~ Preparedness Plans in Place to Ensure Detection, Care~

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Health (DOH) continues to closely monitor the influenza A H7N9 outbreak in China and is prepared to activate the agency’s pandemic response team should it be recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). No influenza A H7N9 cases have been reported in the United States, however, the Department is being proactive by highlighting CDC guidance for testing and diagnosis of influenza A H7N9 to health care professionals to ensure detection of possible cases in Florida and to provide the best possible care if needed.

“Our Department is actively monitoring developments in China with H7N9,” said Dr. John Armstrong, State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health. “Florida is ready to respond quickly to any public health crisis.” 

According to the CDC, avian influenza A viruses usually do not infect humans, however, rare cases of human infection with avian influenza A viruses have been reported. Most human infections have occurred following direct or close contact with infected poultry and are not transferred from person to person.

Floridians traveling to China should follow some basic safety steps: wash hands often or use hand sanitizer; avoid contact with eyes, nose and mouth; eat meats and poultry products, including eggs, only if they have been cooked thoroughly; avoid touching animals, alive or dead, and stay away from farms, poultry markets, or other markets where animals are present.

If travelers returning from China become ill, they should advise their healthcare provider right away about their recent travel. Symptoms of influenza A H7N9 flu include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Travelers can visit www.cdc.gov/travel for up-to-date information about CDC’s travel recommendations.

Additional information about the H7N9 virus is available by visiting http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/h7n9-virus.htm

DOH protects, promotes and improves the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For news story ideas, interviews, videos and more from DOH Communications visit the DOH Online Newsroom.

ORLANDO – The Florida Department of Health in Orange and Seminole Counties are teaming up to highlight awareness about the prevention, transmission, and treatment of Tuberculosis as part of World TB Day 2012. World TB Day, falling on March 24th each year, is designed to build public awareness that tuberculosis remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing the deaths of nearly one-and-a-half million people each year, mostly in developing countries.

For the second year, the Florida Department of Health joins the global Stop TB Partnership in adopting the slogan “Stop TB in my lifetime.” This slogan goes with the theme of calling for a world free of TB. This two-year campaign allows us to build upon the messages and resources developed during the last World TB Day. Both the slogan and theme encourage people all over the world, from the youngest to the oldest, to make an individual call for the elimination of TB, and say what changes they expect to take place in their lifetimes.

In Seminole County, information on TB control and treatment will be displayed at the health department in Sanford located at 400 W. Airport Boulevard, Sanford, Florida, 32773 on Monday, March 25^th, in recognition of World TB Day.  In Orange County, information on TB control and treatment will be available at the health department’s Central Health Center at 832 West Central Boulevard. 

The Department of Health strives to achieve the Florida System of Tuberculosis Care’s goal of reducing the TB rate in Florida by 50 percent by 2020 and eventually eliminating TB in the state. DOH’s Tuberculosis Program serves as the foundation of the agency’s role in the Florida System of Tuberculosis Care. The program is responsible for ensuring a statewide program that meets national standards for TB elimination through policy development, allocation of resources to support program implementation, monitoring of TB trends and program evaluation.

“In their lifetimes, today's children should expect to see a world where no one gets sick with TB. In their lifetimes, women and men should expect to see a world where no one dies from TB,” said Lesli Ahonkhai, Interim Administrator at the Florida Department of Health in Orange County.

In 2011, there were 10,528 TB cases reported in the US. That year Florida ranked 7th in the nation and Orange County ranked 5^th in the State of Florida for the number of active TB cases and Seminole County ranked 13^th.  

For more information on World TB Day, visit: http://www.stoptb.org/events/world_tb_day.

When: Saturday, March 16, 2013

WHERE:  Orange Buick GMC,
3883 West Colonial Drive,
Orlando, FL 32808

TIME:  11:00am – 1:00pm

 Share this with your Parents, Community Leaders, and Scout Leaders and Child Care facilities.  A saving of $10 per child!

Children must be a minimum 4 years old to participate

For more information call the Children’s Safety Village at 407-521-4673.

 Sponsored by Orange GMC

Undoing Racism Introduction Workshop

"Changing our minds to change our health - Is what we believe making us sick?"
A community dialogue on how race, beliefs, and personal biases impact our health outcomes.

Register now Online

Date – March 1, 2013
2:00pm to 4:00pm

Location – Barnett Park,
4801 West Colonial Drive, Orlando

Contact Person – Shaleana Eubanks-Worlds
Phone – (407) 741-5243

Print Workshop Flyer

Facilitated by: The People's Institue for Survival and Beyond

ORLANDO – Are you up to the challenge? Local churches and schools have accepted the challenge to live a healthy lifestyle by participating at the 7th Annual Washington Shores 5K Walk & Health Fair.  You, too, can accept the challenge and take part in the Washington Shores 5K Walk on Saturday, March 9 from 8:00am – 12:00pm at Hankins Park located at 1340 Lake Park Court, Orlando.  You may register as an individual or create a walk team. The “challenge” is for teams from churches, schools, civic organizations, and businesses.  Prizes will be given to the teams having the most participants. Register now online for the 5k walk.  

This event is collaboration between the Orange County Health Department, City of Orlando and Orlando Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc to encourage residents to live a healthier lifestyle by becoming more physically active and eating healthier.

“The Washington Shores 5K Walk has brought the community together with the common goal of getting active to live a healthy lifestyle. Walking is an excellent way to practice physical activity in order to live a healthy life”, said Dr. Kevin M. Sherin, Director of the Orange County Health Department.

Adults and children with healthy lifestyles are less likely to develop heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  Together, these conditions now comprise 62.5% of all deaths in Florida, compared to less than 20% 70 years ago. In order to help control the risk factors for stroke and other chronic diseases, it is important to live a healthy lifestyle which includes: not smoking, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, reducing stress, and visiting a doctor to monitor your health.

Attendees can also enjoy health screenings, health information, healthy snacks, cooking demonstrations, and other fun activities such as a hula hoop contest, stepping demonstration, martial arts demonstration, zumba, yoga and massages. (all this same this year?)

For more information about this event, please contact the Orange County Health Department at 407-858-1464 or visit www.orchd.com.

Join us at the

7th Annual Washington Shores 5K Walk & Health Fair (pdf 3415 kb)

March 9, 2013
On-site registration begins 8:00 a.m.
Walk begins 9:00 a.m.

Hankins Park
1340 Lake Park Court
Orlando, FL 32805  

Register Now Online!

Have you set a Goal to Become Healthier this Year?
Come join us! SATURDAY, March 9th from 8:00 - 9:30 AM (5 K Walk 9:00 - 9:40 AM)
Good for the whole family (strollers welcome!)

FREE FUN & FAMILY FESTIVITIES!

Entertainment (Radio Disney and Just Dance Too – and more!)

Join The Orange County Health Department and the City of Orlando and take one giant step toward making our communities the healthiest in the nation! Join us for this easy, 5K walk which is great for kids, grandparents and everyone in between. There is a 1 Mile course for seniors and young children.

For more information call 407-858-1464 or email theresa_madison@doh.state.fl.us.

Activities Include:

• Health screenings
• Cooking demonstration and sampling of healthy cuisine
• Fitness Assessment  
• Zumba
• Yoga
• Step demonstration
• Games for the Kids  
• Hula hoop contests (children and adults)
• Healthy snacks
• Door prizes

All participating businesses and organizations will receive a certificate

Register today for FREE! This is a 6 week program to become tobacco-free and includes nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) patches at no cost to you! Registration is required. Classes sizes are limited. To register please call 1-877-252-6094.

Classes available at:

Tuesday, February 21- March 27 5:30pm - 6:30pm
6101 Lake Ellenor Dr.
Orlando, FL 32809

Download Flyer (PDF 322kb)