Tag: OSDH

Preparing for winter holiday travel

December 13, 2018

The upcoming holiday season means Oklahomans may often be traveling during potentially dangerous winter weather conditions. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) encourages the public to begin preparation for the upcoming holiday travel season. Proper planning can reduce the risk of injury and illness while also ensuring a family is prepared for a major…

Plan targets child abuse prevention

November 29, 2018

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) completed the 2019-2023 Oklahoma State Plan for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. The Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth (OCCY) approved the plan, in accordance with state law. Input was obtained from nearly 1,000 responses to a survey, feedback gathered from 15 Community Cafés across the…

Oklahomans have a high percentage of Type 2 diabetes

November 15, 2018

In recognition of November being National Diabetes Month, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is supporting efforts to bring awareness to the impact of diabetes on Oklahoma and its economy. Oklahoma ranks eighth in the nation for percent of adults diagnosed with diabetes. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate…

Salmonella outbreak hits Oklahoma

November 1, 2018

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has joined public health officials in other states and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella associated with raw beef products, including ground beef, packaged at JBS Tolleson, Inc. As of Oct. 23, a total of 120 cases in 22…

More parents seek exemptions from mandatory vaccinations

October 25, 2018

According to results of the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Kindergarten Survey, vaccination coverage for those entering school remains high. The survey encompasses millions of children across the United States. Oklahoma is following the national trend of a slight increase in the number of parents seeking exemptions from immunizations for their children….

Fewer pregnant women are smoking

September 27, 2018

Fewer pregnant Oklahomans are smoking, according to a report by The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). Data shows a dramatic decline of more than one-third (33.5 percent) in smoking among pregnant women since 2009. Along with this improvement, there has been a drop in infant deaths of more than 10 percent. “To help continue…

West Nile virus is still a threat

September 27, 2018

While the season for West Nile virus (WNV) has been mild compared to previous years, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) encourages residents to take precautions to reduce the risk of contracting WNV, a mosquito-borne illness. So far in 2018, the OSDH reports there are seven confirmed cases of WNV disease with one case…

September is Preparedness Month

September 20, 2018

In recognition of September’s National Preparedness Month, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is spotlighting its Emergency Preparedness and Response Service (EPRS) and its role in coordinating public health and medical system emergency response planning. The EPRS administers a Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and…

Syphilis tops STD epidemic

September 6, 2018

There is an under-reported epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases in Oklahoma – including a 36.5-percent increase in syphilis cases. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) reports there were 31,779 cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis diagnosed in 2017, an increase from 29,716 reported in 2016. The most significant increase was found in the number…