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■ In This Issue
■ Public Health News
U.S. tuberculosis rate declines to lowest since 1953
In 2007, a total of 13,293 tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported in the United States. The TB rate declined 4.2% from the previous year, to 4.4 cases per 100,000.
Mississippi's TB rate, however, has increased significantly in the same period.
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News article »
CDC Report »
TB in Mississippi »
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Low folic acid in men may contribute to birth defects
A University of California study of 89 men found that those who consumed the most folate (between 722 and 1,150 micrograms a day) had 20-30% lower levels of several types of sperm abnormality than men with low folate intake.
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News article »
Journal abstract »
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Disease indicators rise within days of reducing daily physical activity
A reduction in average daily activity – by taking elevators instead of stairs, for instance – produces signs of increased disease risk, such as higher insulin and triglyceride levels, in as little as 14 days.
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News article »
Journal abstract »
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Severe West Nile virus infection can produce symptoms for years
Infection with mosquito-borne West Nile virus can result in significant long-term problems, such as mental and functional impairment, as well as depression, according to data from an ongoing study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
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News article »
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Alzheimer's disease now affects over 5 million Americans
A national Alzheimer's Association report found 411,000 new cases of Alzheimer's in 2000, a number expected to grow to 454,000 new cases a year by 2010.
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News article »
Full report (PDF) »
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Comprehensive sex education reduces teen pregnancies
An analysis of survey records of 1,719 teens aged 15 to 19 found that students who receive comprehensive sex education are half as likely to become teen parents as those who get no or abstinence-only sex education.
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News article »
Journal abstract »
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Public health risk seen as parents reject vaccines
Parents who object to their children being inoculated are taking advantage of exemptions to laws requiring vaccinations for school-age children, raising fears that increased disease outbreaks will follow.
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News article »
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■ Reportable Disease Statistics
Mississippi's reportable disease statistics are updated monthly with the latest figures and yearly totals of reportable diseases in the state. The current and past months' statistics, with details by public health district, can be viewed on-line.
Disease statistics on-line »
■ Public Health Snapshot
The last six years have seen a steady decrease in the rate of tuberculosis infection in the U.S. as a whole. Mississippi's own TB rate
has also historically fallen, remaining well below the national rate. The last two years, however, have seen an upturn, and in 2007 the Mississippi TB rate
rose above the national level for the first time since 2002.
Mississippi and U.S. TB rates, 2002-2007
Tuberculosis infections per 100,000 population
Source: CDC Tuberculosis Information System
For up-to-date public health statistics, visit MSDH online:
Reportable Disease Statistics »
Mississippi Vital Statistics »
■ Environmental Health Update
Food Facility Inspection "C" Results
Inspection reports for the week ending February March 20, 2008
Mississippi food facilities are graded A, B or C, reflecting whether critical violations were found during
inspections and how quickly they were corrected. The facilities below received a grade of C for
a critical violation that could not be immediately corrected, or a critical violation repeated from their last inspection.
Understanding food facility inspection grades »
Detailed on-line inspection reports »
Boil-Water Notices
Notices listed by MSDH for the week ending March 20, 2008
| Water System | County | Reason |
| Town of Hickory |
Newton |
Pressure loss |
| Highway 28 Water Assoc. |
Simpson |
Pressure loss |
| N. Central Amite W/A |
Amite |
Pressure loss |
| Town of Brooksville |
Noxubee |
Scheduled shutdown |
| Romola Water Assn |
Claiborne |
Pressure loss |
| FCWA South Meadville |
Franklin |
Pressure loss |
View current water system alerts on-line »
■ Upcoming Events
| April 16-18 | Gold Standard Breastfeeding Conference
Jackson, MS. The eleventh annual "Breastfeeding: The Gold Standard" conference is an opportunity to learn the latest evidence-based practices in the field of lactation to better serve the breastfeeding mothers and babies in your community.
Information and registration »
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| April 21 | Free BodyWorks Training
Jackson, MS. BodyWorks is a new program designed to help parents and caregivers of girls age 9 to 13 to improve family eating and activity habits.
Information and registration »
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■ Subscriptions
You can subscribe to receive future issues of the Public Health Report, review past issues, or cancel your subscription by visiting www.HealthyMS.com/phr
Feedback: Send your comments or suggestions about the Public Health Report to MSDHNews@msdh.state.ms.us
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