Naegleria fowleri, or the “brain-eating amoeba” is a parasite commonly found in warm freshwater (e.g. lakes, rivers, and hot springs) and of the 140 or so known cases in the US, 35 are from Florida alone. Associate Professor of Infectious Disease and International Medicine at USF Health in Tampa, Sandra Gompf, MD,Continue Reading
Pasco County health officials have identified a positive case of hepatitis A in a food service worker at ICON Gentlemen’s Club in Hudson. Hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin (IG) may provide protection against the disease if given within two weeks after exposure. This has prompted officials to recommend hepatitis A vaccination forContinue Reading
Clearwater Arby’s The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County has identified a positive case of hepatitis A in a food service worker at Arby’s Restaurant in north Pinellas, FL. The employee may have exposed patrons between April 5 – 20, 2019. Officials conducted an epidemiological investigation and determined the individualContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has reported a confirmed Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) case in a eight year old quarter horse in Polk County. The horse presented with symptoms on April 24 and was humanely euthanized due to poor prognosis. So far in 2019, Florida health officials have reported EEEContinue Reading
With the increase in measles cases across the US, the Florida Department of Health in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties are urging Floridians and visitors who have not been immunized to get vaccinated. Measles cases top 700, Agency heads reinforce confidence in vaccines Although measlesContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County (DOHPinellas) is investigating a measles case in a 72-year-old male with international travel to Asia. Anyone older than 12 months of age should receive the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine for protection. Vaccines are provided at no cost at DOH-Pinellas clinics toContinue Reading
Florida is one of some 18 states experiencing a hepatitis A outbreak, reporting 1359 cases since 2018. The Tampa Bay area has been especially hard hit by the outbreak with five counties accounting for more than half the state total. Pinellas County has seen the most statewide with 300 cases,Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Labor Friday announced the award of an opioid-crisis Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for up to $2,500,000, with $833,333 released initially. This grant funding will address the workforce impacts of the opioid crisis by providing employment services to eligible individualsContinue Reading
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Section confirmed on Tueday, April 9, 2019, the fourth positive Rabies case in Polk County for the year. On Saturday, April 6, 2019, PCSO received a call that a dead bat had been located inside a garage at a home on Longleaf CircleContinue Reading
Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis A Hillsborough County health officials are encouraging patrons of the Sandpiper Grille on 1702 S Pebble Beach Blvd. in Sun City Center to get vaccinated for hepatitis A after a positive case of hepatitis A was identified in a food service worker. The vaccine is recommendedContinue Reading
Since 2013, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis have all sharply increased – with more than two million of these infections reported in 2017 alone. Each April, federal, state and local health departments observe STD Awareness Month to spread the word about what sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are and how they impact people’s lives,Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Florida Roofing Experts Inc. for exposing employees to fall hazards at a Jacksonville, Florida, worksite. The company faces the maximum penalty allowed of $132,598. OSHA initiated the inspection as part of the Agency’s Regional Emphasis Program on Falls inContinue Reading
LifeLink Tissue Bank, a division of LifeLink® Foundation, Inc. headquartered in Tampa, FL, announces a new distribution partnership with Parcus Medical. “Together, we will offer the orthopedic community first-class allograft tissue, implants and instrumentation for sports medicine procedures,” said Bart Bracy, Senior Vice President for Parcus Medical. “This synergistic relationshipContinue Reading
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an update on the outbreak of life-threatening coagulopathy associated with synthetic cannabinoids use this week and year-to-date, Florida has reported six cases. Since the index patient with hypocoagulopathy associated with synthetic cannabinoids use was identified on March 8, 2018 in Illinois,Continue Reading
Sarasota County, FL health officials are reporting four children in the county have been diagnosed with measles. According to the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County, the children have “close contact to each other” and none of them were vaccinated against the disease. “We will continue to investigate,” DOH-Sarasota Health OfficerContinue Reading
Hillsborough County health officials are alerting a South Tampa neighborhood after a rabid raccoon attacked a family dog. The health department says the incident occurred in the area of W. Thornton Ave Tampa 33611 in the Ballast Point area. The unprovoked raccoon can out of a tree and attacked the vaccinatedContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County has issued a rabies alert. This is in response to an owned animal being exposed to a raccoon that tested positive for rabies. All residents and visitors in the Meadow Pointe area of Wesley Chapel should be aware that rabies is presentContinue Reading
Hillsborough County health officials have reported an unprecedented number of hepatitis A cases in 2018. Through Nov. 21, the Hillsborough County Health Department have reported 57 cases, this compares with 36 total cases reported from 2013-2017. Florida issues hepatitis A health advisory: Increases reported in Tampa and Orlando areas Florida healthContinue Reading
Drug therapies that target a specific molecule have changed the way patients are treated for cancer and greatly improved survival rates. However, some patients do not respond to these therapies because the drug is not reaching the tumor cells effectively. In a new study published in Scientific Reports, Moffitt Cancer CenterContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Health-Hillsborough County that influenza activity continues to be elevated. Although activity decreased in some surveillance systems in week 6, it is too early to know if influenza activity has peaked for the season. Activity remains elevated above peak levels seen in previous seasons. So far this season, forty outbreaksContinue Reading
The state of Florida saw 20 confirmed and probable pertussis, or whooping cough cases among 15 counties in January. Four of these cases were reported in Hillsborough County. There were no outbreaks of pertussis reported in January. For every pertussis case identified, there was an average of two exposed contacts who wereContinue Reading
