Community News

 

ASHEVILLE, NC – September 25, 2024 – The CDC’s COVID Dashboard for the week ending on September 14^th shows:  

• Almost 5% of the deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the 3^rd highest level of 6 groups and increased since last week.
• Emergency department visits for COVID-19 are low in North Carolina, between 2-3% of all visits and a moderate decrease since last week.

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks. The Buncombe & Henderson counties wastewater data on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard for the week ending on September 11^th shows:

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is between 80-100%, the highest level of 5 groups.
• The 15-day rate of change of the number of viral gene copies in each water sample is between 1 to 9%, the lowest level of 3 groups with a positive rate of change.

Vaccine protection wanes over time and newer variants evolve to evade the body’s defenses. Persons in high-risk groups, ages 65 and older, with chronic health conditions and weakened immune systems, are more likely to develop severe illness. At-risk people can be protected, by staying home when not feeling well and keeping current with vaccination.

Americans will be able to order up to 4 COVID tests at COVIDtest.gov in a week.

A new COVID vaccine is available for currently circulating strains. It is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. The timing is optimal to protect against getting severely ill during the winter surge of respiratory infections. Check with local pharmacies for availability.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

UNITED STATES – September 18, 2024 – Syphilis was almost eliminated in the United States 25 years ago. However, it has surged in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has documented more than 200,000 syphilis cases in 2022, the highest number since 1950.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause serious health problems without treatment. There are 4 stages of syphilis. The first stage is having a firm, round and painless sore or multiple sores at the site of sexual activity. The infection can be spread by direct contact with this sore during sex. Even though the sore goes away after 3-6 weeks, the infection remains if untreated. The second stage is identified by a reddish skin rash. Even if the rash goes away, the infection is still there without treatment. Years later, the third stage can develop with damage to the heart, brain or nervous system.

Congenital syphilis can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy. It has occurred 10 times more frequently over the past 10 years. More than 3,700 cases have been reported in 2022, the highest number in one year since 1994.

Pregnant women with untreated syphilis have a higher risk of miscarriage, having a stillbirth, delivering a premature baby, having a baby with low birth weight, and having a baby that dies shortly after birth. Babies born with congenital syphilis can have many health problems including anemia, brain seizures, nerve problems, enlarged internal organs, jaundice and can die.

Syphilis is curable with antibiotics if detected early. It can be tested with either a blood test or by obtaining fluid from the sore. If you test positive for syphilis, your sex partner will need to be tested too. Treatment should begin soon after a positive test.

You can protect yourself and your baby from getting syphilis by getting a blood test for syphilis at least once during pregnancy and when the baby is born.

The Buncombe County STI Testing and Treatment clinic provides a full range of services at no or low cost to everybody. The clinic is at the HHS Building at 40 Coxe Avenue in Asheville. Their phone number is 828-250-5109.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

RALEIGH, NC – September 5, 2024 – The latest update of the NC Medicaid Expansion Enrollment Dashboard was on September 5^th. August enrollment in NC increased by almost 19 thousand to almost 540 thousand people. Buncombe County’s August enrollment increased by almost 400 people to more than 13 thousand. It was estimated that 600 thousand North Carolinians are eligible for ME, with 15.5 thousand from Buncombe County. In 9 months of accepting applications, the state is almost 90% of the way to enrolling all eligible persons and Buncombe County is almost 85% of the way there.

There are many ways to apply for NC Medicaid for eligible persons. Those who have not yet applied should visit Medicaid.nc.gov to see if they qualify. Buncombe County residents can apply for Medicaid online and at any time at ePASS.NC.gov. Applications can be done in-person at the HHS Building on 40 Coxe Avenue, by calling 828-250-5500, or by mail.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

ASHEVILLE, NC – September 18, 2024 – The winter surge of respiratory infections, like COVID-19, has passed. However, over the past 3 years, COVID-19 infections have also surged in August.

The CDC’s COVID Dashboard for the week ending on September 7^th shows:  

• Between 2-3% of the deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the 3^rd lowest level of 6 groups and decreased since last week.
• Emergency department visits for COVID-19 are moderate in North Carolina, 3% of all visits and a moderate decrease since last week.

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks. The Buncombe & Henderson counties wastewater data on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard for the week ending on September 4^th shows:

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is between 80-100%, the highest level of 5 groups.
• The 15-day rate of change of the number of viral gene copies in each water sample is between 10 to 99%, the second level of 3 groups with a positive rate of change.

Vaccine protection wanes over time and newer variants evolve to evade the body’s defenses. Persons in higher risk groups, like people ages 65 and older, with chronic health conditions, and weakened immune systems, are more likely to develop severe COVID illness. Therefore, further surges can be reduced, and at-risk groups can be protected, with testing and keeping current with vaccination.

Americans will be able to obtain free at-home COVID tests again. You can order up to 4 tests at COVIDtest.gov in a few weeks.

There is a new COVID vaccine that has been recently approved for currently circulating strains. It is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. The vaccine will reduce the risk of persons becoming severely ill. The timing is optimal to protect against getting sick during the winter surge of respiratory illness, when it is more likely to spread as more people are indoors. Check with local pharmacies for availability.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

BOSTON – August 31, 2024 – An article published in the New England Journal of Medicine on August 31^st, showed that a combined measure of 3 blood tests was predictive of an increased risk for the development of cardiovascular disease in women. Researchers from Harvard Medical School obtained the blood tests from almost 30 thousand women who were then followed for 30 years. They were followed until either a major cardiovascular event occurred or until the completion of the study after 30 years. The blood tests were high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a).

About 1 in 5 Americans died from heart disease in 2022, according to the CDC. It is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Cardiovascular disease can include heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.

The standard lipid panel is a common blood test that measures the levels of different types of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. This blood test is used to monitor and screen for someone’s risk of cardiovascular disease. Having high levels of certain types of cholesterol and triglycerides can lead to coronary artery disease, a precursor of cardiovascular diseases. Coronary artery disease can reduce the blood flow to the heart by narrowing the heart’s arteries.

The LDL blood test is the standard biomarker that health care providers use to determine a person’s heart disease risk. High levels are associated with high risk. LDL is commonly referred to as the “bad” cholesterol. On the other hand, high-density lipoprotein (called HDL) is the “good” cholesterol.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein is an indicator of inflammation. It is a protein produced in the liver that increases in response to inflammation or infection. It can be measured by a simple blood test. The high-sensitivity test is more sensitive than the standard test and can measure smaller increases.

Lipoprotein(a) is not included in the standard lipid panel. However, it is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is important to understand that lipoprotein(a) is unique because it is genetically determined without much fluctuation after early childhood. Lipoprotein(a) is a low-density lipoprotein variant and carries cholesterol through the blood stream to cells

The Harvard study’s results suggest that early prevention, before the usual timeframe, may reduce the risk of a woman to develop cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

ASHEVILLE, NC – September 6-7, 2024 – The North Carolina Dental Society and the NC Dental Society Foundation Missions of Mercy (MOM) held a free mobile dental clinic in Asheville on September 6^th and 7^th. According to the press release, the clinic provided “complimentary dental procedures for adults who cannot afford or do not have access to oral health care.” Free dental care was provided by licensed dentists, including cleanings, fillings, extractions, and x-rays.

The clinic was held at the East Asheville Campus of the Biltmore Church on 801 Fairview Road in Asheville. Patients were seen on a first-come, first-serve basis. Doors opened at 6 am and patients had to arrive early each morning to be eligible.

Expectations ran high. 490 volunteers staffed the clinic. About 700 people were served. The dental volunteers have donated their time and their resources to treat these patients.

The North Carolina Dental Society represents 4 thousand dentists in the state. It is the state chapter of the American Dental Association, the nation’s largest dental association, representing 163,000 dentist members.

NC Dental Society Foundation MOM is a charitable organization whose mission is to improve access to oral health care in the state. The foundation has created a program to provide preventive care and treatment of dental problems in adults whose income is less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty index.

Kudos to the North Carolina Dental Society and to the NC Dental Society Foundation MOM!

Such good news!

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour