State health officials say there is no relation between this outbreak and the mumps outbreak that began last summer in Orange and Rockland counties.

To prevent the spread of the outbreak in Plattsburgh, the Health Department  recommends all students who have not received two doses of mumps vaccine be excluded from attending SUNY Plattsburgh until they are fully vaccinated and orcan show evidence of immunity.

Mumps symptoms include fever, headache, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, and swelling and tenderness of one or more of the salivary glands situated along the angle of the jaw and inside the mouth.

The Stellaris Health Network announced today that it has reached an agreement with CIGNA HealthCare on a provider contract, effective April 1, 2010.  Under the multi-year agreement, CIGNA customers will continue to have access to Stellaris Health Network hospitals as in-network providers.

The Stellaris Health Network consists of Lawrence Hospital Center  in Bronxville, Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, Phelps Memorial Hospital Center  in Sleepy Hollow and White Plains Hospital Center.

The four hospitals are still however in contract negotiations with the state’s largest insurance company, Empire BlueCross and BlueShield. Letters went out to several Empire members alerting them that if an agreement isn’t reached in the next few weeks that Stellaris will discontinue accepting the insurance plan for elective procedures effective April 1.

Stay tuned.

“My intention for this legislation was to prohibit the use of salt as an additive to meals. If salt is a functional component of the recipe, by all means, it should be included. But, when we have meals prepared by restaurants that pile unecessary amounts of salt, we have a problem.”

Meanwhile, chefs and others seem to be having a hard time digesting a plan that would prohibit cooking without salt. Read the story I wrote in The Journal News/LoHud.com.

An annual report card issued by the Long Term Care Community Coalition, a consumer watchdog and advocacy group, gave the New York State Senate a D+ for its performance this year.

“The Senate, overall, has once again been mostly moribund. Our hope that new leadership would lead to much needed progressive action were not fulfilled,” said the report, which was issued today.

The group gave Gov. David Paterson a B+; the state Assembly a C and the state’s Office of the Aging an A-.

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s office received high marks, an A, for its Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and for working “diligently and aggressively to investigate nursing home abuse and neglect,” the report said.

The “It’s Always Something” contest, sponsored by Gilda’s Club of Westchester,  is open to anyone who currently attends a local high school.  Students must submit completed entries by mail and postmarked by April 1, 2010.  Essays must be typed, double-spaced and limited to 500-2000 words.

Judges includes Tony-nominated actress Vanessa Williams; Kurt Loder, MTV News anchor; Diane Rodriguez, WNBC’s “Today In New York anchor; Phil Lipof, WABC news anchor; and Marissa Grumer, Seventeen Magazine Fashion Market Editor.

A reception for all entrants will be held at Gilda’s Club Westchester on May 3, 2010 at 6:30pm

Gilda’s Club Westchester is a free cancer support community for anyone impacted by cancer (men, women, teens and children, along with their friends and family).

For entry forms and contest information, please contact Amy Mlodzianowski at Gilda’s Club Westchester, 914-644-8844 or e-mail, amlodzianowski/@gildasclubwestchester.org.

Facing a cancer diagnosis is difficult enough; worrying about how to get to weekly or daily doctor’s appointments shouldn’t be a concern.

Road to Recovery is an American Cancer Society service program that provides transportation for cancer patients to their cancer life-saving treatments and home again.  Volunteer drivers are urgently needed in Westchester County.

The lack of transportation has become a major problem for thousands of cancer patients. Many need daily or weekly treatment, often over the course of several months and they don’t have transportation or are simply too ill to drive.

The American Cancer Society provides a straightforward training program and arranges for volunteers to meet with each other throughout the year. Road to Recovery volunteer driving requires no special skills or education – just a safe driving record, a valid Driver’s license, some free time, a vehicle in good working condition, and the desire to help.

Interested drivers should contact Alison Suggs, Manager of Patient and Family Services at the American Cancer Society, at 1-800-ACS-2345 or alison.suggs@cancer.org.

Do you know anyone who has gone above and beyond the expected to tackle a public health problem?

If so, the Westchester County Board of Health would like to consider him or her for the 2010 Distinguished Public Health Service Award.  Nominations for this year’s award will be accepted until Feb. 8.

The Distinguished Public Health Service Award is presented annually during Public Health Week in early April to an individual or community-based organization that exemplifies a commitment to public health and has served the community with distinction during the past year.

“Recipients of the Distinguished Public Health Service Award are true humanitarians,” said Dr. Douglas Aspros, president of the Westchester County Board of Health.  “As individuals and community agencies, they have recognized the mission of public health in our county and have responded with creativity and generosity to assist the Board of Health in accomplishing its mission to promote public health in Westchester.”

Past recipients of the Distinguished Public Health Award have included: African American Men of Westchester, Inc., 2009; Reverend Hugh Farrish and the Port Chester/Town of Rye Council of Community Services, 2008; and the Rye YMCA Activate America Program, 2007.

For more information, or to obtain a nomination form, visit the Westchester County Department of Health’s website at www.westchestergov.com/health or call (914) 813-5000.

Cervical cancer is almost always caused by persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) which is a common virus that can be spread through sexual contact. There usually aren’t any symptoms for cervical cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage, so it is important for women to get a Pap test (also called a Pap smear) regularly. The Pap test can pervent cervical cancer or find it early.

Uninsured women 40 and older are especially encouraged to attend. Participatants can enroll in the program’s free breast, cervical and colorectal screening services, Health officials say.

The Cancer Services Program of Putnam County is fundd by the state Health Department and is in collarboration with the county Health Department and the American Cancer Society.

Anyone 10 years or older is eligible for the vaccine. No appointments are necessary. The cost is $20 per person.

For more information go to www.ryerx.com.

Just two weeks remain until the Dec. 31 deadline to enroll in the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage plan for 2010.

Seniors who may want to change their coverage but are not sure what to do should call the county’s free Medicare Information Line for advice at (914) 813-6100.

Callers will be able to speak in English or Spanish with trained counselors from Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services to find the plan that best fits their needs. In addition to Part D, the counselors can answer questions about other Medicare-related topics, such as Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap insurance and appeals.

Callers can also receive information about the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program. EPIC is a New York State-sponsored plan that helps eligible seniors pay prescription drug costs.

The Medicare Information Line is open year-round, and some 2,000 seniors have called for assistance so far this year.