Latest news with #WellstarMCGHealth
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Second person dies from injuries sustained in Aiken County crash after driver allegedly fled traffic stop
BEECH ISLAND, S.C. (WJBF) – A second person has died from injuries sustained in a fatal vehicle crash that took place this month, the Aiken County Coroner's Office said Tuesday. According to the coroner's office, 21-year-old Syntavion Priester of Williston was pronounced deceased at 12:34 p.m. at Wellstar MCG Health on May 27 from injuries sustained in a motor-vehicle collision on May 15 at 8:40 p.m. Priester was a rear seat passenger in the 2014 Ford Fusion that allegedly sped away from a traffic stop on Sheraton Drive. Authorities say the driver of the vehicle disregarded a traffic light at the intersection of Old Jackson Highway and Sheraton Drive, before it struck a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban that was traveling south on Old Jackson Highway. The front seat passenger of the Fusion, 16-year-old Jaquavis Baptiste of Elko, also died as a result of the crash. The coroner's office along with the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) are continuing to investigate. An autopsy will be held Wednesday in Newberry. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Local doctors reflect on impacts from COVID-19 on five-year anniversary of pandemic
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – This week marks five years since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. From mask mandates to social distancing requirements, the pandemic turned our world upside down. But five years later, doctors say they are still seeing impacts from the disease. The outbreak started in December 2019, with the first case coming out of Wuhan, China. Dr. Phillip Coule with Wellstar MCG Health says that's when he started to get his team ready. 'We were really preparing for what we thought would be coming. So, when the WHO declared it was a global pandemic, that just kind of confirmed what we had suspected could happen,' said Coule. Over the next few years, the disease took the world by storm. Businesses and schools were forced to close, and many losing jobs. The healthcare industry perhaps took the hardest hit. 'Not only because of the burden of COVID on our patients—and a surge of critically ill patients—but complicating healthcare in terms of staffing shortages because of people getting COVID themselves. Not having enough staff, the supply chain disruptions,' Coule said. Recent data from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) shows more than 1.2 million Americans have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic started. But the World Health Organization says almost 4,000 Americans have been hospitalized from COVID just over the last month. Coule says there are different reasons for this, but there are multiple types of coronaviruses that are impacting humans along with COVID-19. 'What appears to be happening is—now that we have immunization against COVID-19, and people have developed natural immunity against COVID-19—we are seeing a lessening of the impact. But this is kind of settling into being the 5th common coronavirus that affects humans and causes disease,' said Coule. Georgia saw close to 1,000 people die per week from the disease at the height of the pandemic. While those numbers are now down to less than 20 per week, Coule says some people should still take precautions. 'For those that have medical conditions, they do need to be concerned about it, much like they do with the flu or the other coronaviruses. It's still an issue of concern, but it very much is approaching becoming just another cold virus for the average person,' Coule added. The recommendations for the elderly and those with severe medical conditions have not changed with wearing masks and social distancing. While the impacts are still there, it's far less than it was just a few years ago. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Motorcyclist, 76, dies four days after collision in Aiken County
Aiken County investigators are looking into the death of a 76-year-old man who was hit while driving a three-wheeled motorcycle. Paul Morse was was driving a 2021 Can-Am Ryker south on Piney Heights Road at 12:16 p.m. Feb. 22 when he crashed into a 2023 Nissan Rogue turning north onto Piney Heights from Pine Log Road, according to Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables. Morse was taken to Wellstar MCG Health in Augusta, where he died from his injuries at 4:50 p.m. Feb. 26. The coroner's office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol are continuing with the investigation. Single-car crash: Motorist killed after hitting tree on Augusta road This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Aiken authorities investigate death of 76-year-old motorcyclist
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Local health experts break down what you need to know about the Bird Flu
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Over the past few weeks, grocery shoppers have seen the price of eggs continue to skyrocket. That's because of a shortage due to a type of viral infection called the Bird Flu. The disease has been in recent headlines, but local health experts say it's not a new disease. It's a viral infection that doctors call a 'cousin' of the influenza virus, which can impact both animals and humans. We spoke to Dr. Jose Vazquez, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Wellstar MCG Health. 'It was actually discovered back in 1997 in China, but we didn't see any bird flu in the U.S. until 2000 or 2002 when we started seeing it in chickens,' said Vazquez. 'That's where it started, but over the last few years we've started to see an increase in avian influenza. Due to the vast spread of infection, that's lead to these birds being killed. Chickens fall in that category—less chickens means less eggs, less eggs have led to this shortage, and the shortage is what's causing the high egg prices.' The disease has also caught the attention of the Georgia Department of Agriculture. 'This is a really serious threat to our ag industry here in Georgia. It's a significant threat, and it's something that we take very seriously here at the Department of Agriculture,' said Matthew Agvent. The department says more than 153 million birds have been impacted by the disease across the country since the outbreak started in 2022. Here in the Peach State, the GDA has been working diligently to limit the spread. 'Only approximately 205,000 of that 153 million have been in the state of Georgia–the nation's leading poultry producer. So, I think that really speaks to the advocacy of the work that our animal health professionals here at the department and across the state are doing in conjunction with our poultry producers,' Agvent said. As far as human health, The CDC reports the virus has infected 66 people so far, with one case out of Louisiana turning deadly last month. Vazquez says the Bird Flu could be easier to catch than you might think. 'For instance, some people have what's called a backyard flock. A lot of folks have chickens in their backyards for eggs and whatever, but if they get it they can actually become infected with it,' Vazquez said. 'More often than not, it's a very mild case of the flu. Meaning upper respiratory tract infections, maybe some cough, fever, joint aches and pains, inflammation of the eyes called conjunctivitis. But it's a very mild case.' Vazquez says the only confirmed cases so far are workers at poultry farms and cattle ranches. While he calls the bird flu a mild illness, he says you should be cautious of certain animals in certain areas. 'If you have backyard flocks, and you have animals that are dying, the first thing they should do is call the health department to see what should be done. Number 2, handle those with care. If you have an N-95, use that. Wear gloves, and get rid of them—but hold them to see if the department of health or whoever is looking at them here would want to take a look at them,' said Vazquez. While there have not been any reported human cases in Georgia or South Carolina, Agvent says they have responded to 6 detections of bird flu in animals since 2022. 'Three of those have been in backyard poultry flocks. Back in 2023, we also had a case in a commercial raise-for-release duck operation. This year, we've had two detections in a commercial poultry flock in Elbert County,' said Agvent. 'These were our first cases in commercial poultry, we treat those differently than we would for a backyard flock.' Agvent clarifies that those two cases were not egg-laying birds, and are not contributing to the high egg prices in stores. 'Those operations were broilers—those are meat birds, so these two cases are not causing these egg prices to skyrocket. What's causing egg prices to go up is the fact that this is a nationwide issue, and unfortunately it's impacting Georgia consumers,' said Agvent. Since October 2024, close to 35 million egg-laying birds have been killed across the country to prevent the spread of HPAI. 'That's approximately 10% of all egg-laying birds in the U.S., so you're talking about a fairly significant reduction in egg supply. That's really what's been driving increased prices at the grocery store, and that's going to continue being top of mind for consumers as long as it's impacting their kitchen table,' Agvent said. The CDC has guidelines and recommendations about what you can do to protect yourself from HPAI, or the Bird Flu. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
