DPH Kindly Reminds That It's Flu Season

Flu activity may be off to a late start this season, but that means there's still time to get a flu shot and take other precautions.

The following press release was provided by Lexington's Public Health Division. Yesterday, Feb. 16, the Center for Disease Control reported for the first time this season that the percent of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza has surpassed 10 percent, which is generally a marker to indicate that flu season is beginning. By this measure, activity this season is off to a late start. In the past 29 years, the percent of respiratory samples testing positive for flu has remained below the 10 percent mark until February only once before (1987-1988). Other indicators are lagging, but are expected to increase in the coming weeks. So it’s not too late to get your flu shot! Influenza, known as flu, is a very contagious disease of …

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Flu Shots Tomorrow at LHS

Free flu shots and Flumist will be available to Lexington residents tomorrow afternoon as local public health officials mark National Influenza Vaccination Week with what could be their final free clinic of the year.

Public Health officials in Lexington are inviting residents to help recognize National Influenza Vaccination Week by participating in a free flu clinic tomorrow, Dec. 7, at Lexington High School. According to its website, National Influenza Vaccination Week, or NIVW, “was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as fostering greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season into January and beyond.” This year, NIVW was scheduled for Dec. 4 to 10, after Lexington's public health officials have already held a handful of free flu clinics. In fact, tomorrow’s flu clinic could be the final one this year, according to Public Health Nurse David Neylon. To date this year, the Office of Community …

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About Town

About Town: Medical Waste Disposal

Look for the signs!

Insulin users need a place to dispose of those syringes and the sharps used to test glucose levels. There are other reasons people use medical products and they too must find an appropriate disposal.  Once again, Lexington is helping out. The town is holding a free Medical Waste Collection on Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. behind the Town Office Building at 1625 Massachusetts Ave. Those who can’t make the Wednesday time slot can visit the same site on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to noon. If you can’t make those, there are two more events scheduled in the spring, on April 7 and June 6. No worries if you don’t remember the date, there will be signs all over town. Items accepted include expired medicine and sharps, needles and syringes …

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Public Health Officials Respond to West Nile in Arlington

No mosquito or human cases in Lexington so far this year.

A day after the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced West Nile Virus (WNV) was detected in mosquitoes collected in Arlington, Lexington’s public health officials released the following information about WNV and avoiding mosquito bites.  Lexington has not had any WNV-positive mosquitoes or human cases so far this season, according to the Health Division. Statewide last year, 3,558 mosquito samples were tested for WNV and, as a result, only 121 samples were positive. WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection. Culex mosquitoes are the primary vectors of WNV, which is …

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DPH Tips for Staying Salmonella Safe

Lexington's Board of Health provides tips for consuming ground turkey safely in light of the Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak.

With a salmonella outbreak affecting more than two-dozen states, according to CBS News, and leading to the Cargill recall of 36 million pounds of ground turkey, Lexington’s Board of Health has provided the following information about staying safe from salmonella while eating ground turkey.  The United States Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday that the products may be contaminated with a multi-drug resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg. From the Lexington Health Division: Ground turkey (fresh and frozen) is linked to Salmonella infections and it is common for chicken and poultry to be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. Even if the turkey meat is contaminated with salmonella, it is safe to use or eat as long as the …

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Heat Safety Tips from the DPH

The Board of Health and Public Health Division have provided some strategies for staying safe as the heat and humidity reach dangerous levels.

With temperatures touching the 90s on Thursday and forecasted to stay up there through Saturday, the Lexington Board of Health has offered the following tips to help avoid heat-related emergencies.  Stay Cool Indoors Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, consider utilizing Cary Memorial Library,  which will be open from 9  a.m. to 9 p.m. tonight and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Drink Plenty of Fluids During hot weather you will need to increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. (…

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About Town

Updated About Town: Keeping Cool

Beating the heat and getting rid of waste.

Here’s another important message from Health Director Gerald Cody. On Aug. 10, 2011 there is a Hazardous Waste Disposal Event for VSQGs. You’re probably asking the same question I did: What is a VSQG? It means the company generates less than 220 pounds or about 22 gallons or les of hazardous waste per month. So, if you own qualify plan on getting to the Minuteman Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 60 Hartwell Avenue on Aug. 10. But first make a call, because you must preregister and there is a fee.   Contact Seth Dawber from Clean Harbors Environmental Services at 781-380-7121 or email him at dawber.seth@cleanharbors.com. He’ll tell you what time to arrive and the cost. Hazardous waste is classified as anything that is …

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