Panhandle Health District: Press Release on Immunizations

This information is being forwarded in cooperation with the Panhandle Health District and the North Idaho Public Information Network.


Panhandle Health District
                                  8500 N. Atlas Road         Hayden, Idaho  83835
www.phd1.idaho.gov<

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                   Date:   September 2, 2010
Contact:                                                                Released by: Jeanne Bock, Director
Cynthia Taggart
Public Information Officer
(208) 415-5108
(208) 818-7288 (cell)

Immunization Can Slow Whooping Cough Surge

Hayden – The recent hospitalization of two northern Idaho infants with whooping cough is a clear call to people of all ages to get their pertussis immunization.
       So far this year, 57 cases of whooping cough have been reported in the five northern counties. Last year, only six cases of whooping cough were reported in the same area for the entire year. The number of cases so far this year (through August) is eight times higher than average.
       Both infants recently diagnosed are in intensive care. The pertussis bacteria, which is pervasive, is particularly dangerous for children younger than 6 months old.
       Pertussis is a highly contagious disease recognized by severe coughing spells that can cause vomiting and lack of breath. Untreated, pertussis can develop into pneumonia, seizures and encephalitis.
It’s been surging in this area since last November, indicating community-wide transmission. Children and adults in group settings, such as school, are at the highest risk for catching and spreading whooping cough, and vaccination increases the likelihood of avoiding or minimizing the effects of the disease.
       “Immunization is our best tool,” said Randi Lustig, epidemiology program manager for the Panhandle Health District. “The pertussis vaccination isn’t just for babies. Adolescents and adults need to be revaccinated, even if they were vaccinated as children.”
The effectiveness of the pertussis vaccine fades with time. National health officials recommend a booster for children at age 11 or 12. Adults who didn’t get the vaccine as a pre-teen should get one dose.
        Babies and children don’t benefit from the vaccine’s maximum protection until age 5. It’s important for anyone around them to have a current pertussis vaccination.
Whooping cough typically starts with a runny nose, but a cough quickly takes over. People spread pertussis by coughing or sneezing while they’re in close contact with others, who then breathe in the pertussis bacteria.
People with pertussis are contagious before the cough starts and stay contagious for up to three weeks. Doctor-prescribed antibiotics can kill the infection and prevent it from spreading.
Whooping cough is frequently misdiagnosed as bronchitis or allergies. North Idaho’s medical community has been advised to consider pertussis a possibility when patients have a cough illness.
PHD has immunizations with the pertussis vaccine for babies, adolescents and adults. For an appointment in your county, call:


 *   Kootenai County – 415-5270
 *   Bonner County – 263-5159
 *   Boundary County – 267-5558
 *   Benewah County – 245-4556
 *   Shoshone County – 786-7474

S.O.A.R.I.N.G Into Success!

S.O.A.R.I.N.G.,inc. continues to intrigue and fascinate our community with heart-felt stories and soul-lifting flights for our youth! How to survive with a parent deployed to Afghanistan or how to make healthy choices at home or in the community so that negative consequences of courts and probation don't occur.

Currently, we are finishing our group dealing with children of parents diagnosed with cancer and the ordeal of chemotherapy/radiation therapy. If you want to celebrate in their graduation day, come to the Coeur d'Alene airport on Saturday, September 11th at 10:00 am for great food, great flights, and great stories our kids and families will never forget.

We have been doing this for the past fifteen years and if you want to understand why S.O.A.R.I.N.G.inc. just continues to "Soar", give the S.O.A.R.I.N.G. office or Joe a call for directions to Northern Skies Air Center at our airport.

Visit our web site: www.soaringyouth.org


S.O.A.R.I.N.G. Office: 208-758-0400

Joe McCarron: 208-661-0584
President
S.O.A.R.I.N.G.inc

'Story of the Year' band to play at NIC's Schuler Performing Arts Center

World-wide touring band Story of the Year will play North Idaho College's Boswell Hall in the Schuler Performing Arts Center on Friday, Sept. 10. Tickets are already on sale for the punk/alternative rock band, which has sold over a million copies of its three albums.

Tickets are available at the NIC Box Office in Boswell Hall, and are $10 for students and $15 for the general public. Premier tickets (the stage/pit area) cost $12 for students and $17 for the general public. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the concert beginning at 7 p.m.

The hard-rocking band first formed in 1995 in St. Louis under the name 67 North. In 2003, with its current name, Story of the Year had its first commercial success with its major label debut Page Avenue. With the popular singles "Until the Day I Die" and "Anthem of our Dying Day," Page Avenue has sold over 900,000 copies.

The band's newest album, The Constant, was released earlier this year and contains the single "I'm Alive.

The band has toured with other groups such as Linkin Park, Flogging Molly and Hoobastank. Opening for Story of the Year is the five-piece, Seattle-based band Moneta.

NIC's Box Office in Boswell Hall is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased by calling (208) 769-7780.

Summer's Coming to North Idaho!

North Idaho is a tough place to top for friendly people, natural beauty and recreational activities, just to name a few.  But throw in a bus load of special events scattered throughout the year and you'd be hard pressed to find a place more fun to live or visit.

Summer is right around the corner, even if the end of April did seem like a return to winter.  And summer means a long list of events and festivals with such variety that there is literally something for everyone.  Let's take a peek at a few celebrations coming up in the next few months.

Depot Days, May 7-8 in Wallace, kick off car show season with vehicles of all types, makes and ages lining the downtown streets.  It's a family festival celebrating the Northern Pacific Railroad Depot with live music, kids activities, vendors and of course the historic Depot.

If you like car shows you'll want to be in Sandpoint the next weekend for Lost in the 50's.  The whole town goes retro with rock and roll, dances and car parade and show.  Herman's Hermits headline Saturday night's festivities.

The Priest Lake Spring Festival on May 28-30 has arts & crafts, live music, history, pancake breakfasts, silent auction, a parade on Saturday and fun run on Sunday.  Here's a schedule of events.

Post Falls Days, June 4-6, are always fun with vendors, kids activities, a fishing derby and a parade.

The Big Back-In is lawnmower drag racing in Rathdrum on June 20.  Yes, lawnmower drag racing!

The 4th of July finds celebrations in almost every community and fireworks from Bonners Ferry to Harrison to Murray.  Here's a list.

The Coeur d'Alene Tribe hosts it's annual Julyamsh July 23-25 at Greyhound Park and Event Center in Post Falls.  It is the largest pow wow in the Pacific Northwest and celebrates Native American culture with song, dance, drumming, games and spirituality. 

Coeur d'Alene is a busy place from July 30 to August 1 with Art on the Green, Street Fair and Taste of Coeur d'Alene, three events all within walking distance of each other.

Return to the 1880's at Gold Rush Daze in Murray August 20-22.  The fun includes a parade, live music, car show, Saloon Girl Pagent and an old west shootout.

These are just a few of the many events that make summer in North Idaho a don't miss.  Get a complete list at FYI North Idaho.

Playland Pier follow-up

Following up on last week's anniversary of Playland Pier burning, here's another photo from the mid 50's.  This page was scaned from one of the old North Idaho Fun Guides (forerunners of the Guide to North Idaho) and also features an ad for the nearby Templin's Grill.

Of note here is that Playland Pier would allow free use of the changing rooms along the waterfront boardwalk for tourists.  All they had to do was present a key from one of the local hotels,  You could even rent a towel for ten cents and a bathing suit for a quarter. By the early 60's the changing rooms were gone along with the small concession at beach level. 

City beach wasn't very safe by today's standards but a lot of fun at the time.  It wasn't unusual to have boom logs float into the swim area and while rusty spikes and huge splintered logs presented a hazard, it didn't stop kids from creating makeshift boats, docks and diving platforms out of them.

It was a great place and still is.

Ho Ho Ho!

Tis the season to get your festive on, an there are plenty of ways to do it in North Idaho.

Last Friday, Downtown Coeur d'Alene kicked the season off with a parade and fireworks. The Coeur d'Alene Resort continues their largest "on he water" holiday light show and nightly boat trips to the North Pole.

Sandpoint also had their lighting ceremony last week and the Christmas spirit continues through the end of the year.

Wallace has their Yuletide Celebration this Friday and Saturday. Hayden, St. Maries and Rathdrum will kick off the season on Saturday with parades and lighting. Harrison's Winter Fest is Dec. 12. And there is a Holiday Party at Priest Lake State Park on the 20th.

Now that leaves you no excuse why you can't get into the yuletide attitude.