Latest news with #SouthCarolinaDepartmentofPublicHealth
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
SC DPH investigating case of human West Nile virus infection in the Midlands
SOUTH CAROLINA (WJBF) – The South Carolina Department of Public Health confirmed it is investigating a case of human West Nile virus infection. According to spokesperson for the department, the case is being investigated in the Midlands region of the state, which includes the counties of Aiken, Barnwell, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, Saluda, and York. Due to federal and state privacy protections, any additional information concerning the individual will not be provided. People are encourages to take steps to limit mosquito bites, including wearing long pants and sleeves and applying mosquito repellent. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Fox found in Horry County tests positive for rabies
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A fox in Horry County has tested positive for rabies, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Health, which issued a rabies awareness notice. The fox was found on Monday near Highway 917 and Mount Olive Church Road in Nichols. Health officials did not say anyone was exposed but asked anyone who might have had contact with the fox to call the department's Conway office at 843-915-8801. Officials asked residents in the area where the fox was found to use caution when dealing with wild or stray animals. In addition, proof of a rabies vaccination for pets is required by the South Carolina Rabies Control Act, officials said. If your pet has not been vaccinated, contact your veterinarian for an appointment. The Horry County Animal Care Center's low-cost clinic offers rabies vaccines for dogs and cats. Call 843-915-5171 to schedule an appointment. * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dog exposed to rabid bat in Marion County, officials say
MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A pet was exposed to a rabid bat in Marion County, the South Carolina Department of Public Health said. The bat, which was found near Chance Court and Ratley Drive, tested positive for rabies, the DPH said. No people are known to have been exposed, but a dog was exposed and will be quarantined as required in the South Carolina Rabies Act. The bat was submitted to DPH's laboratory on Thursday and confirmed to have rabies on Friday. Anyone who may have come into contact or knows someone who came into contact with the bat are asked to call DPH's Conway office at 843-915-8801. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
SCDPH report shows increase in overdose deaths in the Lowcountry
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – The South Carolina Department of Public Health released its latest report on overdose deaths. Overall, the state saw a record decline of overdose deaths since 2012, but multiple Lowcountry counties saw an increase of nearly 30%. Those include Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, and Williamsburg counties between 2022 and 2023. Officials said the higher numbers come from a variety of reasons, with around 70% of overdose deaths caused by from fentanyl. 'What we do know is that this is in every county, every state and every part of the country – is that fentanyl is in every substance,' Nanci Steadman Shipman, founder and executive director of WakeUp Carolina, said. 'Fentanyl is an opioid and it does not discriminate. The only to reverse that from crack, cocaine, molly, MDMA, is Narcan.' Officials said the rise of reporting these deaths added to their findings. However, DPH and local organizations like WakeUp Carolina are continuing to offer harm reduction resources and grief counseling, in efforts to bring these numbers down. 'We are all kind of collaborating together to see what areas have what types of resources, and we evaluate what area has higher overdose rates versus how much Naloxone is in the area,' Julia Horan, substance use prevention unit director of SCDPH, said. 'So, we use those stats to do targeted outreach to make sure we are bringing those numbers down.' State and local agencies cited that law enforcement agencies have been helpful, as they are providing assistance and critical resources like Naloxone, an overdose reversal drug. Officials said though prevention is important, having the materials readily available is equally important. 'We really want to stress having fentanyl testing strips and testing any drugs you may come across. Test every time because it may not be an equal amount in the drug supply. So, we remind people test every time that they use,' Horan said. Local health departments in the Lowcountry are providing free opioid overdose kits with Naloxone and testing strips. They can be found at county clinics or departments. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gov. McMaster set a good example for all public officials: Call out lies, demand due process
I saw something in the paper the other day that almost took my breath away. A lie was called a lie. To his credit, Gov. Henry McMaster has done that publicly and repeatedly as he has addressed criticism against his choice to head the new South Carolina Department of Public Health, Dr. Edward Simmer. Critics are calling the 30-year Navy doctor our version of Dr. Anthony Fauci, who as head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was America's leading voice for public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Simmer is being branded as an enemy of 'medical freedom' and a mask and vaccine totalitarian. McMaster said that's not true. It was in my colleague Matthew T. Hall's column on the Simmer situation that I read these stunning words from McMaster: 'I have not found a word of truth about the allegations they're making against that man. He wasn't even here when all those mandates were going on. He wasn't even here.' The pandemic, and the state's and nation's public response to it, were well under way when Simmer was hired in February 2021 as director of the state's Department of Health and Environmental Control. He was subsequently named interim director of the Department of Public Health when DHEC was split into two agencies. McMaster defends Simmer as an eminently qualified stalwart who was at his side almost daily as South Carolina made its way through the pandemic better than most states did. But that's not the important point. The important thing is that a state leader — a conservative Republican and devotee of President Donald Trump – recognized lies and had the courage to call them that in the public square. We need more of that because lies are flying like rounds from machine guns all day every day. McMaster pointed out one of the dangers when false accusations go unchallenged. 'This is the very reason that people do not want to get into public office because they are erroneously attacked for ulterior motives,' he said. 'It is dangerous. It is dangerous to our state. This man is eminently qualified.' It is pitifully dangerous when an entire nation is led to believe that it is inferior and that no one can trust elections, judges, law enforcement officials, longtime international allies, journalists, bureaucrats, doctors, librarians, immigrants — or each other. Much of that distrust is fueled by lies. More leaders need to relocate their spines and say, 'No. That's not true. I will not accept that.' The first thing out of our mouths when reading anything online — and especially from those interviewing government officials – should be, 'What is your source?' Or as reputable journalists do, confirm information with at least two sources. The second important thing McMaster did was call for due process. He acknowledges that some people will not like his choice to enhance public health in one of America's most unhealthy states. But he reminded us about one of America's greatest assets, one taken from the pages of the Torah and the Magna Carta before forming the backbone of our Constitution: Due process. 'They ought to let the man have his hearing, ask him the questions and give him a fair hearing,' McMaster said. He added: 'I do not know if we could find anyone as good as, much less better than, Dr. Simmer, so I think those that are criticizing him ought to take a good look at the facts and then decide what they want to say.' Nominated by McMaster in November, Simmer received his first a confirmation hearing on March 20 before the state Senate Medical Affairs Committee. He was not bashful to say what is at stake. 'These falsehoods and lies not only impact me,' he said. 'They are dangerous. They erode the public's trust in our front-line health care workers and put the people who believe the lies and falsehoods at risk.' Little did I know what a prophetess my high school chemistry teacher, Mrs. Saunders, would become in my old age. The only thing I remember from that old scientist's class was her often repeated admonition: 'Don't believe anything you hear, or half of what you see.' David Lauderdale may be reached at lauderdalecolumn@ .
