1999 Press Releases

>	December 29, 1999 Drunk drivers twice as likely to get caught on New Year's Eve On New Year's Eve, the Seattle Police Department will have twice the number of officers assigned to seek and arrest intoxicated drivers as on a normal night.
>	December 22, 1999 Too many poor kids go without dental care What many of us take for granted -- access to routine preventive dental care -- has public health advocates concerned and engaged.
>	December 16, 1999 Influenza advisory Absenteeism of over ten percent has been reported from several local schools within the last two weeks, and one confirmed nursing home outbreak has been reported.
>	December 15, 1999 Washington State and King County step up holiday drinking and driving safety measures The "1,000 Stars" represents the badges of all the dedicated officers in our state that will be out on the roads on Friday.
>	December 6, 1999 New requirements for food handlers take effect January 4, 2000 The purpose of this new process to assure safe food handling practices by food workers and ultimately to increase food safety for the residents of Washington State.
>	December 2, 1999 All WTO arrestees receive appropriate health screening Everyone arrested during protests against the World Trade Organization meeting has received appropriate health screening and treatment per standard protocols.
>	November 29, 1999 Update on bioterrorism preparedness: The role of Public Health and health care providers National political leaders as well as security public health experts have determined that the civilian population of the U.S. is vulnerable to a bioterrorist attack.
>	November 19, 1999 Board of Health Adopts Fee Increases to Replace Lost Tax Revenue The King County Board of Health adopted fee increases for Food Safety, Drinking Water, Wastewater and Recreational Water (pools/spas plan review) services
>	November 16, 1999 Smoking rates among sexual minorities are double those of the general population Gay men, lesbians, and bisexual and transgendered people who smoke are urged to quit and improve their health (as well as the health of those around them) by remaining smoke free.
>	November 9, 1999 Public Health's Medical Examiner's 1998 Annual Report Public Health's Medical Examiner's Office released its annual report documenting deaths and death trends for calendar year 1998.
>	November 5, 1999 Hepatitis A outbreak in Northeast Seattle and East Shoreline An ongoing investigation by Public Health suggests that many infections are associated with consuming food from one of two different Subway Salads and Sandwiches outlets during the month of September.
>	October 26, 1999 Unsafe drivers are target of Halloween weekend "Emphasis Patrols" "It is dangerous and illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol," said King County Sheriff Dave Reichert. "Anyone caught driving with a .08% or greater blood alcohol level will be arrested".
>	October 26, 1999 Public Health convenes community meetings about Medic One and Emergency Medical Services EMS staff will provide a general overview of the EMS system, EMS Strategic Plan and status of the Strategic Initiatives, a review of the EMS Financial Plan for 2000.
>	October 11, 1999 Public Health urges safe sleep practices for infants "To reduce the risk of infant death, babies should be put to sleep on their backs on firm mattresses," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director and Health Officer of Public Health - Seattle & King County.
>	October 11, 1999 Flu is risky and preventable...Now is the time to get immunized Those living in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities are especially susceptible to the flu and serious complications from it, including death.
>	October 5, 1999 Healthy Youth in King County Report: Building "Developmental Assets" for youth is the recipe for health and lifelong wellness "We can all contribute to the health of young people by respecting, supporting, and listening to them," added Plough. "All you have to do is get involved in their lives!"
>	September 30, 1999 Initiative 695: Potential impacts on Public Health If I-695 passes, Public Health - Seattle & King County would lose approximately $10 million yearly in revenue from the Washington State Motor Vehical Excise Tax (MVET).
>	September 28, 1999 King County child immunization rates at all time high Data from the CDC’s National Immunization Survey indicate that 87 percent of children 19-35 months of age in King County are complete for their immunizations.
>	September 13, 1999 Health risk from chemical fire likely minimal Medic One staff assessed approximately 50 people potentially affected by the commercial fire at Chemcentral in Kent. None were found to have serious health consequences, and most did not require treatment.
>	September 10, 1999 Resurgent bacterially sexually transmitted disease among men who have sex with men (MSM) Public Health has used outreach activities, targeted publications in the local gay press, and community forums to encourage MSM to follow safer sex practices and to be screened for STDs.
>	August 25, 1999 Seattle designated as #1 Kid Friendly City in United States The City of Seattle received an A+ in infant mortality rate, low birth weight rate and teen birth rate.
>	August 18, 1999 1999 school immunization requirements School is starting soon! Does your child have the necessary immunizations to attend school or childcare this fall?
>	August 12, 1999 Safeco Field's food safety practices are consistently better "This is a success story," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "Public Health and Safeco Field staff have worked together to reach common goals."
>	August 2, 1999 Decisions made regarding year 2000 funding for HIV/AIDS care services in King County The Seattle HIV/AIDS Planning Council adopted a plan to distribute an anticipated $5.5 million prioritized across various categories of care services for low income persons living with HIV/AIDS in King County.
>	August 2, 1999 Stadium food safety has improved dramatically Public Health also has been following up on 13 earlier reports of possible illness from food consumed at Safeco Field. None of these has been confirmed.
>	July 30, 1999 Public Health is monitoring food safety practices at Safeco Field Public Health - Seattle & King County has been helping Safeco Field staff learn safe practices for handling food. Now, it is up to them to put these practices into play.
>	July 23, 1999 More food safety violations found at Safeco Field Public Health - Seattle & King County conducted more food safety inspections at Safeco Field yesterday and found twenty-six additional "red critical violations."
>	July 22, 1999 King County drug trends analysis complete for 1998 Prevention education strategies need to continue as a means of maintaining and increasing knowledge among users about the risks for transmission of disease when injecting drugs and sharing needles.
>	July 8, 1999 Salmonella outbreak update Investigation of the salmonella muenchen outbreak continues in King County and around Washington State. The source of infection has been identified as unpastuerized orange juice from Sun Orchard.
>	July 1, 1999 Drivers urged not to drink and drive on holiday weekend The King County Traffic Safety Coalition reminds drivers to not drink and drive over the Fourth of July Holiday Weekend. A lower blood alcohol ratio of .08% to define drunkeness took effect this year.
>	June 30, 1999 Salmonella case numbers continue to rise "Our staff have been working around the clock to investigate all of these cases," said Janice Boase, Assistant Chief of Communicable Disease Control for Public Health.
>	June 25, 1999 Salmonella outbreak in King County Epidemiologic techniques have identified commercially distributed, unpasteurized orange juice produced by Sun Orchard. At least 85 restaurants are known to have received the juice in Washington State.
>	June 23, 1999 Dr. Donald T. Reay, Chief Medical Examiner, to retire "Dr. Reay has built a Medical Examiner's office that is one of the premier organizations in this country, if not the world. He will be missed," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
>	June 17, 1999 King County focuses on safety as beaches open for summer Consider several factors while swimming in open water, including the depth of the water, the current, and coldness, and your skill level.
>	June 11, 1999 Public Health responds to hepatitis A outbreak among street youth and injection drug users At least 8 confirmed cases of hepatitis A have occurred among street youth and injecting drug users in Seattle since the beginning of May, 1999.
>	June 8, 1999 Low tides are inviting but shellfish in King County may make you sick "The shellfish that are commercially raised and harvested are safe," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "People need to be very careful when digging their own shellfish."
>	June 2, 1999 Funding priorities set for HIV prevention efforts There will be increased funding dedicated to stemming the tide of HIV infection among women. Funding for injection drug users will be maintained at previous level to enable continued intervention.
>	May 4, 1999 May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month "Asthma is a serious public health issue," said King County Executive, Ron Sims. "It affects every aspect of a child’s life and the family’s life. Yet, much can be done to prevent asthma hospitalizations."
>	April 30, 1999 Healthy meals are easy to make and taste great The Seattle Nutrition Action Consortium (S.N.A.C.) has been providing nutrition education to low income families in our area since 1994 making cooking fun and interactive.
>	April 16, 1999 Board of Health to employers: provide coverage for mental health and chemical dependency treatment on equal par with other health benefits Most employers in the region -- including King County and the City of Seattle -- provide significantly lower levels of behavioral health services in their employee benefits packages than those for other medical care.
>	April 16, 1999 Local health plans, health care organizations, and hospitals collaborate to fund community health programs "In most cities, the health plans and hospitals hardly talk to each other. Here, we have seen them come to the same table to fund programs that will improve the health of King County residents," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health.
>	April 12, 1999 King County Board of Health April meeting Agenda items to include discussion on managed behavioral health care, King County Health Action Plan and treatment for injection drug users.
>	April 11, 1999 Public Health's HIV/STD Hotline -- New hours, same great service Trained Hotline staff answer questions, conduct risk assessments, and make referrals in a friendly and easy-to-understand way. Public Health - Seattle & King County was among the first in the U.S. to provide this kind of service.
>	March 31, 1999 Recall round-up: Eliminate hazardous products in homes and stores "This is a good time to do some spring cleaning. Check attics and other storage areas for old products that could be hazardous," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County.
>	March 19, 1999 Board of Health approves septic system regulations One of the key amendments includes a requirement for owners of on-site sewage systems to place a notice on their property title at the time of new system construction or at the time of sale of existing development.
>	March 12, 1999 King County Board of Health, March meeting agenda Discussion to include cancer prevention, underage drinking, managed behavioral health coverage, and revision to the Wastewater Code.
>	March 11, 1999 Diabetes epidemic growing: Lifestyle and family history are key indicators The diabetes prevalence rates for people over 40 years of age in King County can be broken down, as follows: Native Americans, 16%; African-Americans, 12%; Asians, 5%, Hispanics, 5%; Caucasians, 4%.
>	March 9, 1999 Number of "Smoke Free" restaurants soars No butts about it -- there are more smoke-free restaurants in King County than ever before. This is one of highest voluntary rates in a major metropolitan area in North America.
>	March 4, 1999 Pertussis alert expanded; Issaquah families warned During 1999, there have been 77 confirmed cases of pertussis (Whooping Cough) in King County. Today, the Public Health Department is alerting families in the Issaquah School District of potential for exposure to pertussis.
>	March 2, 1999 HIV/AIDS Planning Council launches open process for prevention planning An estimated $3 million will be entrusted to Seattle's HIV/AIDS Planning Council to fund HIV prevention activities for calendar years 2000-2001.
>	February 22, 1999 Public Health teams with law enforcement to prevent tobacco access by minors "We are very serious about preventing minors from obtaining tobacco," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health. "If we can keep our children from tobacco addiction before age 18, they likely will never start using it."
>	February 17, 1999 Lesbian health advertising campaign a success despite challenges All women need pap test exams and breast exams. That was the theme of a recent ad campaign designed to increase the number of lesbians who seek these preventive tests.
>	January 28, 1999 STD rates rise dramatically in gay men The Public Health Department urges men who have sex with men (gay and bisexual men) to avoid risky sex -- especially anonymous sex -- and watch for symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases.
>	January 27, 1999 1999 bookmark contest calls for anti-tobacco messages The contest focuses on creating anti-tobacco messages that can reach thousands of youth with a fun and useful tool.
>	January 22, 1999 Hepatitis B and the safety of hepatitis B vaccine Hepatitis B is a serious bloodborne infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B is one of several types of hepatitis, including hepatitis A and hepatitis C, that cause inflammation or injury of the liver.
>	January 19, 1999 King County heroin deaths hit record high for 1998 Heroin continues to have the greatest, deleterious effect of all the illicit drugs used in King County.
>	January 15, 1999 King County Board of Health passes resolution on HIV reporting The King County Board of Health passed a resolution today advising the State Board of Health to require named HIV reporting at the local level.
>	January 12, 1999 King County Board of Health January meeting Washington State Attorney General Christine Gregoire will be attending to present facts on the statewide tobacco settlement. Discussion to also include recommendations for HIV Name Reporting.
>	January 11, 1999 More than half of King County pregnancies are unintended Currently, 55% of pregnancies among King County residents are unintended. This rate is substantially higher than our nation's Healthy People Year 2000 objective of reducing rates of unintended pregnancies to 30% or less.
>	January 8, 1999 Children vaccinated in other countries may not be protected against rubella The World Health Organization has indicated that many countries do not routinely provide rubella vaccinations to their children. As a result, children from these countries may not be adequately protected against this disease.
>	January 7, 1999 Update: Rubella outbreak and special vaccination clinics Public Health wants to clarify that the special "Rubella Vaccination Clinics" in the Federal Way School District are specifically for staff and students of the Federal Way School District who are susceptible to rubella.
>	January 4, 1999 Director of Public Health speaks out against anti-gay violence "Harassment and violence perpetrated against anyone are wrong, and prevention of these acts is a crucial public health concern."

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