Boulder County Public Health
www.BoulderCountyHealth.org

Colorado Celebrates Two Years of the Clean Indoor Air Act
Interactive Timeline Shows Significant Progress With Smoke-Free Living

June 30, 2008 - DENVER - Two years after taking effect, the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act is helping residents and visitors experience significantly healthier environments. In January, casinos joined the list of public places included in the smoke-free law, allowing employees and patrons of most public places to breathe easier with improved air quality. Continued

Rabies Vaccine Shortage Raises Concern

June 30, 2008 - Boulder, CO - Due to limited supplies of rabies vaccine, Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) is reminding residents to be extra vigilant in avoiding rabies exposure from petting, feeding, or handling animals while traveling, avoiding contact with wildlife (especially bats), and vaccinating pets. Continued

Colorado Hospital-Acquired Infections Data Now Available Online

June 30, 2008 - DENVER - The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment today released the first Health Facility Acquired Infections Bulletin. The bulletin contains hospital-specific infection rates for central line associated bloodstream infections occurring in adult intensive care units. A central line is an intravascular catheter that terminates at or close to the heart or in one of the great vessels, and can be used to infuse fluids or draw blood in patients. Continued

First Colorado Cases of West Nile Virus Confirmed

June 27, 2008 - DENVER - State health officials have confirmed the first two human cases of West Nile virus for the 2008 season. The cases were reported from Boulder and Logan counties. Both patients are recovering from their
illnesses. Continued

Local Leaders to be Tested for HIV

June 19, 2008 - (Boulder County, Colo.) - Local leaders have volunteered to be tested for HIV in public in an effort to break down barriers to HIV testing. Leaders will be tested on Tuesday, June 24, at 5 p.m. in front of the County Courthouse on the 14th Street block of Pearl Street. HIV test counselors from Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) and Boulder County AIDS Project (BCAP) will test singer Hazel Miller, Boulder County Commissioner Ben Pearlman, and Boulder Weekly editor Pamela White. Continued

Colorado Issues Unilateral Order to Military Imposing 2017 Deadline for Destruction of Chemical Weapons at Pueblo Chemical Depot

June 18, 2008 - DENVER - The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment today issued a compliance order to the U.S. Department of Defense, its Assembled Chemical Weapons Assessment Program and the Department of the Army requiring treatment and destruction of chemical weapons stored at the Pueblo Chemical Depot by Dec. 31, 2017. The date is six years earlier than the Department of Defense’s current schedule to destroy the chemical weapons by Dec. 31, 2023. Continued

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Alleges Violations at CEMEX Cement Plant in Lyons

June 17, 2008 - DENVER - The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has issued a notice of violation to CEMEX, alleging various violations of state air quality regulations and operating permit conditions at the company’s Lyons cement plant northwest of Boulder. Continued

Public Health: Residents should prepare for West Nile Virus

June 13, 2008 - (Boulder, Colo.) - It’s summer again, and with warmer weather residents are spending more time outdoors. Along with outdoor recreational activities comes concern about the risk of West Nile virus (WNV). While drier conditions led to minimal larval activity in the beginning part of May, rains have helped to increase standing water in many areas of the county. Continued

Leiner Health Products Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Allergens in Liquimax® Multivitamin

June 11, 2008 - DENVER - State health officials Wednesday announced that Leiner Health Products has recalled its 32-ounce plastic bottles of Liquimax Complete Nutrition Multivitamin Formula because the product may contain undeclared fish (not shellfish), tree nuts (almonds, pecans and/or walnuts) and wheat. The recalled products have labels with UPC codes of 7497052290, 7497023607 or 7497023696.Continued

Second Colorado Salmonella Case Linked to Tomatoes

June 10, 2008 - DENVER - The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has confirmed one additional case of Salmonella Saintpaul linked to raw red Roma, raw red plum, raw red round tomatoes, or products that contain these types of raw red tomatoes. This brings to two the total number of Colorado confirmed cases linked to the national outbreak, one in Weld County and the other in Otero County.Continued

Addition Tomato Recall Info

FDA Advice for Retailers, Restaurateurs and Food Service Operators

FDA Warns Consumers in New Mexico and Texas Not to Eat Certain Types of Raw Red Tomatoes  (PDF 16KB)

CDPHE Guidance for Tomato Outbreak-Related Phone Calls (PDF 14KB)
 

Kraft Foods Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Nuts in Post LiveActive Mixed Berry Crunch Cereal

June 9, 2008 - DENVER - State health officials Monday announced that Kraft Foods is voluntarily recalling nearly 13,000 cases of Post LiveActive Mixed Berry Crunch Cereal because a small number of the boxes may contain nuts (almonds, pecans and/or walnuts)–ingredients excluded from the label. Continued

Public Urged to Take Precautions to Avoid Hantavirus

June 4, 2008 - Denver - With the return of summer, state health officials again are warning Coloradans in rural parts of the state to avoid hantavirus exposure while cleaning cabins, buildings, sheds and barns that may have been closed up for winter. Continued

Abbott Announces Voluntary Worldwide Recall of Infant Formula

June 2, 2008 - DENVER - Abbott Nutrition of Columbus, Ohio, has announced a voluntary worldwide recall of two lots of Calcilo XD® Low-Calcium/Vitamin D-Free Infant Formula with Iron because of possible oxidation. When consumed, highly oxidized foods can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Continued

State Health Department to Provide Daily Air Quality Forecasts
This Summer; Critical Ozone Season Begins June 1

May 30, 2008 - DENVER - Daily forecasts and a new and improved Web site will be featured during what is expected to be a critical summer for air quality in the Denver metropolitan area and North Front Range. Continued

International Travelers Advised of Need for Measles Immunization
Measles Rise in the U.S. Tied to Travelers Bringing Virus Home From Abroad

May 29, 2008 - DENVER - Public health officials in Colorado and across the United States are warning travelers to check their measles immunization status before traveling internationally this summer. Continued

Public Cautioned About Skunks with Rabies

May 29, 2008 - DENVER - The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has issued advisories to local public health agencies and veterinarians regarding eight confirmed cases of rabies in wildlife in the eastern part of the state—including seven skunks and one coyote – over the past year. Based upon the widely dispersed locations of these rabies-positive specimens, it appears that skunk rabies may be circulating in eastern areas of the state and potentially moving west toward the Front Range. Continued

FDA Warns Consumers Against Using Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream as Ingredients May Be Harmful to Infants

May 27, 2008 - DENVER - The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Consumer Protection Division joined the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Monday in warning consumers not to use or purchase Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream, marketed by MOM Enterprises, Inc., because the product contains potentially harmful ingredients that may cause respiratory distress or vomiting and diarrhea in infants. Continued

Health Advisory for Recreational or Other Contact with the Cache La Poudre and South Platte Rivers in Northern Colorado

May 23, 2008 - DENVER - The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is advising people residing in Weld and Morgan counties to reduce the health risks caused by contaminants, including partially treated sewage, that have entered the Cache La Poudre and South Platte Rivers as a result of yesterday’s tornadoes in the area. Continued

Colorado Agencies Receive Funds to Prevent Child Abuse

May 20, 2008 - DENVER - The Colorado Children’s Trust Fund has selected 19 agencies serving 29 counties across the state to receive a total of almost $400,000 for child abuse prevention programs. Continued

Colorado Emergency Medical Services Week May 18-24

May 15, 2008 - DENVER - Gov. Bill Ritter has proclaimed the month of May as Colorado Trauma Awareness Month and the week of May 18-24 as Colorado Emergency Medical Services Week. Continued

Healthy Aging Training Programs Offered Through Colorado’s Academy for Older Adult Wellness

May 13, 2008 - DENVER - The Academy for Older Adult Wellness will hold its fourth annual master-level training program for professionals working with aging populations to manage arthritis and pain associated with arthritis. Continued

Worksite Wellness Conference to be Held on National Employee Health and Fitness Day

Monday, May 12, 2008 - DENVER - The Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition Program of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the American Cancer Society are sponsoring Colorado's first Worksite Wellness Conference at the Pepsi Center on Wednesday, May 21. Continued

Auto Emissions Tests More Stringent

May 5, 2008 - DENVER - Beginning today, cars and light-duty trucks in the seven-county Denver-metropolitan area will have a harder time passing enhanced emissions tests at Air Care Colorado testing facilities, operated by Envirotest, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Continued

Governor Proclaims Colorado Trauma Awareness Month

May 5, 2008 - DENVER - Governor Bill Ritter has proclaimed May as Colorado Trauma Awareness Month, a time to recognize the contributions of the state’s many emergency medical service providers and to elevate public awareness of ways to improve public health by reducing the impact of trauma in Colorado. Continued

Prevent Animal-Borne Diseases This Summer

May 1, 2008 - DENVER - State health officials joined the Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment Wednesday in reminding residents that as summer approaches, so does the risk of contracting certain animal-borne diseases, such as rabies, West Nile virus, Western equine encephalitis, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, plague, tularemia, and Colorado tick fever. Continued

Number of Radon Tests, Mitigation System Installations Grows Statewide

April 28, 2008 - DENVER - Growing numbers of Colorado residents are testing their homes for radon, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. During 2007, 18,807 Colorado homes were tested for the colorless, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas - an increase of 3,918 from 2006. Test results ranged from 0.05 to 605.8 picocuries per liter. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends installing a mitigation system in homes with readings exceeding 4 picocuries per liter. Continued

Allergy Alert Issued on Silk Soymilk Chocolate Flavor due to Undeclared Milk Ingredient

April 24, 2008 - DENVER--White Wave Foods Company is voluntarily recalling 11-ounce plastic single-serving bottles of Silk Soymilk Chocolate Flavor because it may contain undeclared milk. Continued

Foundation Gives $100,000 to Defray Costs of Alamosa Salmonella Outbreak

April 22, 2008 - DENVER - Last week the Colorado Health Foundation presented $100,000 to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Alamosa County Nursing Services to help with the cost of ridding Alamosa’s water supply of salmonella contamination. Of that, $50,000 will be used by the department for testing and monitoring water samples, with the other $50,000 to help cover costs incurred by the local nursing services agency. Continued

KFC Recalls Double Chocolate Chip Cakes

April 21, 2008 - DENVER - State health officials Monday announced that KFC Corp. is voluntarily recalling its Double Chocolate Chip Cakes because they contain eggs, milk, wheat, soy and possibly traces of tree nuts, ingredients not individually labeled on product packaging. Continued

We Need You!

Share your thoughts about food safety in Boulder County!
Please join us for Boulder County’s first Food Safety Advisory Committee meeting. Consumers, industry, academia, and government are all welcome to join us as we discuss food safety issues in our community. Continued (PDF 1112 kb)

Parents Encouraged to Get Timely Vaccinations for Children Unfounded Fears About Safety of Vaccines Scaring Some Parents Away

April 17, 2008 - Denver - Officials from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are reminding parents ahead of National Infant Immunization Week, April 19-26, to make certain their children are vaccinated against disease. Continued.

Cracker Barrel Issues Allergy Alert on Mislabeled Chocolate-Covered Peanuts and Almonds

April 10, 2008—Denver—The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Consumer Protection Division Thursday advised consumers that Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. is recalling 5-ounce bags of chocolate-covered almonds and 5-ounce bags of chocolate double-dipped peanuts because the packaging is labeled incorrectly. Continued.

Two Products Recalled Due to Salmonella and Undeclared Milk

April 7, 2008—Denver—State health officials Monday announced two national food recalls, one involving Malt-O-Meal Unsweetened Puffed Rice and Unsweetened Puffed Wheat cereals due to potential contamination with Salmonella, and the other involving Harry and David Chocolate-Covered Select Blend Espresso Beans containing milk as an undeclared ingredient. Continued.

More on foodborne illness.

Public Health Week Stresses Healthier People,
Healthier Climate

April 7, 2008—Denver—During a news conference today, Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien and Jim Martin, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, called on Coloradans to make small changes that would help protect the environment and improve people’s health. The event was the kickoff for National Public Health Week, April 7-13. This year’s theme is “Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance.”  Continued.

Fleas Test Positive for Plague in Boulder County

Boulder, Colo.—A sample of fleas collected by Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) on Friday, March 28 from prairie dog colonies located west of the intersection of Spine Road and White Rock Circle have tested positive for plague. The surrounding area has been posted with signs, and pesticide will be applied into the prairie dog burrows to reduce the likelihood of plague exposure from fleas. Continued.

More on animal- and insect-transmitted diseases.

Honduran Cantaloupes Recalled Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

April 1, 2008—Denver—The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Consumer Protection Division Monday advised consumers who may have purchased cantaloupes grown, packed and shipped by an independent third-party grower, Agropecuaria Montelibano of San Lorenzo Valle, Honduras, to dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund as the products have been linked to an outbreak of salmonella infection in the United States and Canada. Continued.

More on foodborne illness.

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