Latest news with #CDPH
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Magnitude 3.2 earthquake rattles near Malibu coast
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.2 rattled off the coast of Malibu on Wednesday. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake struck at 9:33 a.m. The epicenter was roughly 3.1 miles south-southwest of Malibu Beach, at a depth of roughly 7.9 miles. Just minutes before, a smaller earthquake shook in Riverside County on the Cahuilla Reservation, about 3.1 miles west-southwest of Anza. The USGS said it had a preliminary magnitude of 2.2, and struck around 9:19 a.m. with a depth of 3.2 miles. No damage or injuries were initially reported from either quake. Latest California Earthquakes (Please wait a moment for the map to load) Use controls or your thumb to move and zoom. Thousands of earthquakes are recorded in California annually, but the vast majority are incredibly minor. Several hundred reach a magnitude of 3.0, and only about 15 to 20 reach a magnitude of 4.0 or greater, according to the USGS. In North America, only Alaska records more quakes per year than California. What to do in an earthquake During an earthquake, knowing the proper steps to protect yourself and minimize injury is crucial. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) provides detailed guidelines on what to do during such events. Here are the key points: Drop: Immediately drop down onto your hands and knees. This position prevents you from being knocked over and allows you to stay low and crawl to safety if necessary. Cover: Use one arm to protect your head and neck, and if possible, take shelter under a sturdy table or desk. If no shelter is available, get down next to an interior wall away from windows. Stay on your knees and bend over to protect vital organs. Hold On: Hold on to your shelter until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if it shifts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The Star
02-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
California issues urgent shellfish warning due to algae bloom
LOS ANGELES, May 2 (Xinhua) -- California health officials have urged residents to avoid eating shellfish harvested recreationally from the coast due to the toxic algae bloom that killed a large amount of sea life this year. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued a quarantine for all recreationally harvested mussels for the entire coastline from May 1 through Oct. 31, citing the move was caused by elevated levels of PSP toxins and domoic acid in shellfish in the region. Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins are a group of potent neurotoxins, primarily known as saxitoxins, that accumulate in shellfish like clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops. Meanwhile, a separate advisory was issued for eating clams, scallops and oysters in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. The warnings do not affect commercially sold shellfish from certified sources, which health officials said are safe. The algae bloom sickened and killed thousands of sea lions, dolphins, whales and birds in Southern California in recent months. Dead dolphins and even whales washed ashore along the coast. The algae produces domoic acid, a neurotoxin, that concentrated in small fish such as anchovies and sardines and then was consumed by marine mammals and birds. The poison affects the heart and nervous system, causing the animals to become disoriented. There have been no reported human cases of domoic acid poisoning in California to date, health officials said. However, they warned that consuming recreationally harvested shellfish had the potential to cause serious illness. Early symptoms of shellfish poisoning include tingling of the lips and tongue, which may begin within minutes to a few hours after eating toxic shellfish, the CDPH said in its warning issue don Apr. 23. "These symptoms are typically followed by a loss of balance, lack of muscular coordination, slurred speech, and difficulty swallowing," the CDPH said. Milder symptoms of shellfish poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea and headaches. In severe cases, people can become paralyzed and die from asphyxiation.
CBS News
01-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Chicago public health officials stress importance of vaccines after 2 cases confirmed in Cook County
Doctors in the Chicago area are keeping a close eye on measles cases, checking to make sure more aren't reported, after the first two cases of the year were confirmed this week in Cook County. One local agency is stepping up their efforts in the fight against the potentially deadly disease. The Chicago Department of Public Health is increasing the use of public health nurse educators who go to Head Start programs and daycare centers in the city to educate parents and staff about the importance of the measles vaccination. Dr. Alexander Sloboda, medical director of immunizations at CDPH, said the MMR vaccine is the key to stopping the spread of measles. "With two doses of that vaccine, it's 97% effective in preventing a measles infection," he said. Sloboda said his agency has been taking extra steps to spread the word about the importance of getting children vaccinated against this potentially deadly disease, after a measles outbreak that started in Texas has grown to 884 cases nationwide, including three in Illinois – one in Chicago, another in the Cook County suburbs, and a third in southern Illinois. "We're trying to identify different groups that may have a bit more vaccine hesitancy or lower vaccination rates, and really specifically reach out to those groups and engage with those groups," Sloboda said. The Chicago Department of Public Health is focusing on children in pre-K settings. "That's daycare, childcare, early childhood education, because if they're 12 months old they should have at least one dose of MMR vaccine," he said. Sloboda offered insight into why measles cases are on the rise not just nationwide, but around the world. "Childhood vaccination rates have started to slightly decline, predominantly since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic," he said. CDPH has increased their efforts when it comes to educating parents and staff at childcare centers about the importance of measles vaccinations. "Data shows that nine out of ten people that are unvaccinated that are exposed to measles virus will become infected, but thankfully we have the vaccine. So, if you're vaccinated properly, you should have very little to worry about, even if exposed," he said. Chicago saw its own measles outbreak just last year, with 57 migrants, many of them unvaccinated, testing positive for measles in March and April 2024. "We had a congregate setting; a shelter where a lot of people were living in a slightly under-vaccinated population, and so that's where measles can quickly spread if people are not fully vaccinated and have that 95% population protection," Sloboda said. The highly contagious disease can also be deadly. Nationwide this year, two children and one adult have died from the disease. "You can get lung infections, you can get brain infections from measles, which can lead to complications. So, even if a child survives a measles infection, they could have complications that last the rest of their life as well," Sloboda said. If you've never been immunized against measles, getting the MMR vaccine before traveling is also very important. "Usually it takes between two to three weeks for the vaccine to take full effect. You have the vaccine; your body analyzes the vaccine, and then starts building that immunity with the white blood cells, the antibodies; and then by two to three weeks you have that full protection from the vaccine," Sloboda said. When it comes to full protection, Sloboda said the MMR vaccine offers a lifetime of protection against a person getting measles.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Stanislaus County continues fentanyl awareness with empty chair display at mall
Stanislaus County agencies and volunteers will keep pressing for public awareness even though preliminary data showed a drop in fentanyl deaths last year. The county's Opioid Safety Coalition will have an empty chair display at Vintage Faire Mall in Modesto through Tuesday, National Fentanyl Awareness Day. Each of the 173 chairs represents someone who died from taking the illegal drug or other overdoses in 2024. County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services leads the coalition composed of county and public health staff, addiction experts, health professionals, hospital workers, educators and residents who have lost family members. Meetings are held at 9 a.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Stanislaus Veterans Center, 3500 Coffee Road, Modesto. According to Coroner's Office data, illegal fentanyl resulted in 101 overdose or poisoning deaths in the county in 2024. A California Department of Public Health spokesperson said Thursday that the state's official count for 2023 was 127 fentanyl deaths in Stanislaus County, an increase from 116 in 2022. The potent drug associated with the cautionary warning 'One pill can kill' was responsible for 86% of opioid deaths and 68% of drug-related deaths in the county in 2023. That same year, drug overdose was the leading cause of death among adults 25 to 54 years old in California. Fatal overdoses were witnessed by a bystander 40% of the time, and knowing how to help might have saved many lives, CDPH said. 'While we do see the national data trending downward, the reality is our communities in California are still heavily impacted by fentanyl overdose,' said Shauna Simon, a research scientist for the substance and addiction prevention branch of CDPH. Simon said the CDPH recommends that community members talk with friends, family members and neighbors about the signs of overdose, when to call 911 and how to administer Naloxone to stop an overdose. Many organizations are making the life-saving medication available to the public. The nasal spray designed to reverse opioid overdoses can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies, which are stocking it more than previously. Naloxone, often sold as Narcan, is designed to reverse overdoses until the person can receive medical attention. The state's CalRX program makes Naloxone available for purchase online for $24 for a twin-pack, which is significantly less than the usual price for consumers. The state program began direct sales to consumers to expand access to the medication. The CDPH's Facts Fight Fentanyl website presents the signs for recognizing an opioid overdose, including small, constricted pupils, loss of consciousness, slow or weak breathing, clammy skin, gurgling sounds and a limp body. The site has an instructional video on how to administer Naloxone nasal spray, along with other life-saving steps. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid sold illegally in pill form or mixed with other drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine. The county Coroner's office recorded 550 deaths related to fentanyl from 2018 through the end of 2024.
Fox News
22-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Newsom makes generic $24 Narcan available after pro-drug policies push 'safe' use
Gov. Gavin Newsom has made California the first state to offer a generic version of the overdose-reversal drug Narcan for public purchase through a state-run storefront, while the state's health department continues to promote a "Harm Reduction" model for the so-called "safe" use of drugs. "Life-saving medications shouldn't come with a life-altering price tag," Newsom said in a statement Monday. "CalRx is about making essential drugs like naloxone affordable and accessible for all — not the privileged few. California is using our market power as the 5th largest economy in the world to disrupt a billion-dollar industry to save lives…and we're just getting started." The program comes nearly a year after California's CalRx brand began selling over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray to businesses and government groups. But the state's public health department sanctions the "safe" use of drugs through its promotion of the California Harm Reduction Initiative (CHRI), which works to reduce overdoses by handing out syringes and fentanyl test strips, among other initiatives. "The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Office of AIDS (OA) has determined that safer injection, safer smoking and sniffing materials, provided in a harm reduction context alongside health education and other care, may reduce the spread of communicable diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C, and reduce the risk of injury and fatal drug overdose," a state fact sheet about syringe services programs (SSPs) in 2022 reads. In 2017, California became the first state to pass legislation permitting supervised consumption services (SCS), allowing local jurisdictions to establish pilot programs for drug users to consume substances under supervision. By 2022, SB 57 was passed, authorizing overdose prevention programs in select cities, including San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles. This legislation further integrated harm reduction into the state's health policies. The progressive program has drawn criticism from conservative leaders over the last several years. "This is a nuanced issue of public safety on which Newsom's approach is here… so often, ironic," Will Swaim, president of the think tank California Policy Center told Fox News Digital. "This is like Newsom suing Trump over tariffs — the guy who has done so much to destroy business wants to pretend now he's pro-business?" Swaim added that "like Narcan accessibility, that's not a good fit for him."
