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Delaware News



  Category: Division of Public Health


Flu is in Delaware! DPH Announces Influenza Cases Just Before Official Start of 2018-2019 season

Division of Public Health | News | Date Posted: Tuesday, September 11, 2018

The Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing two laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza, just three weeks before the official start of the 2018-2019 flu season, which begins September 30.




DPH Officials Concerned Regarding Increasing Spread of West Nile Virus As They Announce Third Case In a Human

Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | News | Date Posted: Thursday, September 6, 2018

Division of Public Health (DPH) officials are concerned about the increasing number of cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) in humans this year. DPH is announcing that WNV is confirmed in a 73-year-old New Castle County man, who has been hospitalized since late August. This is the third case of WNV confirmed in humans in the last month. The first case involved a 60-year-old Sussex County man, and the second a 68-year-old New Castle County man. Additionally, DPH is awaiting results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a fourth potential case of the disease. Last week, the Delaware Department of Agriculture announced two cases of WNV in horses.




Drinking Water Notice Issued to Water Customers in Lewes After Lead Levels Exceed EPA Action Level

Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | News | Date Posted: Thursday, August 30, 2018

The Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing that the Lewes Board of Public Works (BPW) has issued a drinking water notice to customers after tests showed elevated levels of lead in the water. DPH received notification late last week from BPW that drinking water samples collected in August showed an exceedance of the EPA Action Level for lead. Lab analysis found that the 90th percentile result of 26.5 ug/L exceeded the EPA Action Level of 15 ug/L. Sampling consisted of 10 samples collected in different parts of the BPW service area with results ranging from non-detect to 38.4 ug/L.




DPH Encourages Delawareans to Take Rabies Prevention Seriously After Death of Kent County Woman

Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | News | Date Posted: Tuesday, August 28, 2018

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), and Department of Agriculture (DDA) are asking residents to increase efforts to prevent exposure to rabies after the death of a Kent County woman from the disease. The woman, who lived west of Felton, is the second Delawarean to contract, and subsequently pass away from, the disease. The first was a young boy from Newport, who passed away in 1941 after being bitten by a stray dog.




DPH Investigating Outbreak of Whooping Cough in Kent County; Urging Residents to Get Vaccinated

Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | News | Date Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2018

The Division of Public Health (DPH) is investigating an outbreak of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, in Kent County. Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease transmitted by coughing or sneezing, or coming in direct contact with respiratory secretions of infected persons. The most common symptom is uncontrollable coughing spells often followed by a characteristic “whoop” sound. The disease can cause severe illness in infants and young children.







  Category: Division of Public Health

Flu is in Delaware! DPH Announces Influenza Cases Just Before Official Start of 2018-2019 season

Division of Public Health | News | Date Posted: Tuesday, September 11, 2018

The Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing two laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza, just three weeks before the official start of the 2018-2019 flu season, which begins September 30.




DPH Officials Concerned Regarding Increasing Spread of West Nile Virus As They Announce Third Case In a Human

Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | News | Date Posted: Thursday, September 6, 2018

Division of Public Health (DPH) officials are concerned about the increasing number of cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) in humans this year. DPH is announcing that WNV is confirmed in a 73-year-old New Castle County man, who has been hospitalized since late August. This is the third case of WNV confirmed in humans in the last month. The first case involved a 60-year-old Sussex County man, and the second a 68-year-old New Castle County man. Additionally, DPH is awaiting results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a fourth potential case of the disease. Last week, the Delaware Department of Agriculture announced two cases of WNV in horses.




Drinking Water Notice Issued to Water Customers in Lewes After Lead Levels Exceed EPA Action Level

Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | News | Date Posted: Thursday, August 30, 2018

The Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing that the Lewes Board of Public Works (BPW) has issued a drinking water notice to customers after tests showed elevated levels of lead in the water. DPH received notification late last week from BPW that drinking water samples collected in August showed an exceedance of the EPA Action Level for lead. Lab analysis found that the 90th percentile result of 26.5 ug/L exceeded the EPA Action Level of 15 ug/L. Sampling consisted of 10 samples collected in different parts of the BPW service area with results ranging from non-detect to 38.4 ug/L.




DPH Encourages Delawareans to Take Rabies Prevention Seriously After Death of Kent County Woman

Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | News | Date Posted: Tuesday, August 28, 2018

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), and Department of Agriculture (DDA) are asking residents to increase efforts to prevent exposure to rabies after the death of a Kent County woman from the disease. The woman, who lived west of Felton, is the second Delawarean to contract, and subsequently pass away from, the disease. The first was a young boy from Newport, who passed away in 1941 after being bitten by a stray dog.




DPH Investigating Outbreak of Whooping Cough in Kent County; Urging Residents to Get Vaccinated

Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | News | Date Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2018

The Division of Public Health (DPH) is investigating an outbreak of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, in Kent County. Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease transmitted by coughing or sneezing, or coming in direct contact with respiratory secretions of infected persons. The most common symptom is uncontrollable coughing spells often followed by a characteristic “whoop” sound. The disease can cause severe illness in infants and young children.