Commonwealth Conversations: Public Health

It's Veggie Season!

  Kara Ryan, Department of Public Heath

 

Kara Ryan is a Nutrition Education Specialist at DPH

Farmers’ Markets are popping up everywhere across the Commonwealth. The spring rain and warm sun have brought locally grown produce to your neighborhood Farmers’ Market.

There’s something about making the trip out to the market that is just so enjoyable. Maybe it’s all of the bright colors and smells. Or meeting the farmer who grew the tomato you are buying. It’s also being outside and enjoying the warm weather and learning about what foods are grown here in Massachusetts. There are surprises every week as the season moves on—new fruits and vegetables pop up weekly.

Do you have someone in your household who puts their nose up whenever veggies are around? If you do, you are not alone. But don’t let that stop you from serving them! Now is the perfect time to get your entire household to eat more vegetables. If you have someone in your household who frowns on vegetables, bring them to the Farmers’ Market! Let them pick out the vegetable of the week. Prepare and cook veggies together. Each week can be a new adventure.

Right now at your local Farmers’ Market you will most likely find beets, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes and spinach. A lot to choose from!

Are you looking for a recipe or do you need to find a Farmers’ Market near you? Check out the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture website: http://www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/farmers_markets.htm

Let us know what vegetables you are finding at your Farmers’ Market. We’d love to hear from you!

Boston announces state's first H1N1 flu-related death.

The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health today announced the state's first death linked to H1N1 flu (swine flu).  A statement released by BPHC said that the 30 year-old Boston resident passed away yesterday. (Download 2009 06-15 First H1N1 death in Boston)

As of June 11, there were 1,153 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in the Commonwealth, and 80 people in the state have been hospitalized since the outbreak began.  While most cases of the H1N1 flu in Massachusetts have been less severe, this is a tragic reminder of how serious influenza can be for some people. 

Certain groups are at higher risk of complications from the flu.  These groups include children under the age of 2, adults over 65, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.  These people should call their doctor immediately to discuss appropriate treatment if they develop a fever with a cough, sore throat, or runny nose.

Massachusetts residents are reminded to take the following steps to reduce their risk of illness:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, or cough into your inner elbow and not into your hands.
• If you are sick stay home from work, and if your child is sick keep them home from school for 7 days, or 24 hours after symptoms resolve -- whichever is longer.
• Stay informed about the latest developments on the H1N1 flu by visiting www.mass.gov/dph.

Estamos en televisión

Posted by:
Jordan Coriza, Department of Public Health

Jordan is the Director of Ethnic Media Engagement for the Department.

Hola a todos:

¡Tengo noticias! El Departamento de Salud Pública está en televisión. Acabamos de empezar una colaboración con Órale con Verónica para llevarle información de salud en español a los residentes de Massachusetts y, por Internet, a todo el mundo.

Se trata de un segmento de salud mensual titulado LA NOTA DE SALUD.

Tómese dos minutos (literalmente, dos minutos) y vea el primer episodio haciendo clic en el video más abajo.

Órale con Verónica es una alternativa a la televisión comercial en español. Sale al aire todos los sábados a las 9:30am por Telemundo Boston WNEU canal 60. Telemundo también está disponible en Comcast por los canales 10, 14, 17, 19, 53, 95 ó 19; en RCN por el canal 16, en TDS por el canal 22 y en Time Warner por el canal 15.

Sintonícenos en Órale con Verónica y recuerde: Buena Salud. ¡Es la movida!

Weekly Report on Novel H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) as of June 11, 2009.

Note: This post marks our transition to weekly reports on the novel H1N1 flu (swine flu) in Massachusetts.  There is now enough flu activity in our state for DPH to monitor the outbreak using our regular surveillance systems.  As we have throughout the outbreak we will communicate any significant developments as they occur.

This Week’s Developments:
Today the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6, which means that a global pandemic is underway.  The WHO’s declaration was expected, given that novel H1N1 flu (swine flu) has spread rapidly throughout the world including here in Massachusetts.

It is important to note that the WHO pandemic phases are based on the geographical spread of a novel influenza virus, not the severity of illness.

The WHO declaration does not change how we are currently dealing with the outbreak here in Massachusetts.  We have taken this outbreak very seriously from the beginning and have been on a heightened state of alert since the first case was identified in the United States.

We continue to work with our partners at the local, state and federal levels on the H1N1 response in Massachusetts.

Many of the elements of our planning efforts for pandemic influenza have been utilized during our response to H1N1 flu.  We have been preparing for a pandemic for years and will continue to direct and adjust our response as needed based on what we are seeing here in Massachusetts and elsewhere.

However, this declaration serves as a reminder not only for government – but for businesses, communities and individuals as well – to take steps to prepare in the event that this flu outbreak becomes more severe.  We have information about steps everyone can take to be better prepared on the DPH H1N1 page.

H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) Update as of June 10, 2009

NOTE ON REPORTING OF H1N1 CASES:

Beginning tomorrow, June 11, we will be changing the way that we report on the impact of H1N1 flu (swine flu) in Massachusetts.  On that day we will end the daily county-by-county breakdown and replace that with the weekly report on influenza-like illness that we normally issue during flu season in the fall and winter months.  In addition we will also include a cumulative count of cases of H1N1 flu in the state weekly for as long as we are reporting those cases to the CDC. 

The CDC has transitioned to weekly reports as well.

This transition to a new report does not mean that the outbreak of novel H1N1 flu in our state has ended.  In fact, every Massachusetts county has now had at least one confirmed case.  The new report will allow DPH and the public to continue to monitor flu activity in our state using the routine methods that the department uses during seasonal influenza.  Such a report is not usually issued at this time of year, because historically the number of flu cases identified is low.  However, because of the current outbreak, flu cases continue to be identified at a higher than normal level for this period in the year.

UPDATE ON CASES:
Today DPH confirmed 66 additional H1N1 influenza (swine flu) cases in Massachusetts. This brings the confirmed case count to 1,076. Two of the newly confirmed cases were hospitalized. The total cumulative number of hospitalizations is now 75.

DPH continues to work closely with health care providers and local public health departments on community-level prevention activities.

Flu outbreaks evolve in unpredictable ways; it is impossible to know whether this outbreak will decrease, remain the same, or grow in coming weeks, and whether the illness will remain at its current severity which, on the whole has been relatively mild. Some severe cases may occur in people with underlying risk factors such as young children, the elderly, and people with chronic medical conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and DPH are watching closely for signs of increased severity of the H1N1 influenza (swine flu), and will continue to monitor and report on any developing trends.

Because there is no vaccine for H1N1 influenza, public health officials remind all Massachusetts residents to continue taking simple steps to keep themselves and others healthy.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Cover your cough with a tissue or cough into your inner elbow and not into your hands.

• If you are sick stay home from work and if your child is sick keep them home from school for 7 days, or 24 hours after your symptoms go away—whichever is longer.

• Stay informed about the latest developments on the H1N1 flu.

For more information on H1N1 flu (swine flu) please visit www.mass.gov/dph.

Download information on cases from 6-10-2009.

There have been three additional school closings reported to DPH during this period. View a list of all MA schools which have been closed due to H1N1 Influenza.

H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) Update as of June 9, 2009

NOTE ON REPORTING OF H1N1 CASES:

Beginning on Thursday, June 11, we will be changing the way that we report on the impact of H1N1 flu (swine flu) in Massachusetts.  On that day we will end the daily county-by-county breakdown and replace that with the weekly report on influenza-like illness that we normally issue during flu season in the fall and winter months.  In addition we will also include a cumulative count of cases of H1N1 flu in the state weekly for as long as we are reporting those cases to the CDC. 

The CDC has transitioned to weekly reports as well.

This transition to a new report does not mean that the outbreak of novel H1N1 flu in our state has ended.  In fact, every Massachusetts county has now had at least one confirmed case.  The new report will allow DPH and the public to continue to monitor flu activity in our state using the routine methods that the department uses during seasonal influenza.  Such a report is not usually issued at this time of year, because historically the number of flu cases identified is low.  However, because of the current outbreak, flu cases continue to be identified at a higher than normal level for this period in the year.

UPDATE ON CASES:
Today DPH confirmed 70 additional H1N1 influenza (swine flu) cases in Massachusetts. This brings the confirmed case count to 1,010. Eight of the newly confirmed cases were hospitalized. The total cumulative number of hospitalizations is now 73.

DPH continues to work closely with health care providers and local public health departments on community-level prevention activities.

Flu outbreaks evolve in unpredictable ways; it is impossible to know whether this outbreak will decrease, remain the same, or grow in coming weeks, and whether the illness will remain at its current severity which, on the whole has been relatively mild. Some severe cases may occur in people with underlying risk factors such as young children, the elderly, and people with chronic medical conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and DPH are watching closely for signs of increased severity of the H1N1 influenza (swine flu), and will continue to monitor and report on any developing trends.

Because there is no vaccine for H1N1 influenza, public health officials remind all Massachusetts residents to continue taking simple steps to keep themselves and others healthy.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Cover your cough with a tissue or cough into your inner elbow and not into your hands.

• If you are sick stay home from work and if your child is sick keep them home from school for 7 days, or 24 hours after your symptoms go away—whichever is longer.

• Stay informed about the latest developments on the H1N1 flu.

For more information on H1N1 flu (swine flu) please visit www.mass.gov/dph.

Download information on cases from 6-09-2009.

There has been one additional school closing reported to DPH during this period. View a list of all MA schools which have been closed due to H1N1 Influenza.

Advocating for Active Living in Your Community, Part 1

Posted by:
Maya Mohan, Department of Public Health

Maya is the Physical Activity Coordinator for DPH.

“It is unreasonable to expect that people will change their behavior easily when so many forces in the social, cultural and physical environment conspire against such change.” - Institute of Medicine

I love this quote because I think it shows how complicated it really is for someone to change their behavior.  It’s just not as simple as telling someone to “eat better” or “move more.”  Yes, those may be the end goals but getting there is not that straightforward.   

Each of the choices we make daily are influenced by different people, places or circumstances, whether we realize it or not.  There are groups of people - our families, friends, co-workers, healthcare providers for example - who can impact on our decisions.  And there are places (and policies that govern those places) that also have an effect on the choices we make:  these are the places we live, work, learn and play. 

Chew on this for a minute.  It is not easy to eat at least 8-10 servings of fruits and vegetables every day if you can’t stock your fridge with delicious, colorful produce because the selection at your local grocery store is not really all that colorful, or maybe it is too expensive or perhaps the grocery store is too far away.  So, while you know that you should eat more fruits and veggies, your environment has made it really hard for you to make that choice. 

On the other hand, it would be easy and fun to reach the recommended amount of physical activity (2.5 hours of moderately intense activity per week for adults) if there was a safe, well lit, nicely landscaped bicycle path that went from your house to your office, and once you arrived at your office, there was a secure place to lock up your bicycle and shower facilities in the building so you could freshen up.  What a great way to start your day, right? 

H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) Update as of June 8, 2009

NOTE ON REPORTING OF H1N1 CASES: 

Beginning on Thursday, June 11, we will be changing the way that we report on the impact of H1N1 flu (swine flu) in Massachusetts.  On that day we will end the daily county-by-county breakdown and replace that with the weekly report on influenza-like illness that we normally issue during flu season in the fall and winter months.  In addition we will also include a cumulative count of cases of H1N1 flu in the state weekly for as long as we are reporting those cases to the CDC. 

The CDC has transitioned to weekly reports as well.

This transition to a new report does not mean that the outbreak of novel H1N1 flu in our state has ended.  In fact with the report of a case in Dukes County, every Massachusetts county has now had at least one confirmed case.  The new report will allow DPH and the public to continue to monitor flu activity in our state using the routine methods that the department uses during seasonal influenza.  Such a report is not usually issued at this time of year, because historically the number of flu cases identified is low.  However, because of the current outbreak, flu cases continue to be identified at a higher than normal level for this period in the year.

UPDATE ON CASES:
Today DPH confirmed 86 additional H1N1 influenza (swine flu) cases in Massachusetts. This brings the confirmed case count to 940. Eight of the newly confirmed cases were hospitalized. The total cumulative number of hospitalizations is now 65.

DPH continues to work closely with health care providers and local public health departments on community level prevention activities.

Flu outbreaks evolve in unpredictable ways; it is impossible to know whether this outbreak will decrease, remain the same, or grow in coming weeks, and whether the illness will remain at its current severity which, on the whole has been relatively mild. Some severe cases may occur in people with underlying risk factors such as young children, the elderly, and people with chronic medical conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and DPH are watching closely for signs of increased severity of the H1N1 influenza (swine flu), and will continue to monitor and report on any developing trends.
Because there is no vaccine for H1N1 influenza, public health officials remind all Massachusetts residents to continue taking simple steps to keep themselves and others healthy.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Cover your cough with a tissue or cough into your inner elbow and not into your hands.

• If you are sick stay home from work and if your child is sick keep them home from school for 7 days, or 24 hours after your symptoms go away—whichever is longer.

• Stay informed about the latest developments on the H1N1 flu.

For more information on H1N1 flu (swine flu) please visit www.mass.gov/dph.

Download information on cases from 6-08-2009.

There have been no new school closings reported to DPH during this period. View a list of all MA schools which have been closed due to H1N1 Influenza.

H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) Update: as of June 5, 2009

UPDATE ON CASES:

Today DPH confirmed 69 additional H1N1 influenza (swine flu) cases in Massachusetts. This brings the confirmed case count to 854. Four of the newly confirmed cases were hospitalized. The total cumulative number of hospitalizations is now 57.

DPH continues to work closely with health care providers and local public health departments on community level prevention activities.

Flu outbreaks evolve in unpredictable ways; it is impossible to know whether this outbreak will decrease, remain the same, or grow in coming weeks, and whether the illness will remain at its current severity which, on the whole has been relatively mild. Some severe cases may occur in people with underlying risk factors such as young children, the elderly, and people with chronic medical conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and DPH are watching closely for signs of increased severity of the H1N1 influenza (swine flu), and will continue to monitor and report on any developing trends.

Because there is no vaccine for H1N1 influenza, public health officials remind all Massachusetts residents to continue taking simple steps to keep themselves and others healthy.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Cover your cough with a tissue or cough into your inner elbow and not into your hands.

• If you are sick stay home from work and if your child is sick keep them home from school for 7 days, or 24 hours after your symptoms go away—whichever is longer.

• Stay informed about the latest developments on the H1N1 flu.

For more information on H1N1 flu (swine flu) please visit www.mass.gov/dph.

Download information on cases from 6-05-2009.

There are have been no new school closings reported to DPH during this period. View a list of all MA schools which have been closed due to H1N1 Influenza.

Bienvenidos a Mass in Motion en español

Posted by:
Commissioner John Auerbach, Department of Public Health

Bienvenidos al sitio web de “Mass in Motion”, una iniciativa del Departamento de Salud Pública de Massachusetts.  Estamos encantados de lanzar este sitio web en español y los componentes que acompañan a la primera campaña multifacética y global para reducir el sobrepeso y la obesidad en nuestro Estado, así como el riesgo de enfermedades crónicas, tales como la diabetes, entre los residentes de Massachusetts.

Esta iniciativa incorpora una gran variedad de métodos comprobados que incluyen, por ejemplo: requerir a las cadenas de restaurantes que den a conocer al público el contenido calórico de las comidas que venden; extender el número de actividades de bienestar en el trabajo; crear programas para que haya comida más saludable en escuelas e iniciar o apoyar movimientos para cambiar modos de transporte, así como mejorar el acceso a supermercados y mercados de agricultores (“farmer’s markets”). Combatir la epidemia de obesidad va a requerir de una pluralidad de esfuerzos, los que permitirán la construcción de ese entorno de apoyo que necesitamos para promover buenos hábitos alimenticios y actividad física.

Comenzamos esta campaña en medio a una crisis económica seria. Tal vez usted se pregunte si tiene sentido hacerlo, ya que el dinero nos está rindiendo menos a todos. Nuestra respuesta es que es precisamente ahora el momento indicado para emprender una iniciativa de este tipo. De hecho, “Mass in Motion” fue diseñado en el contexto de la realidad económica actual. ¿Cómo? Bueno, primero, menores ingresos aumentan el riesgo de sobrepeso y desnutrición a la vez –la contradicción aparente que ocurre cuando la comida más barata y accesible también es la que tiene más calorías y grasas saturadas-. Durante de una recesión económica, somos más propensos a no comer bien, no hacer ejercicios, y aumentar de peso.

Este esfuerzo también es oportuno porque nuestro Estado está pasando por una reforma de asistencia sanitaria invaluable pero costosa, y como consecuencia de esto, el número de personas que tienen cobertura médica está aumentando rápidamente. En ese sentido, y para asegurar la viabilidad a largo plazo de una meta tan ambiciosa, necesitamos mantener el costo de la asistencia sanitaria bajo control, siendo la promoción de la buena salud, la manera más beneficiosa y menos costosa de lograr nuestra meta, en lugar de tratar enfermedades como la diabetes y enfermedades cardíacas, las cuales nuestro programa puede detener rápidamente. En suma, se podría considerar a “Mass in Motion” como una forma eficaz de controlar gastos.

Nuestra campaña tiene varios elementos. Por ejemplo, en este sitio web usted verá un calendario de eventos de bienestar en su comunidad, de tal forma que podrá saber qué está pasando en su propio barrio. Asimismo, contamos con un programa de subvenciones para 10 ciudades y pueblos para movilizar todos los departamentos municipales a colaborar con el fin de facilitar decisiones saludables en sus comunidades.

Por favor únase a nosotros en este esfuerzo. Visite este sitio web a menudo para enterarse de la información más reciente, ver videos y leer noticias. Investigue qué puede hacer usted en la casa, en las escuelas de sus hijos, en su trabajo y en su comunidad para mejorar su salud y la de sus seres queridos. Necesitamos su ayuda para maximizar el efecto de esta campaña/Institución. Usted podrá pensar que por el momento sólo puede dar un paso muy corto: adelante, ¡de ese paso! Sabemos por experiencia propia que generalmente son los pequeños pasos los que con apoyo y continuidad pueden cambiar los patrones establecidos durante décadas. “Mass in Motion” fue diseñado para ayudarle a dar esos primeros pasos y para cambiar el ambiente y las políticas que nos afectan a todos.