Latest news with #SarahKemble
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
DOH: Hawaii sees ‘worrying' increase in whooping cough
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A concerning number of pertussis cases in Hawaii, otherwise known as whooping cough, has health officials on high alert. According to the Hawaii Department of Health, the number of whooping cough cases is increasing at a 'worrying rate.' Whooping cough cases are rising again in the US So far in 2025, officials said 108 cases have been reported, surpassing the 84 total cases for all of 2024. 'Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads through the air via the coughs or sneezes of an infected person,' health officials said. While the symptoms may resemble a cold, it can ultimately progress to 'intense coughing fits.' It's particularly important for families that are expecting a baby, so pregnant women, but also grandparents who are going to be holding the baby, dads who are going to be holding the baby. So everyone in the household who may be spending a lot of time around a newborn infant, we recommend that they also get their booster for pertussis. Dr. Sarah Kemble, State Health Department epidemiologist Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Officials said health complications can be serious and include pneumonia, seizures, apnea, brain damage and even death. The DOH said vaccines are the best protection and are urging parents to keep their children up to date on all recommended vaccines such as DTaP or Tdap. 'In the absence of immunizations, that's where we wind up with folks ending up in the hospital, in the ICU. Sometimes needing respirators, breathing machines to depend on,' said Dr. Mahealani Lum, JABSOM Department of Family Medicine. Check out more news from around Hawaii The public can view the CDC's recommended vaccination schedules on its website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
DOH emergency rule looks to prevent measles outbreak
HONOLULU (KHON2) — As Hawaii's measles vaccination rate continues to decline, Department of Health officials are expanding efforts to protect the islands from a measles outbreak. The DOH said at least 95% of Hawaii's population must be vaccinated to prevent an outbreak, otherwise known as 'herd immunity.' Two Oahu hospitals receive $10M in grants to expand access to critical cancer care In hopes of encouraging more vaccinations, DOH officials sent a letter to parents and guardians of Hawaii students, especially those who attend schools with low immunization rates. The letter outlines DOH's emergency rule, which states that children with a religious exemption can receive the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. Students can also be exempt from other vaccines and continue to attend school. The emergency rule is effective for the next four months. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Pediatrician and state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble emphasized the need for vaccination as measles is a serious and sometimes fatal disease for keiki. 'At the rate it's spreading, it could easily reach Hawaiʻi on the next plane. The MMR vaccine is our best defense against the measles virus,' Dr. Kemble said. Parents are encouraged to vaccinate their children immediately. If a measles outbreak were to occur, the department said children without an MMR vaccine may be prohibited from attending school. All updates to a child's vaccination record should be reported to their school. Check out more news from around Hawaii The DOH is looking to hold on-site vaccination clinics. In the meantime, parents and staff can access vaccines through the child's healthcare provider or a local community clinic. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hawaii Health Department launches survey on avian influenza
The Hawaii Department of Health is inviting Hawaii residents with backyard flocks or involved in bird rescues to participate in a survey aimed at gathering important data and valuable insights on awareness and preparedness. DOH hopes to collect critical information on these residents' understanding of bird flu and their practices and needs. 'We want to better understand the potential exposures that backyard flock owners and bird rescuers face when it comes to avian influenza, so we can help prevent future human bird flu infections in partnership with the community, ' said state Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble in a news release. 'By reaching out through both digital and in-person methods, we hope to get wide participation and honest feedback.' The survey is anonymous, and accessible online at. DOH is asking only Hawaii residents who keep at least one poultry bird at home, who are involved in bird rescues, or have had direct direct contact with birds in the past year for other reasons to participate at this time. Hawaii first detected and confirmed H5N1, or highly pathogenic avian influenza in a backyard flock of waterfowl at in Wahiawa in mid-November. At the time, pet ducks, geese and a wild zebra dove had tested positive for H5N1, and approximately 70 birds were euthanized. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. A wild duck on Oahu's North Shore that was randomly tested that month also was confirmed to carry the H5N1 virus. Despite H5N1 detection in wastewater on Kauai and Hawaii island, no outbreaks among birds have yet been reported on those islands. There have been no confirmed outbreaks among commercial poultry farms in Hawaii. Avian influenza, however, continues to infect flocks across the U.S. Over the past 30 days, there have been 110 commercial and backyard flocks confirmed to have H5N1, affecting 12.7 million birds, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The virus has also impacted dairy cows, primarily in California, and infected dozens of different animals, including cats, black rats, mountain lions, bottlenose dolphins, and harbor seals, among others. To date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 70 human cases of H5N1 in the U.S. since 2024. The first and only in the U.S. so far was reported in January in a backyard chicken owner in Louisiana. DOH says the current risk to the general public in Hawaii remains low, but encourages residents to complete the survey as soon as possible to help it collect data and insights. The survey link will also be posted to various Facebook groups dedicated to Hawaii backyard flock owners and bird rescuers. Additionally, flyers with QR codes that link to the survey will be distributed in poultry feed stores and animal care clinics. Questions ? Contact the DOH Disease Reporting Line at 808-586-4586 or email. 0 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
