January 31, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• U.S. flu outbreak worse since 2009 swine pandemic (BBC)
• Is Smoking Pot While Pregnant Safe for the Baby? (NPR)
• More birth defects seen in U.S. areas where Zika was present (Reuters)
• Flu Virus Can Trigger a Heart Attack (NPR)
• What's the 5-Year-Survival Rate for Cancer Patients Around the World? (NPR)
• She championed the idea that freezing your eggs would free your career. But things didn’t quite work out. (Washington Post)
• Health Stocks Drop After Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway And JPMorgan Chase Announcement (NPR)
• Why Males Are Biology's Riskier Sex (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Tech firms let Russia probe software widely used by U.S. government (Reuters)
• Net neutrality rules are gone, but where's the outrage? Burger King found it (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Sound waves ‘can help’ early tsunami detection (BBC)
• New Fossil Found in Israel Suggests a Much Earlier Human Migration Out of Africa (NPR)
• Chinese scientists break key barrier by cloning monkeys (Reuters)

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

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2018 (San Diego) – An urgent call for blood donors and platelet donors has been issued by the American Red Cross nationwide, including here in San Diego County. 

The Red Cross has a shortage due to donors cancelling appointments because of flu and in some areas, winter storms. Across the U.S., over 150 blood drives also had to be cancelled in January due to severe winter weather.

By Miriam Raftery

After four weeks with no new cases associated with the local hepatitis A outbreak reported, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved a motion Tuesday ending the local public health emergency which began September 1^st.

El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick advised East County Magazine today that sunset language in its temporary ban on feeding the homeless in public places means the measure has officially expired, effective immediately.  So it’s now legal once again for organizations to feed the homeless in El Cajon’s parks or other public property.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

January 19, 2018 (Santa Ysabel) - A California deer mouse caught in routine trapping in the Santa Ysabel area has tested positive for the potentially deadly hantavirus, the first positive testing of the virus in San Diego County in 2018.

East County News Service

January 11, 2018 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Historical Society will host a lecture on Saturday, Jan. 20 featuring local historian Jim Newland discussing his latest book on the history of Grossmont Hospital. The lecture, which is open to the public, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Grossmont Healthcare District Conference Center, 9001 Wakarusa St., La Mesa. Requested admission donation is $5 per person. For more event info, visit www.lamesahistory.com or call (619) 466-0197. To RSVP, visit http://bit.ly/2BQFPzz.

January 9, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• ADHD drug tied to heart defect in babies (Reuters)
• For Some With Intellectual Disabilities, Ending Abuse Starts With Sex Ed (NPR)
• Facing Down Flu: 5 Facts To Know Now (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Cold Casualties: Sharksicles And Frozen Iguanas (NPR)
• How North Carolina's alligators are surviving the cold snap (BBC)
• What You Need to Know About the Big Chip Security Problem (Bloomberg)
• Apple to issue fix for iPhones, Macs at risk from 'Spectre' chip flaw (Reuters)
• I Know Where You've Been: Digital Spying And Divorce In The Smartphone Age (NPR)
• Great Barrier Reef: Warmer seas 'turning turtles female'
• You may not know much about the companies exposing your personal information. But they know a lot about you. (Washington Post)

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

East County News Service

January 9, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking nominees for its 2018 Healthcare Heroes Awards. Now in its 12th year, the Healthcare Heroes is GHD’s annual awards program recognizing volunteers who advance the delivery of quality health services in the East County region.

East County News Service

January 7, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking applicants for two scholarship programs, one for nursing students and another for students pursuing careers as health technicians.

East County News Service

January 4, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library in La Mesa will host “Osteoporosis and Exercise: What Is Right and What Is Risky,” a free program on the disease that thins and weakens the bones, from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 24. The program is part of the library’s “Wellness Wednesday” series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free and RSVP is not necessary. Light refreshments will be served. Handouts will be available. The library is located at 9001 Wakarusa St.

Source: California Office of Traffic Safety

January 3, 2018 (Sacramento) -- Just like drunk driving, driving under the influence of drugs is a crime – even if your impairment is due to prescribed medications, illicit drugs, over-the-counter medications or marijuana – medical or recreational. The legal and monetary consequences are the same – up to $10,000 in fines, fees and insurance costs, restricted licensing, days off work to go to court, a criminal record and more.

January 3, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Marijuana users risk schizophrenia, but the drug helps pain (NBC)
• FDA Takes Too Long to Recall Tainted Food, Federal Investigators Say (NPR)
• Why spending time outdoors could help your child's eyesight (BBC)
• World first for dog's broken leg (BBC)
• Is Pollution Causing Obesity and Asthma in Children? (Apple News)
• Flu Cases On The Rise In San Diego, Patients Pack Into Sharp Grossmont (KPBS)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

•  Apple apologizes after outcry over slowed iPhones (Reuters)
• Researchers Discover Two Major Flaws in the World’s Computers (New York Times)
• This should freak everyone out: the Arctic will never be frozen again (Mother Jones)
• 9 Ways You Can Use Your Devices for Advanced Scientific Research (Singularity Hub)
• Police arrest alleged 'Nigerian prince' email scammer in Louisiana (USA Today)

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

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

Video by James Kecskes

January 3, 2018 (San Diego) - A 12-month-old baby is one of 34 new flu deaths recently reported in San Diego, bringing this season’s total to 45, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

The infant died Dec. 31, 2017. The ages of the deceased this flu season range from 1 to 100 years. All the people who died, for whom there is information available, had underlying medical conditions.

East County News Service

Photo: from left to right: GHD board members Randy Lenac, Gloria Chadwick, Gabi Charo, Jewish Family Service; GHD board members Michael Emerson, Virginia Hall, Robert “Bob” Ayres.

January 2, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is continuing its support of Jewish Family Service (JFS) of San Diego’s food assistance program, which alleviates food insecurity in San Diego’s East County region.

East County News Service

January 1, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) recently reelected its 2017 board officers to serve in the same roles for 2018. Michael Emerson was reelected as board president, Gloria Chadwick as vice president, and Virginia Hall as secretary. In addition, board member Robert “Bob” Ayres was selected again by Emerson to serve as board treasurer. Also serving on the five-member board is Randy Lenac.

By Miriam Raftery

Updated 12 p.m. to include comments from Pat Landis.

December 30, 2017 (Julian/Cuyamaca)—On January1st,  the full-time staffed San Diego County Paramedic Fire Engine serving the Julian and Cuyamaca areas will be permanently closed. The action leaves the communities to rely solely on volunteer firefighters and one ambulance for fire and life safety services, which could lead to long delays in medical services if that unit is transportation a patient to a hospital, critics contend.

The paramedic engine had been providing fire and emergency medical response services 24 hours a day, seven days a week under a temporary agreement between the County of San Diego and the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District. The CAL FIRE Firefighters that were assigned to the engine have been reassigned to other facilities within San Diego County.

The action comes after the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District voted to reject consolidation with the County Fire Department and remain independent—the last remaining volunteer fire department in the County.  Cal Fire firefighters blame the board for the current problems, but a former board member faults the district's fire chief.