East County News Service

October 3, 2016 (La Mesa) — Deborah McElravy, former board member and president of the Grossmont Healthcare District, passed away on September 19, 2016.

A native of Glassport, Penn., McElravy graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy. She spent 40 years in the healthcare industry as a practicing pharmacist and over a decade on the Grossmont Healthcare District board of directors, working improve healthcare for the community.

East County News Service

October 2, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – This week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid announce a new rule barring forced arbitration requirements at nursing homes that accept federal funds.

East County News Service

October 1, 2016 (Jamul) -- The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for the Indian Hills Camp water system located at 15763 Lyons Valley Road in Jamul, CA 92086, effective immediately. The water system serves 9 mobile homes, 15 RV spaces, 2 dorms, 15 camping sites, 4 restroom facilities with showers, 2 swimming pools, a kitchen and office building.

Source: County News Service

September 30, 2016 (Lemon Grove) -- County Vector Control crews plan to hand-spray a neighborhood in Lemon Grove early next week to continue to prevent invasive Aedes mosquitoes from getting the chance to potentially spread the Zika virus.

Source: Chargers media release

September 23, 2016 (San Diego) - Susan G. Komen San Diego, the County’s largest funder of free breast cancer services and support will team up with the San Diego Chargers along with Family Health Centers of San Diego, Family Medical Clinic and La Maestra to host a free mammogram event for the community. Individuals who are underinsured or uninsured are encouraged to obtain breast cancer screenings at this event.

East County News Service



September 17, 2016 (San Diego) – California Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein are among 27 Democratic Senators introducing a Senate resolution calling for every American to have the choice of a public health insurance option.  A broad coalition including labor and progressive groups are also calling for the public, Medicare-like option that would guarantee healthcare as a right for all Americans.

By Brooks Hill

September 14, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - Almost everyone enjoys hanging out at the pool. Whether it’s in your own backyard or at an apartment complex, people love splashing in the water. Often times, though, pools are viewed simply as a means for fun and not an effective way to workout. Believe it or not, swimming is actually one of the most effective ways to workout and promotes both physical and mental health, and although summer is coming to a close a heated pool or the right recreational swimming or triathlon wetsuit can have you swimming all year round!

East County News Service

September 13, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Over three years after the federal government found California in noncompliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, 95 public water systems serving more than 55,000 people across the state are still providing water with illegal levels of arsenic, according to a new report by the Environmental Integrity Project.

East County News Service

September 12, 2016 (San Diego) — If you have a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phone, Samsung has a message for you:  stop using your phone and immediately bring it into the store where you bought it for a free replacement. The company has recalled 2.5 million of its new Note 7 phones due to dozens of fires caused by defective batteries.

By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo via CDC

September 9, 2016 (San Diego) - A San Diego County resident has been diagnosed with mumps and may have exposed others while attending a concert at the Casbah in San Diego, the County Health and Human Services Agency reported today.

Normal Heights neighborhood is third locally to be sprayed due to Zika virus

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

September 8, 2016 (San Diego) -- County Vector Control plans to hand-spray a neighborhood in the Adams North area of Normal Heights this Friday, to kill Aedes mosquitoes to keep them from being exposed to the Zika virus after a resident there tested positive for the virus.

Rule removes triclosan and triclocarban from over-the-counter antibacterial hand and body washes

Source:  FDA news release

September 2, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued a final rule establishing that over-the-counter (OTC) consumer antiseptic wash products containing certain active ingredients can no longer be marketed. Companies will no longer be able to market antibacterial washes with these ingredients because manufacturers did not demonstrate that the ingredients are both safe for long-term daily use and more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illness and the spread of certain infections. Some manufacturers have already started removing these ingredients from their products.

East County News Service

August 29, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• More and more women are now dying in childbirth, but only in America (Vox)
• FDA: All blood donations should be tested for Zika (The Hill)
• San Diego scientists find Zika may infect adult brains, too (KPBS)
• Zika remains in sperm for record six months (BBC)
• Aetna Joins Other Major Insurers in Pulling Back From Obamacare (NPR)
• People Are Happier Later in Life, Study Finds (KPBS)
• Here's what you need to know about the CEO behind the big EpiPen price hikes (CNBC)

SCIENCE

• Monsanto just made a massive mistake (Mother Jones)
• NASA just found a spacecraft that’s been missing for two years (Washington Post)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

East County News Service

August 23, 2016 (Sacramento) - Proposition 61, the California Drug Price Relief Act, on the November ballot aims to limit price-gouging on drug prices by pharmaceutical companies.  Some drug prices have skyrocketed for no valid reason, only corporate greed. For instance, the cost of an Epi-pen, which delivers life-saving medication for people suffering severe allergic reactions, has recently gone up 800%.

East County News Service

August 19, 2016 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host a free program on “The ABCs of Vitamin D” from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28. The program is part of the library’s Wellness Wednesday series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served. Advance RSVP is not necessary. Handouts will be available.