Media Advisory: Celebrate the Best at Fruit and Veggie Fest

The Network for a Healthy California and Grocers Statewide Help Shoppers Get Healthy

WHAT: Each May the Network for a Healthy California (Network), and its grocery store partners statewide, hold Fruit and Veggie Fest events to encourage shoppers to fill their carts with the best healthy foods for their families and to learn healthy habits like filling half of every plate with fruits and vegetables. During the free events shoppers can take advantage of special promotions on fruits and vegetables, talk with nutrition experts and go on store tours to learn about the healthy choices in every aisle.

In Salinas, La Princesa Market has partnered with the Network for more than a decade to make their shoppers’ health a top priority by providing healthy cooking demonstrations and giving away Network educational materials.

WHEN: Fruit and Veggie Fest Salinas -- Saturday, May 18th from 10:00am to 6:00pm

WHERE: La Princesa Market, 614 Williams Road, Salinas, CA 93905

WHO: Network nutrition experts and Local Champions for Change

WHY: California’s grocers are on the frontlines of the obesity epidemic, which is why the Network works with more than 700 stores to help shoppers put healthy food in their carts and on their tables. Activities like Fruit and Veggie Fest are critical in the battle against obesity, particularly among low-income Californians who are at greater risk. Surveys show that retail promotions can have a positive impact on how shoppers spend their food dollars and CalFresh benefits.

VISUALS: Activities include:

• Local Champion Moms who will share tips and ideas to help shoppers learn about healthy and affordable food options
• Sample delicious nutritious recipes featuring in-season fruits and vegetables
• Sample tasty smoothies from smoothie bike

CONTACT: Charmaine Kaplan, Network for a Healthy California, (831)796-2863,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

                    Sandra Levy, Citizen Relations, (562)391-1516,   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For CalFresh information, call 877-847-3663. Funded by USDA SNAP, an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Visit www.cachampionsforchange.net for healthy tips. •California Department of Public Health 

Health Advisory: Local Increase in Sexually Transmitted Diseases - May 15, 2013

Health Advisory

May 15, 2013

Local Increase in Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Monterey County Health Officials Urge Thorough Screening and Reporting 

Current Situation

Monterey County is currently experiencing a surge in reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), particularly gonorrhea and syphilis. In 2012, there were 195 cases of gonorrhea reported, which was more than twice the number reported in 2011. Most of these cases occurred during the last quarter of 2012. This trend continues in 2013, with over 130 cases reported between January 1^st and May 10^th. In 2012, there were 39 cases of syphilis reported among Monterey County residents, 22 of which were early syphilis (primary, secondary, or early latent). This represented a 56% increase in the total number of reported cases from 2011. To date in 2013, there have been 35 syphilis cases reported. Chlamydia continues to be the most commonly reported disease among Monterey County residents.

Recommendations

At this time, the Health Department recommends that all medical providers:

1.      Screen high-risk individuals regularly:

• Take a detailed sexual history to identify which anatomical sites should be including during screening.
• Perform a complete physical examination to include genital, oral, and anal areas.
• Order the following screening tests at the initial visit and at least yearly thereafter (repeated at 3-6 month intervals for those with multiple sex partners, anonymous partners, or who have sex in conjunction with drug use).
  • Gonorrhea and chlamydia from all sites with potential exposure (urethral, pharyngeal, and/or rectal).
  • Serological testing:
    • Syphilis (RPR with titer and reflexive treponemal test if RPR is reactive), and
    • HIV (unless known positive), and
    • Hepatitis C virus (unless known positive).

2.      Initiate empiric treatment without delay using the most current treatment guidelines:

Additional treatment recommendations for patients with contraindications to the recommended regimen, pregnant women, and HIV co-infected individuals can be found at: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/pubsforms/Guidelines/Documents/CA-STD-Tx-Guidelines-BW.pdf.

 3.      Promptly report all suspected cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and pelvic inflammatory disease.

• Submit a Confidential Morbidity Report form to the Communicable Disease Unit (phone: 831-755-4521 or fax: 831-754-6682).
• Please include as much information as possible include race/ethnicity, pregnancy status, gender of sex partner(s), and treatment information.

Additional Information

For more information about STDs, required Title 17 reporting, or to obtain syphilis testing and treatment history on your patients, contact the Communicable Disease Unit at 831-755-4521. To download a Confidential Morbidity Report form, visit: www.mtyhd.org/cd and click on “Report a CD”.

To view local STD morbidity data, visit: http://www.mtyhd.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1096&Itemid=809

To review the California STD Screening Recommendations, visit: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/pubsforms/Guidelines/Documents/CA-STD-Screening-Recommendations.pdf.

For a two-page summary of California STD treatment guidelines, visit: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/pubsforms/Guidelines/Documents/CA-STD-Tx-Guidelines-BW.pdf.

For guidance on Expedited Patient-Delivered Partner Therapy, visit: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/pubsforms/Guidelines/Documents/CA-STD-PDPT-Guidelines.pdf.

For more information on STDs, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at www.cdc.gov/std.

New facility in Marina to target physical, mental health - The Californian 5/14/13

A new Monterey County mental health facility slated to open in early June in Marina will provide integrated health services to adults and children with serious mental illness, as well as the region’s homeless population.

Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, assistant director of the Monterey County Health Department, explained that often mentally ill individuals suffer what’s called co-morbidities, meaning they might have a mental health problem, such as schizophrenia, but also have a medical illness, such as diabetes, that need to be managed.

The new facility will have a physician-staffed primary care clinic in addition to a psychiatrist to treat mental health issues. Many medical problems are associated with mental illness, said Wayne Clark, chief of the behavioral health bureau of the Health Department.

Read the entire article on The Californian website

Health Update: Expanded Recall of Piperacillin and Tazobactam - May 14, 2013

Health Update

May 14, 2013

Recall of 21 Lots of Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection, USP 40.5 Grams

On behalf of the manufacturer Hospira, Inc., Apotex Corp. has issued a voluntary nationwide recall of 21 lots of Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection, USP 40.5 grams, NDC number 60505-0773-00. The impacted lots of Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection, USP 40.5 grams may show precipitation/crystallization in IV bag or IV line after reconstitution.

Hospira has stated that administration of precipitated Piperacillin/Tazobactam in an IV bag or IV line may result in local reactions such as phlebitis, renal impairment, end-organ embolism and ischemia, and/or vasculitis (because the precipitate was visible, its particles may be large enough to cause these adverse events). In addition, the precipitation of the drug may not allow delivering a needed therapeutic dose of piperacillin and tazobactam, thus resulting in inadequate treatment of the targeted infection. This could result in adverse health consequences that could range from transient and minor impairment or complaints to permanent impairment of a body function or permanent damage to a body structure. Hospira has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall.

The product is indicated for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe infections caused by piperacillin-resistant, piperacillin/tazobactam-susceptable, ß-lactamase producing strains of the designated microorganisms in the specified conditions such as appendicitis, uncomplicated and complicated skin and skin structures infections, postpartum endometritis or pelvic inflammatory disease, community-acquired pneumonia and nosocomial pneumonia. For further details, please refer to the package insert. The product is packaged in 300 mL glass vials for reconstitution. The affected Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection, USP 40.5 grams lots include the following:

The product can also be identified by NDC number 60505-0773-00 and UPC 360505077304. The product was distributed nationwide in the United States to wholesalers, distributors, HMOs, home infusion and long term care service providers.

The product and all recalled lots are manufactured by Hospira. Apotex is the U.S. distributor of the product and is conducting the recall at the request and on behalf of Hospira.

Apotex is notifying its direct account customers by sending the recall notification letter by UPS 2nd day air service and has arranged for the return of all recalled product.

Anyone with an existing inventory of the product should stop use and distribution, quarantine the recalled lots immediately and call GENCO at 1-877-674-2078 between the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, to arrange for their return.

For clinical inquiries, please contact Hospira using the information provided below:

Any adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Events Program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

• Online: http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm
• Regular mail: use postage-paid, pre-addressed Form FDA3500 available at
  http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm
• Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178