Tag Archives: south

DHEC in the News: Tracking West Nile, HIV rates, flu

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Here’s a look at health and environmental news from around South Carolina.

DHEC: Submitting dead birds can help track West Nile virus in SC

COLUMBIA, SC (FOX Carolina) – The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is asking residents to send dead birds to their local DHEC offices to help officials track the West Nile virus.

DHEC is asking people to send crows, blue jays, house finches, and house sparrows they find dead as part of the dead bird surveillance program.

General Interest

CDC reports HIV rates are highest in the South

HUNTSVILLE Ala. — HIV rates are declining in the United States due to prevention efforts and awareness, except for in the Deep South. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say southern cities now have the highest rates of new infections nationwide.

A Second Wave of Flu May Be On the Way, CDC Warns

The bulk of this year’s deadly flu season was dominated by the H3N2 virus, an influenza A strain that is more severe and less receptive to vaccines than other types of the disease. As the season winds down, however, influenza B has overtaken influenza A, setting the scene for a possible second wave of flu, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) data.

Leading the Way: SC Text4Baby Challenge

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By Jamie Shuster

text4baby-imageThanks to the hard work of our regional Public Health staff, I’m pleased to announce that South Carolina has moved into first place nationally among medium-sized states for enrollments in Text4Baby.

Earlier this summer, our four regional Public Health teams launched a twelve-week challenge to enroll our clients in this free cell phone text messaging service for pregnant women and new parents. Moms and dads can sign up by texting “BABY” to 511411. They then receive text messages three times a week with tips on how to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. The messages are timed to the pregnant woman’s due date or the baby’s date of birth.

Our public health teams across the state have been hard at work to help our clients sign up for this innovative health education service since the challenge kicked off on August 1. So far, our Midlands team is leading the overall challenge, but our Lowcountry team is moving up quickly, earning the most signups for the last two weeks in a row. Following close behind are our Upstate and Pee Dee teams.

Thank you to all of our Public Health team members who are helping connect new parents to this free health education service, and congratulations on moving our state to the top spot among our peers.