More Hoosiers may be able to get nutrition benefits, thanks to revised federal poverty guidelines. That’s according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
State Health Officials Offer Tick Disease Prevention Tips
Hoosiers are urged to protect themselves against ticks when taking part in outdoor activities. The small, insect-like creatures are found in grassy, wooded areas throughout the state. Ticks tend to be most active during the late spring and early summer.
State health officials warn they can transmit a variety of diseases, including Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Last year more than 200 cases of tick-borne illness were reported in Indiana. Continue reading
County Opioid Profiles Released by State Health Officials
Health problems related to opioid use are being tracked by the Indiana State Department of Health. County-level statistics on things like opioid overdoses resulting in a trip to the emergency room or death, as well as diseases like Hepatitis C that may indicate the sharing of needles, are all included in the new county opioid profiles. Continue reading
State Officials Warn of Deadly “Gray Death” Heroin
State officials from several agencies are warning of an extremely potent and potentially deadly mix of heroin that has made its way into Indiana.
It’s known as Gray Death and is a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil and other synthetic opioids. At least one person has overdosed in central Indiana this week. Continue reading
State Health Officials Raise Awareness of Hepatitis Risk, Encourage Prevention
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, healthymd.com/stds and state health officials are encouraging Hoosiers to get tested for the disease and learn how to prevent it. They say more than 7,000 cases of viral hepatitis were reported in Indiana in 2015. Additionally the number of reported acute Hepatitis C cases has risen by 400 percent since 2010. Continue reading
State Officials Urge Prediabetes Screening
One in three Hoosiers are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. They encourage residents to take a prediabetes risk assessment. Continue reading
Indiana Tobacco Quitline Offers Free Resources for Hoosier Smokers
Indiana smokers who want to quit can now get free help from the state. Those who enroll in the Indiana Tobacco Quitline between now and April 2 or until supplies run out, will be eligible for free medication, such as gum or patches. Continue reading
State Health Officials Discuss Heart Disease Prevention
February is American Heart Month, and the Indiana State Department of Health is asking Hoosiers to help raise awareness of overall heart health.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women nationwide. In 2014, almost 14,000 Indiana residents died from heart disease, accounting for more than one in every five deaths. American Heart Month is an opportunity for Indiana residents to learn more about the disease and it can be prevented. Continue reading
State Officials Urge Testing for Potentially Deadly Gas
Hoosiers are urged to test their homes for a cancer-causing, radioactive gas during the month of January. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Continue reading
State Health Officials Report Season’s First Flu Death
Indiana state health officials have recorded the first influenza-associated death of the 2016-17 season. They will not release any additional information about the patient due to privacy laws. Continue reading
WIC Converts to EBT Cards
Families who participate in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program will now have an easier time shopping for approved grocery items. Indiana health officials say programs in all 92 counties are now using electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards instead of paper checks. Continue reading
Great American Smoke Out Urges Hoosiers to Give Up Tobacco
Hoosiers are urged to kick the habit of smoking as part of today’s Great American Smoke Out. The American Cancer Society encourages smokers to at least make a plan to quit in order to improve their health and reduce their risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. Continue reading
HIV Awareness Focus of Statewide Event
The Indiana State Department of Health is once again teaming up with other organizations to raise awareness of HIV. Continue reading
Well Water Test Kits Available at Marshall County Health Department
The Marshall County Health Department says they have some well water test kits available for those concerned about the safety of their drinking water.
Residents Reminded to Take Precautions Against West Nile Virus
Summer may be entering its final weeks, but mosquito season continues. So far this year, 92 mosquito batches have tested positive for West Nile Virus, including two in Starke County and three in St. Joseph County. Continue reading
Hoosiers Urged to Protect Themselves from Ticks this Spring
The Indiana State Department of Health is urging residents to protect themselves against ticks before heading outdoors this spring. Health officials say the small, insect-like creatures are found in grassy and wooded areas throughout the state. They can carry a variety of infectious diseases like Lyme disease. Continue reading
Hoosiers Urged to Get Tested During STD Awareness Month
During the month of April, health officials around the country are working to raise awareness of the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. Continue reading
Mobile Home Park Owner Disputes Marshall County Permitting Requirements
The owner of a couple of mobile home parks appeared before the Marshall County Commissioners Monday, saying he should be exempt from the county’s permitting requirements. Ralph Costello, who owns the Gatewood Estates and Creek Side mobile home parks, says he should not have to get a permit every time his parks decide to move or demolish a mobile home, since the parks predate the county’s zoning laws. Continue reading
State Hearing-Aid Program Making Noise for Hoosier Children
A new state program to help the deaf and hard of hearing is being made available to children in the Hoosier State. Continue reading
State Health Officials Warn of Increase in Flu Deaths
An increase in flu-related deaths has Indiana health officials urging residents to get vaccinated. The Indiana State Department of Health says 19 Hoosiers have died from the virus since October, including two children. They say many of those people did not get a flu shot. Continue reading
