DPH Encourages Delawareans to Take Rabies Prevention Seriously After Death of Kent County Woman
Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | Newsroom | 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 | Newsroom | 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.
DPH Announces Second Human Case of West Nile Virus; Urges Delaware Residents to Avoid Mosquito Bites
Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | Newsroom | Date Posted: Wednesday, August 22, 2018
The Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing the state’s second human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in 2018. WNV, a mosquito-borne illness, can become serious, and DPH reminds people to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Raccoon in Hockessin Tests Positive for Rabies
Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | Newsroom | Date Posted: Thursday, August 9, 2018
Delaware’s Division of Public Health (DPH) is warning Hockessin residents in the Highland Meadows area (from Brackenville Road to Sharpless Road) of a positive case of rabies in a raccoon that came into contact with two dogs recently. The raccoon was captured and brought to the DPH Lab, where test results on Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, confirmed it had rabies.
Sussex County Man Tests Positive for West Nile Virus
Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | Newsroom | Date Posted: Thursday, August 9, 2018
The Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing that a 60-year-old Sussex County man has tested positive for the state’s first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in 2018. The man was briefly hospitalized for illness in July and after a preliminary positive test result from the DPH Laboratory in Smyrna, the blood sample was sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for confirmatory testing. WNV, a mosquito-borne illness, can become serious, and DPH reminds people to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
