East County News Service

September 23, 2014 (Palomar) -- County officials are reminding people to protect themselves when they hike and camp after two squirrels trapped in routine monitoring in the Palomar Mountain area tested positive for plague.

September 22, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--Saturday, September 27^th is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. 

If you are looking to get rid of unwanted and expired prescription drugs, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department will collect and dispose of these medicines during the Drug Enforcement Agency’s ninth National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.  Old prescription drugs can pose hazards to others if they fall into the wrong hands.

By Nancy Werner

September 19, 2014 (San Diego)--Most people familiar with drug research think of Boston as the center for leading drug research, but San Diego leads in research and development into RNA therapies and treatments that bring hope for patients with rare diseases like mesothelioma.

East County News Service

September 16, 2014 (San Diego)--If you’re sweltering in the extreme heat that’s hit our region, San Diego County health officials recommend these tips to help stay cool:

By Miriam Raftery

September 13, 2014 (San Diego) – A virus suspected of sickening hundreds of children in the Midwest this summer is spreading across the nation, with 80 cases confirmed, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports.

September 9, 2014 (La Mesa)--The date has been announced for the 2014 Kids Care Fest, a free, family-oriented event open to the public featuring free health care screenings. This year’s Kids Care Fest will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Briercrest Park, 9001 Wakarusa St., La Mesa. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Now in its 13th year, Kids Care Fest is presented by the Grossmont Healthcare District, La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation and the City of La Mesa.

Organizers expect more than 1,000 children will receive free, potentially life-saving, health care screenings, including hearing, vision and dental screenings, from healthcare professionals.

Photo, left: rattlesnake in Ramona, by Elena Pena

By Miriam Raftery

September 3, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Neurotoxic snake bites, known as “super bites”, were formerly  rare in our region, found mainly in the Mojave Desert. But 10 News reports these serious bites are occurring now in suburban areas of San Diego and East County.

A dog with a neurotoxin bite in Del Cerro, for example, went into shock and had difficulty walking. The dog was treated at Pet Emergency and Specialty Center in La Mesa, where vets told 10 news that three of the ten snakebites treated in the past week have been neurotoxic bites.

East County News Service

August 30, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Three East County residents have contracted West Nile Virus – the first victims of the disease in San Diego County in the past two years.

August 26, 2014 (San Diego) – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced that Hewlett-Packard (HP) is recalling AC power cords for HP and Compaq notebook computers. The AC power cord can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards. HP has received 29 reports of power cords overheating and melting or charring, resulting in two claims of minor burns and 13 claims of property damage.

By Leon Thompson

August 24, 2014 (El Cajon)—Outliers Collective (www.outco.com) the only marijuana dispensary licensed by the County of San Diego, held its open house on August 2nd, one month after opening its doors to provide medical cannabis to patients who bring a doctor’s recommendation.  

The open house at the new facility near Gillespie Field at 8157 Wing Avenue in El Cajon was a great success, in spite of the rain. Patients came from as far away as Oceanside.  A couple from Imperial Beach said they read about the grand opening in East County Magazine and were happy to know there was at least one dispensary in San Diego that is licensed by the County.  “I’m 66 years old and smoked pot for the first time when I was 16,” the coastal resident said, “So today for the first time in 50 years I am buying marijuana legally.”

SCIENCE AND HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS

August 13, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Synthetic Molecule Makes Cancer Self-Destruct (U of TX)
• Liberia buckles under Ebola strain (BBC)
• Technique turns bodies 'see-through' (BBC)
• Saudi Arabian suspected of contracting Ebola virus dies (Jerusalem Post)
• Study ties new gene to major breast cancer risk (Sac Bee)
•  

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• The Gift Of Graft: New York Artist's Tree To Grow 40 Kinds Of Fruit
• Hackers can tap USB devices in new attacks, researcher warns (Reuters)
• South African village becomes first to be powered by fuel cells (Reuters)
• 1.2 Billion Web Credentials Said To Be In Russian Gang's Hands  (NPR)
• Keeping Accounts Secure When Russian Hackers Steal More Than A Billion Web Credentials (KPBS)
• Austrian data activist's suit against Facebook gets 25,000 plaintiffs (Reuters)
• How magnetism might keep solar panels clean (and efficient) (Christian Science Monitor)

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

County News Service

Photo, 2011, loaded by Eva Rinaldi on FlickR, Creative Commons license

August 13, 2014 (San Diego)--The suicide of Robin Williams is dominating local and national news, social media and dining table conversations. Running through all is the persistent question “Why?” He had global fame, legions of fans, and leaves behind a wife and chldren.

In the search for answers, much of the media focus has turned to the fact that the beloved actor and comedian suffered from major depression and addiction. While it’s true that clinical depression can increase the risk of suicide, San Diego County health experts say suicide is a much more complex issue.

August 4, 2014  (San Diego’s East County)-- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

August 5, 2014 (San Diego)--An ebola outbreak has killed nearly 900 people in West Africa and stricken more than 1,600.  Left untreated,  about 90% of  patients with the ebola virus have died – and until recently, there was no known treatment or cure.

Hear our audio promo in our new studio:  http://kiwi6.com/file/pk5dpheb7i

August 1, 2014 (El Cajon) – As the newest tenants in the El Cajon Medical Center, the East County Magazine & Media Center will provide media coverage and community radio broadcast demonstrations during the East County Wellness Center’s grand opening event on August 5^th.  We invite our readers to stop by and join in the celebrations!

The wellness center offers zumba, yoga and pilates classes as well as massage services.  The grand opening festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with a ribbon cutting by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce at 6 p.m.  All event guests can enjoy a Wellness seminar, free chair massages, beverages and hors d’oeuvres, prize drawings and more. The East County Wellness and Yoga Center is located at 1625 East Main Street, Suite 205 in El Cajon, CA 92012.

East County Magazine & Media Center now offers audio services and more for local community members in our new recording studio. Stop by our suite 204 for a tour, radio broadcast demonstration, and drawing for prizes( including a free ad on East County Magazine (averaging 150,000 visits each month) and a complimentary 15-minute recording session/podcast  for your organization.)