http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news The latest news and information from Toi Te Ora Public Health Service. en-US Copyright (c) 2009 Toi Te Ora 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 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/129 Update on Health Response to Swine flu (Novel A H1N1) Health professionals are reminding people that staying home when you’re sick means exactly that – stay home, and avoid infecting others.  Swine flu emergency operations centre incident controller Cathy Taylor says people with any... Mon, 22 June 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/129 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/130 Managing the Novel A H1N1 09 (swine flu) in the Lakes DHB area There are 14 confirmed cases of Novel A  H1N1 09 (swine flu) spread across the Lakes and Bay of Plenty DHBs.  The Toi Te Ora Public Health Unit that provides a public health service to both DHBs says it is still sifting through the... Mon, 22 June 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/130 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/128 Update on Health Response to Influenza A H1N1 In line with the rest of New Zealand, the Bay of Plenty’s health service is moving to a “manage it” phase in response to the Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak. The shift in phase reflects the increased spread of the virus, rather than a... Fri, 19 June 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/128 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/127 Public health staff have been maintaining very close contact with Rotorua Boys’ High School, following confirmation yesterday that a Year 11 student has Novel A (H1N1) 09.  Public health staff say that they are now aware of a second student in year 11 who has influenza symptoms. This student... Thu, 18 June 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/127 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/125 Update on Health Response to Influenza A (H1N1) Threat Health officials have received laboratory advice of the first two cases of confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes DHB regions. Medical Officer of Health Phil Shoemack says the first case is a 15-month-old child who is... Sun, 14 June 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/125 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/126 Update on Health Response to Influenza A (H1N1) Threat The World Health Organisation has declared the influenza A (H1N1) swine flu outbreak as a pandemic and moved to a phase 6 alert which recognises widespread community transmission of the virus around the world. Phase 6 means that WHO... Fri, 12 June 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/126 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/124 After six weeks of preparation and monitoring, BOP and Lakes DHB staff are gearing up for a probable steady increase in the number of people affected by Influenza A (H1N1) following major outbreaks in Australia this week. Medical Officer of Health Dr Neil de Wet said it is likely that numbers... Fri, 5 June 2009 00:00:00 http://www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz/news/n/124