation:

• Lane County has confirmed 56 cases of pertussis in 2015; another 5 cases are presumptive
• Nine of the 56 cases were infants, five of whom were hospitalized
• One case of pertussis was confirmed in the first week of 2016

Continue reading... 

December 1, 2015
World AIDS Day
Eugene, OR—This World AIDS Day (December 1, 2015), HIV Alliance and Lane County Public Health Department are urging the community to remain vigilant in its conviction and dedication to end HIV/AIDS. Agency officials state that while we have reduced new infections, future HIV prevention requires constant attention in order to “Get to Zero.”

“While we have made great strides in reducing the number of new HIV infections, there is still no cure for HIV,” stated Dr. Patrick Luedtke. “HIV is a very persistent and vigorous virus and despite all the new medications, we have not been able to defeat it entirely. So we must stay vigilant; HIV prevention is a long term game.”  
Read more...

November 25, 2015

New Fees for Vital Records Coming in 2016
The state of Oregon has set new fees, effective January 1, 2016, for birth and death certificates. The fee for the first copy of a birth or death certificate will change from $20 to $25 on January 1, 2016. The fee for each additional copy will also increase by $5. Please see information about obtaining birth and death certificates from Lane County Vital Records here. For more information from the state regarding the fee change, please see here.


November 14, 2015
World Diabetes Day
November 14 has been designated World Diabetes Day by the International Diabetes Federation, and the United States also recognizes November as National Diabetes Month. If you are, or you know, one of the estimated 29 million people living with diabetes in the United States, please check out the CDC's recommendations for managing diabetes. Here in Lane County, Public Health has identified preventing and reducing both tobacco use and obesity as health priorities, in part because improving these outcomes will help reduce the prevalence of diabetes and other chronic conditions in our community. You can read more about these priorities in our Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) here.


November 6, 2015
Information Regarding Norovirus


Click the yellow box above for more information. 


October 26, 2015
Lane County Health Attitudes 2014 Survey - Executive Summary Available Now



See full summary here. 

Haga clic aquí para ver el resumen ejecutivo de la encuesta de actitudes sobre la salud en español.


October 23, 2015
Live Healthy Lane Survey closes October 31 - Participate Now!

All Lane County residents are invited to participate in a brief online survey which will help assess the health of our community and create a plan for our healthy future!

You can take the survey here: www.livehealthylane.org

For more information about the 2015 Community Health Needs Assessment, please see here: www.preventionlane.org/CHA


August 24, 2015
Smoke continues in the Willamette Valley

For the current Air Quality Index in Lane County, visit the LRAPA page: http://www.lrapa.org/

The Oregon Smoke Blog has an overview of the whole state and can help you plan activities based on their outlook of smoke conditions.
 

July 30, 2015
Extreme Heat this week in Lane County

Lane County Public Health wants to remind everyone that excessive heat exposure can have serious health consequences and even death.

• Older adults (65 years and older), infants and children and people with chronic medical conditions are more prone to heat stress.
• Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages and increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level.
• Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death. During conditions of extreme heat, spend time in locations with air-conditioning such as shopping malls, public libraries, or public health sponsored heat-relief shelters in your area.

Beat the heat in Lane County (even a short time away from the heat can make a difference!).

CDC Extreme Heat guide: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heat_guide.asp

Here's a list of places near you where you can cool off: CLICK HERE

July 30, 2015
Meningococcal Update

Oregon Public Health Officials continue monitoring for cases of meningococcal disease linked to a University of Oregon outbreak that began in mid-January. There have been no new cases linked to this outbreak since late May. Vaccine was offered to incoming students at the campus orientations throughout the summer and continues to be widely available in local pharmacies and in all of Oregon. University of Oregon, Lane County, and Oregon Health Authority are working together to prevent further infections.

People who had close contact with a person diagnosed with type B meningococcal disease related to this outbreak should contact Lane County Health Department at (541) 682-4041. A nurse will help decide if antibiotics are needed to prevent illness.

For more information and frequently asked questions:

--  Meningococcal FAQ
--  Meningococcal Type B Vaccine FAQ 
 

June 5, 2015
Springfield: Tests Negative for Neisseria Meningitidis

Earlier today, tests indicated that a case associated with Springfield Public Schools does not have Neisseria meningitidis. This “rule out” is part of the standard practice of Lane County Public Health and is a regular function of the County working with patients and medical providers to keep the community safe from communicable diseases.

At this time, Lane County Public Health is not concerned about elevated risk for students in the Springfield School District. Our team’s concern, first and foremost, is the health and safety of our community.