Summer haze can impact air quality, raise health risks
July 12, 2012
NEW — 10 a.m. July 12, 2012
Summer in Western Washington means a respite from the rain, but the season also brings wildfires and increased ozone levels. The result is diminished air quality and increased health risks for people battling heart and lung diseases.
Different factors contribute to summer air pollution. Several consecutive days of sunny, hot weather increase ozone. Wildfires produce smoky air containing fine particles and toxic chemicals. Vehicle exhaust also contributes to air quality issues.
People can lower exposure to air pollution by checking air quality conditions before participating in outdoor activities. State health officials recommended for people — especially seniors and others at increased risk — to limit outdoor activity and choose less strenuous things to do, such as going for a walk instead of a run, if air pollution is high.
Law causes vaccination exemptions to drop
July 10, 2012
The statewide rate of exemptions from vaccines required for school dropped significantly in the year since a law changed the parental opt-out process.
Kindergarten exemption rates for required immunizations dropped to 4.5 percent for the 2011-12 school year compared to 6 percent in 2010-11 and 6.2 percent in 2009-10.
Under the law, exemption-seeking parents must get information from a health care provider about the benefits and risks of a vaccine before the provider signs the exemption form.
Children with exemptions tend to live in the same areas and attend the same schools. The concentration of un- and under-vaccinated children increases the risk of outbreaks.
In the Issaquah School District, 4 percent to 4.9 percent of all students had exemptions for the 2010-11 school year. For kindergartens in the district during the same period, state data indicated 5 percent to 9.9 percent had exemptions. (The district serves about 17,000 students.)
The state Childhood Vaccine Program provides all recommended vaccines for Washington children under age 19 at no cost. Physicians may charge a fee for the office visit, but patients can ask for the fee to be waived.
Report dead birds to help the state track West Nile virus
July 3, 2012
The impending arrival of summer also marks the start of mosquito season — and increased risk of West Nile virus.
State Department of Health officials asked citizens to report dead birds online in order to help track the virus. The location and testing of dead birds — especially crows, ravens, jays, magpies and hawks — is a way to track the West Nile virus.
Citizens can report dead birds at www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/Zoo/WNV/reportdeadbird.html. Officials encourage dead bird monitoring from May through November.
Mosquitoes spread West Nile virus after the insects feed on infected birds. The disease can sicken humans, horses, and many types of birds and other animals.
Most people do not feel the effects of infection, but in others, West Nile disease can cause severe symptoms, including brain and spinal cord diseases.
Statewide, health officials collected five positive mosquito samples in 2011 — down from 126 positive samples in 2010. Officials did not detect any bird, horse or human cases last year.
West Nile virus in Washington reached a high in 2009, as health officials documented 38 human cases, including one fatality.
Mason, Sophia rank as most popular baby names in Washington
June 26, 2012
Mason and Sophia ranked as the most-popular baby names in Washington last year — a reflection of popular baby names nationwide.
The data comes from the U.S. Social Security Administration’s annual ranking of baby names in the United States. In Washington, parents named 444 infant boys Mason and 440 infant girls Sophia.
The agency released the data May 14.
Liam ranked No. 2 on the list of names for boys. Olivia filled the slot on the list of names for girls. Alexander and Emma came in at No. 3.
Jacob, No. 4 on the list of top names for boys, rose in recent years due to a character in the mega-popular “Twilight” saga. Isabella ranked as the No. 4 name for girls.
Ethan and Emily nabbed the No. 5 slots.
Jacob, Mason, William, Jayden and Noah filled the top slots nationwide among names for boys. Sophia, Isabella, Emma, Olivia and Ava topped the list of names for girls.
State: More adults get whooping cough vaccine
June 12, 2012
The ongoing whooping cough epidemic in Washington is driving increased demand for the vaccine among adults, state health officials reported June 5.
Between March 25 and May 26, the state immunization registry recorded 82,453 doses of Tdap, as the whooping cough vaccine is called, for adults age 19 and older — more than double the 34,171 doses recorded in the same time period last year.
Data from health plans also shows the uptick. Group Health gave almost 60 percent more Tdap to adults in April 2012 compared to April 2011. Premera Blue Cross is experiencing a similar trend. Tdap vaccinations in April 2012 rose by more than 70 percent for members compared to the average month.
The number of reported whooping cough, or pertussis, cases in Washington is 2,092 — the highest since the 1940s.
Pertussis is highly contagious and spreads easily from person to person through coughing and sneezing. The disease is most serious for children, especially infants too young to receive the vaccination. Pertussis causes cold-like systems followed by a long, severe cough.
State: More adults get whooping cough vaccine amid epidemic
June 6, 2012
NEW — 6 a.m. June 6, 2012
The ongoing whooping cough epidemic in Washington is driving increased demand for the vaccine among adults, state health officials reported Tuesday.
Between March 25 and May 26, the state immunization registry recorded 82,453 doses of Tdap, as the whooping cough vaccine is called, for adults age 19 and older — more than double the 34,171 doses recorded in the same time period last year.
Data from health plans also shows the uptick. Group Health gave almost 60 percent more Tdap to adults in April 2012 compared to April 2011. Premera Blue Cross is experiencing a similar trend. Tdap vaccinations in April 2012 rose by more than 70 percent for members compared to the average month.
“Adults in Washington are doing their part by getting the whooping cough booster, called Tdap,” state Secretary of Health Mary Selecky said in a statement. “The increase in adult vaccination is vital to protecting babies who are the most vulnerable because they’re too young to be fully vaccinated. Thank you to everyone who’s gotten vaccinated, and I want others to follow their example.”
Mason, Sophia rank as most popular baby names in Washington
June 1, 2012
NEW — 6 a.m. June 1, 2012
Mason and Sophia ranked as the most-popular baby names in Washington last year — a reflection of popular baby names nationwide.
The data comes from the U.S. Social Security Administration’s annual ranking of baby names in the United States. In Washington, parents named 444 infant boys Mason and 440 infant girls Sophia.
Liam ranked No. 2 on the list of names for boys. Olivia filled the slot on the list of names for girls. Alexander and Emma came in at No. 3.
Jacob, No. 4 on the list of top names for boys, rose in recent years due to a character in the mega-popular “Twilight” saga.
Isabella ranked as the No. 4 name for girls.
Ethan and Emily nabbed the No. 5 slots.
State urges vaccinations amid whooping cough epidemic
April 10, 2012
State health officials said whooping cough cases have reached epidemic proportions throughout Washington, and they urged residents April 3 to get vaccinated against the highly contagious disease.
The state Department of Health recorded 640 cases in 23 counties through March 31 — the highest number of reported cases in decades. King County experienced 88 cases through March 31.
Officials recorded 94 whooping cough, or pertussis, cases statewide during the same period last year.
Department of Health urges vaccinations as whooping cough reaches epidemic proportions
April 3, 2012
NEW — 8 p.m. April 3, 2012
State health officials said whooping cough cases reached epidemic proportions throughout Washington, and urged residents Tuesday to get vaccinated against the highly contagious disease.
Secretary of Health Mary Selecky said officials recorded 640 cases in 23 counties through March 31 — the highest number of reported cases in decades. King County experienced 88 cases through March 31. Officials recorded 94 whooping cough, or pertussis, cases statewide during the same period last last year.
Pertussis is highly contagious and spreads easily from person to person through coughing and sneezing. The disease is most serious infants, especially children too young to receive the vaccination. Pertussis causes cold-like systems followed by a long, severe cough.
The pertussis vaccine, Tdap, is recommended for all children and adults.
Washingtonians marry less, divorce more, live longer
March 20, 2012
In 2010, 909 couples married on Aug. 21 — the biggest day for weddings in the Evergreen State.
The total — and other figures from the state Center for Health Statistics — offer a snapshot of life and death in Washington.
Washingtonians live longer than the national average. The latest figures from the Center for Health Statistics also indicate more divorces, fewer pregnancies and better prenatal care for expectant mothers.
Statewide, the number of pregnancies, births and abortions continues to drop.
