http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news The latest news and information from Toi Te Ora Public Health Service. en-US Copyright (c) 2010 Toi Te Ora http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/144 Ongoing weekly test results confirm that people should continue to avoid collecting or eating shellfish from a large area along the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty coastline. The area includes the entire coastline from Tairua (including Tairua Harbour) south including Whiritoa, Whangamata, Onemana... Fri, 5 March 2010 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/144 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/147 A health warning has been issued for Lake Rotorua today as routine water test results provided by Environment Bay of Plenty have confirmed blooms of blue-green algae which are potentially toxic.  “The health warning means that people should avoid any activity which results in significant... Fri, 5 March 2010 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/147 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/146 Warmer weather in the Bay of Plenty has heightened the risk of algal blooms in our local lakes. Water quality monitoring this week has identified low level bloom activity in Lake Rotorua prompting Medical Officer of Health, Dr Neil de Wet, to issue this public health advisory. “Monitoring of... Wed, 10 February 2010 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/146 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/145 Routine water quality monitoring conducted by Environment Bay of Plenty has confirmed the remaining presence of potentially harmful levels of blue-green algae in Lake Rotoehu.  Therefore the health warning issued by Toi Te Ora -Public Health Service Medical Officer of Health, Dr Phil Shoemack... Fri, 29 January 2010 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/145 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/143 The latest check by Environment Bay of Plenty has confirmed that the algal mats present in the Rangitaiki River near Murupara prior to Christmas have reduced to the extent that the health warning issued in mid December has been lifted. Toi Te Ora – Public Health, Medical Officer of Health... Thu, 21 January 2010 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/143 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/141 As a result of testing, people are advised to avoid collecting or eating shellfish from a large area along the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty coastline. The area includes the entire coastline from Tairua (including Tairua Harbour) south including Whiritoa, Whangamata, Onemana, and east along the Bay... Mon, 18 January 2010 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/141 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/142 Routine water quality monitoring conducted by Environment Bay of Plenty has confirmed the presence of potentially harmful levels of blue-green algae in Lake Rotoehu and in parts of the Rangitaiki River around Murupara.  A health warning has therefore been issued by Toi Te Ora -Public Health Service... Wed, 23 December 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/142 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/139 Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s recent decision to adopt a Smokefree Outdoor Spaces Policy has been commended by Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service.  “We congratulate Western Bay of Plenty District Council for their proactive leadership in promoting a smokefree lifestyle... Fri, 6 November 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/139 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/138 An untreated sore throat ("strep throat") can lead to rheumatic fever, a serious disease which may result in permanent heart damage. Rheumatic fever is a common problem in the Bay of Plenty, where the annual incidence is nearly three times the New Zealand rate. Yet rheumatic fever is preventable... Tue, 3 November 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/138 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/137 A public survey has shown overwhelming support for Rotorua District Council’s Smokefree Outdoor Spaces policy. The most recent survey shows 93% public support for the policy, which covers the Redwoods and all of Rotorua District Council’s children’s playgrounds. The policy aims... Thu, 29 October 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/137 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/134 Concern that measles may return to the Bay of Plenty and Lakes has prompted the local Medical Officer of Health to urge everyone to make sure they are protected. There have been small but significant outbreaks of laboratory confirmed measles in Otago, Canterbury and Auckland. Measles is among the... Mon, 3 August 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/134 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/135 This year’s World Breastfeeding Week will see mothers across New Zealand attempting to break the existing record set last year of 1122 women breastfeeding simultaneously. Locations are being set up across New Zealand for mothers and babies to come together and celebrate breastfeeding... Mon, 3 August 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/135 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/133 A rapid rise in the number of measles cases is a reminder for parents to make sure that their children’s immunisations are up to date. There have been 90 notified measles cases so far this year – more than seven times higher than the total number of cases for all of last year. Measles... Wed, 29 July 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/133 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/132 The health warning issued on 20 April 2009 for Lake Rotorua, Ohau Channel, Okere Arm and the full length of the Kaituna River, has been lifted by the Medical Officer of Health. Weekly monitoring of these areas has confirmed the algal bloom has fallen back to safe levels. Routine monitoring will... Fri, 10 July 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/132 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/131 Update on Managing Novel A H1N1 09 (swine flu) in the Lakes DHB area Results of the tests taken last week on a second Rotorua Boys’ High School Year 11 student to determine if he had the Novel A H1N1 09 virus have come back negative. This means there are still five confirmed cases of the... Tue, 23 June 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/131