Infected Mosquito Brings West Nile Virus to Smithtown!

NuHealth 

Nassau University Medical Center

2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY 11554

www.nuhealth.net     516-572-5809

 * * * Press Release ***

It’s 6:00pm, do you know where your children are? If you live near Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown, NY – you want to keep your family members (both young and old) away from it after 6:00pm. 

Recently, a mosquito there tested positive for the West Nile virus. According to the article “Suffolk officials limit park hours over virusfear,” published by The Wall Street Journal, Health officials on Long Island have decided to close the county park from 6:00pm until 8:00am, when mosquitoes are most active.

The West Nile Virus is transmitted through infected mosquitoes. It can cause serious, life-altering and even fatal symptoms (CDC). 

According to the article, James Tomarken, Suffolk Health Commissioner, says “the presence of the virus in the park’s mosquito population is no cause for alarm,” but residents should “consider covering up when they are outside in the evenings.”

Most people infected with the virus have no signs or symptoms. Therefore, the most important thing to do to protect yourself from the disease is to avoid mosquito bites.

Safety measures to protect you and your family from the deadly disease are using mosquito repellent, eliminating standing water where mosquitoes can lay eggs, install or repair broken window and door screens and support community-based mosquito control programs (CDC).

Are You Protected From the Flu?

NuHealth 

Nassau University Medical Center

2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY 11554

www.nuhealth.net     516-572-5809

 * * * Press Release ***

Flu season is quickly approaching. Although the influenza vaccines are unchanged from last season, everyone older than 6 months of age is still recommended by the CDC to get vaccinated. This season’s vaccine again will protect against the pandemic H1N1 virus, as well as an H3N2 and a B strain (MedPageToday.com).

Are you a member of healthcare personnel or pregnant? If so, you are among certain groups identified as high priorities for receiving vaccination. For nurses, PA’s, doctors, etc. not only are you protecting yourself from the virus; you are also protecting any patient you encounter. According to an article published by Med Page Today, nearly all of those who worked at a facility that required vaccination (98%) were vaccinated, but without the requirement, only 58%.

Each year, more than 20,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized due to influenza (CDC). Included within the high priority groups are children between the age of 6 months and 5 years old. The vaccine is not available for those under the age of 6 months, therefore anyone who is in contact with an infant should be vaccinated to protect the baby.  

One group that might not need as much vaccine as in previous years are children between the age of 5 and 9. Typically children need two doses per season to be protected. Because the strains protected in this season’s vaccine are the same as last, children who received at least one dose of vaccine last season only need one more dose for this season.  

If you have an egg allergy, which in previous years has posed a problem for receiving flu vaccinations, new recommendations have arrived according to Med Page Today. If you break out in hives after exposure to eggs, you can still receive the influenza vaccine but “should receive the trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV) rather than the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV),” (MedPageToday.com). In addition, you should be vaccinated by “a healthcare provider who is familiar with potential manifestations of egg allergy, and should be observed for at least 30 minutes following administrations,” (MedPageToday.com). If you have more severe allergic reactions to egg, ask your doctor to refer you to a physician with “expertise in the management of allergies or further risk assessment,” (MedPageToday.com).

Flu season can begin as early as October therefore the CDC recommends influenza vaccination begin as soon as it becomes available near you.

Mental Health Help at NuHealth

NuHealth 

Nassau University Medical Center

2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY 11554

www.nuhealth.net     516-572-5809

 * * * Press Release ***

“Every year, one out of four American’s suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder,” (NuHealth.net). That’s 25% of American’s agonizing over problems that range from mood conditions like depression and bipolar disorder to severe schizophrenic episodes and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

NuHealth offers programs in both inpatient and outpatient environments to help patients cope with mental disease through an extensive, caring staff of psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers and other mental health professionals. 

Nassau University Medical Center is home to Long Island’s “largest impatient psychiatric treatment center, capable of caring for more than 180 patients daily, including those with severest mental disorders,” (NuHealth.net). Adults with serious psychiatric illness, especially those at risk of harming themselves or others, can find a safe haven at one of NuHealth’s three calming, positive and healing inpatient adult general psychiatry units at Nassau University Medical Center. 

Whether committed voluntary or involuntary, members of the professional staff will recognize each patient's “genetic, biological and cultural influences on behavior, as well as psychosocial stressors… such as physical or emotional trauma, grief, and economic and interpersonal pressures,” (NuHealth.net). In addition to pharmaceutical therapies, an array of other services are offered to the patients which may include art therapy, behavioral modification, music therapy, nursing care, psychological testing, individual and group psychotherapy, recreational therapy and social work interventions.

NuHealth’s child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric services offer two units for them to be cared by experienced, well-trained, empathetic professionals who will evaluate the child’s troubled mind. “Each unit is designed to provide a cheerful sense of security and home, with warm pastel colors and familiar Disney-style themes on murals throughout,” (NuHealth.net). 

Specialized services provided by licensed professionals for children and adolescents include anger management, cognitive-behavioral therapy, consultations with dieticians, pediatric gastroenterologists and pediatric endocrinologists, coping skills training, group, individual and family therapy, medical evaluation, pharmacotherapy, psycho diagnostics, psych-education, and substance abuse awareness counseling. An on-site licensed school teacher provides a classroom experience five days a week to “ensure that time away from school is still time spent learning and exploring.”

For more information, log on to the Mental Health &Addiction portion of NuHealth’s website linked below.

Mental Health & Addiction Services