Tagged: public health

An environmental group's annual look at water quality at the nation's vacation beaches rates Louisiana's among the most contaminated.

The report by the Natural Resources Defense Council says 29 percent of water samples taken at Louisiana beaches showed elevated bacterial levels.

The national average is 8 percent.

An analysis of the report by The Times-Picayune (http://bit.ly/Ok1i3C) shows high bacteria levels were found in 44 percent of water samples collected at five Cameron Parish beaches.

BATON ROUGE — Officials at Louisiana's health department are looking for ways to cut $859 million from the state's Medicaid program for the poor and uninsured. It would strip 11 percent of the funding for health services. 

HOUMA — Terrebonne Parish voters will be asked this fall for permission to use taxpayer money to build a new Terrebonne Parish Health Unit. The Parish Council has unanimously agreed to add the measure to the Nov. 6 ballot. 

New Orleans officials say West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes collected in the city.

No human West Nile cases have been reported in New Orleans so far this year, although one human case has been reported in St. Bernard Parish.

Most people infected do not get sick. However some develop flu-like symptoms and a few will develop serious illness.

The city of New Orleans is stepping up efforts to help residents get fit. The plan calls for more movement and less junk food.