News From The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services

 Timely Topics of Interest

Who needs this for Christmas?

  The Grinch has nothing on the person who arrives at the holiday festivities with the flu and gives it to everybody else. If people remember nothing else they got for Christmas, they’ll remember that.

With everybody traveling, partying and getting the family together, conditions are excellent to spread the virus. Dr. Kozarsky also says the best flu prevention is the flu vaccination. But she says washing your hands a lot can control viral spread. So can covering your mouth with a tissue – or your arm – when you sneeze.

Learn more at hhs.gov. [Health & Human Services]

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS Health Beat

Who needs this . . .period!

 FLU. . . Q & A

2010-2011 Flu Season Predicted To Be Severe!

The links below provide more information on the Flu:
              www.cdc.gov/flu/
              www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/default.asp
              www.pork.org/PorkScience/Documents/PUBLICHEALTH%20influenza.pdf
              www.befoodsafe.gov
              www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm

Dude, Wash Your Hands!
Health officials emphasized that the public can help limit the spread of influenza.
                                              
   People should  

Wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
 Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective

   Cover the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
Throw the tissue in the trash after using it.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

Avoid close contact with sick people

Stay home from work or school if you come down with the flu and limiting
your contact with others to keep from infecting them.

 

Contact Department of Health and Senior Services, 573-751-6062
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102
 
- Washing your hands with soap and water
is considered more effective
than the use of alcohol-based hand cleaners alone. -

      K2 Synthetic Marijuana Use Among Teenagers and
Young Adults in Missouri

Health care providers should be aware of serious signs and symptoms reported among some users of "K2" synthetic marijuana product, which is legal and readily obtainable in Missouri. Providers should note that use of this substance, alone or in combination with other substances, may cause symptoms including anxiety coupled with agitation, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, pallor, vomiting, tremors, hallucinations, and possibly seizures. Clinical consultation is available from the Missouri Regional Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 (24/7).

"K2" – also known as "K2 Spice", "Spice", "K2 Summit", "Genie", "Zohai", and various other names – is an unregulated mixture of dried herbs that are sprayed with a synthetic cannabinoid-like substance (likely a compound designated "JWH018"). "K2" is sold as incense.

"K2" is currently legal in Missouri, although some communities have banned its sale, and it is readily available for purchase from gas stations, smoke shops and other retailers in many parts of the state. The product is also widely available on the Internet.

Since February 8, 2010, the Missouri Regional Poison Center has received questions from numerous emergency department (ED) physicians in Missouri regarding management of patients who had adverse reactions after smoking "K2."

Patients were 14 to 21 years of age. Some calls were also received from the public regarding exposure to this substance.

Apparent "K2"-related ED visits reported via the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ ESSENCE system since December 8, 2009, included many of those which had prompted calls by health care providers to the Poison Center. Additional ED visits with similar complaints that had not resulted in calls to the Poison Center were also identified by ESSENCE. From December 8, 2009, through February 25, 2010, 10 ED visits that could have been K2-associated were detected. Patients identified thus far have ranged in age from 16 to 27 years, and nine were non-Hispanic white males. One patient was a female of unknown race.

It is important to note that among 10 ED visits detected in ESSENCE, only three mentioned "K2" as their admission reason or chief complaint. This suggests that although "K2" is legal in Missouri, patients may not be forthcoming about its use when seeking health care, a finding consistent with provider reports in other states, including New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Michigan.