The death of a Dakota County resident has raised Minnesota’s death toll from the swine flu pandemic to 51. Health officials say the victim was between the ages of 70 and 79 and had an underlying health issue. The Minnesota Department of Health says the deaths of 51 Minnesotans have been linked to the H1N1 virus since May. But in its weekly update today, the department also says flu activity is fading statewide.
Rochester, MN's local news source.
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December 23, 2009
December 20, 2009
NFL to ask its players to donate brains for study
Associated Press
The NFL is partnering with Boston University brain researchers who have been critical of the league’s stance on concussions, The Associated Press has learned.
The league is going to encourage current and former NFL players to agree to donate their brains to the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed the league also is committed to giving $1 million or more to the center. Aiello said the league has held discussions with the NFL Alumni Association about suggesting retired players look into participating in BU’s work.
The BU group has said it found links between repeated head trauma and brain damage in boxers, football players and, most recently, a former NHL player.
December 18, 2009
Air quality alert issued for southern 2/3 of Minn.
Associated Press
ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality advisory for the southern two-thirds of Minnesota.
High pressure over Wisconsin will result in calm winds and a strong temperature inversion over Minnesota, trapping fine particles near the surface. Air Quality Index levels are forecast to reach unhealthy levels on Friday.
People with respiratory or cardiovascular problems, young children, the elderly and physically active people are the most sensitive to air pollution.
Air quality is expected to improve over the weekend as winds increase and clean air flows in.
Area Catholic diocese to restore distribution of consecrated wine
Catholic churches in the Rochester area will begin offering consecrated wine to parishioners again, starting on Christmas Eve, following a decision by the bishop of the Winona Diocese regarding the state’s progress in containing the spread of the H1N1 flu virus. The bishop had directed parishes to stop the distribution in October due to the spread of the H1N1 flu virus.
December 17, 2009
H1N1 vaccination session in Rochester draws over 2,000
An H1N1 vaccination session held at Century High School this afternoon drew 2,465 people, according to an initial report. The clinic was open to anyone, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
December 16, 2009
Minnesota has 6 more H1N1 flu deaths
BLAINE, Minn. — Hundreds of people turned out for a mass swine flu clinic in Anoka County on Wednesday, the first day anyone in Minnesota could get vaccinated with the state Health Department’s blessing. The clinic was scheduled to start at 1 p.m., but nurses started giving flu shots and squirting nasal mists to early arrivals nearly two hours before the official start. An official said 150 people had been vaccinated by 1:15 p.m. and about 500 by 3:30 p.m.
December 14, 2009
Minnesota Health Department opens H1N1 flu shots to all
Everyone in Minnesota will be eligible for the H1N1 flu vaccine under new guidelines announced today by the Minnesota Health Department. After restricting the vaccine to certain priority groups, the department now says public and private clinics can offer it to anyone if they have enough for priority patients. Health Commissioner Dr. Sagne Magnan said the decision to expand vaccinations for swine flu, also called H1N1, rests with the health care providers.
December 7, 2009
EPA declares greenhouses gases a danger
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — U.S. officials: EPA will declare greenhouse gases a danger to human health that must be regulated.
December 3, 2009
Mayo Clinic lifts hospital visitation restrictions effective Friday
Mayo Clinic has seen a decrease in patients with influenza-like illness and hospital admissions with flu, so it is lifting its temporary restrictions on hospital visitation beginning Friday.
Since seasonal influenza cases will start occurring by the end of December, Mayo says its staff will:
• Restrict visitors who are coughing, sneezing, have a runny nose, fever, or sore throat
• Promote hand hygiene — all visitors must clean their hands before and after visiting with hand sanitizer or soap and water.
December 2, 2009
H1N1 flu activity continues to drop in Minn.; 10 die of flu
Ten more people in Minnesota have died of the flu, although the Minnesota Health Department reports other statistics indicate flu infections are dropping off. The department released new statistics today with seven more deaths from the H1N1 flu, two from unspecified kinds of the flu and the season’s first seasonal flu death.
There have now been 39 deaths associated with swine flu, five from unspecified flu types and one from seasonal flu. That’s a total of 45. However, there were no flu outbreaks in schools during the last full week of November, the first time that’s happened in about 10 weeks. School outbreaks have been dropping steadily.
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