5 posts tagged “2006”
although i'm bitter about having to be here in clinic yesterday and today, I'm sure glad i'm not sick like the folks i'm seeing here...
Many other things to give thanks for as well:
- health in our family
- a home to keep out of the bitter cold, unlike the folks whose faces we painted at Bread of Life EPA yesterday
- fun stuff to do with the kids like ride a minature steam train yesterday (Aidan couldn't get enough)
- great Thanksgiving food at Bread of Life EPA yesterday -- better than the Boston Market our clinic catered in for us yesterday, or the pizza today
- lots of fun consulting to keep me dreaming of how to make healthcare better using technology
- a wonderful pastor at church to shoot the breeze with
- a group of guys to support each other in a small bible study
- an active group of young parents to volunteer with on their board, the Palo Alto Menlo Park Parents Club
- an active neighborhood playgroup
- Nally's preschool friends to enjoy birthdays and lunches with
- a vibrant extended family that's always surprising me with the energy they have to do medical missions, start new companies and venture firms
- a fun hobby of blogging that's turned professional over at Healthline, who'd knew people would like me to write?
- satisfying lectures in Wash DC on disaster informatics & blogging, in Palo Alto on pandemic flu and toddler safety and disaster preparedness
- a quiet Thanksgiving in clinic to be able to reflect on all of those, although a busy Black Friday here today
Dine Downtown Palo Alto 2006 participants:
Restaurant Cost for Lunch Dinner
Three Seasons 23 34
Spago 22 54
Osteria 22 32
Maddalena's 21 42
Zibibbo 20 39
Il Fornaio 18 35
Nola's 17 28
MacArthur Park 16 36
Blue Chalk Caf 16 23
Gordon Biersch 14 24
Caffe del Doge either is $20/1 person $30/2 persons
cheese/wine/dessert/coffee or salami/wine/dessert/coffee
Coupa Cafe
Hukilau
La Strada
Lavanda
? 34 ate there tonight, packed @ 9pm: great brandade, spicy cantalope soup, tagliatelle with porcini, chocolate torte. My cousin Alan Choi had the same, but app of overdone tuna in a flavorful virgin olive oil, and halibut in a nice seafood broth. the bread with ricotta&thyme spread was light and yummy.
Mantra
Poolside Sheraton
Soleil @ Westin
University Cafe
pics from Lavanda:
Zibibbo's been inconsistent the last couple times we've gone. I think I'll give it a pass this August but here's their menu:
Next monday's menu at Osteria, they do this all year round, not just during August's Dine Downtown Palo Alto:
This is a bulletin distributed to all physicians in Santa Clara County on 7/14/06. Brackets indicate editorial comments. There is NO SPECIFIC TREATMENT for West Nile Virus. Prevention is the best policy.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> -------------------------
> [As of July 14,] five (5) pools of mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus
> (WNV) were identified [the week of 7/10] in Santa Clara County, and thus far
> twenty-four (24) dead birds in the County have tested positive for WNV [now
> over 40]. All of the WNV-positive mosquitoes and a majority of the dead birds
> were found in the area around Prospect Road and Johnson Avenue, near the
> border between San Jose and Saratoga. In addition, eight other California
> counties have already reported WNV-positive dead birds this year, and ten
> other counties have reported WNV-positive mosquito pools. One human case of
> WNV has been reported from Kern County in 2006.
>
> The virus is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. Most
> mosquito activity peaks in early fall; however, winter mosquito species are
> also capable of transmitting the virus and WNV should remain a consideration
> even during the winter months. The Santa Clara County Vector Control District
> conducts ongoing WNV surveillance in birds and mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are
> collected for testing, and sentinel chickens flocks are monitored for evidence
> of viral infection. Dead bird reporting also provides early warning for the
> presence of WNV. The top four species of wild birds affected by WNV are
> American crows, Western scrub-jays, yellow- billed magpies, and Steller's
> jays.
>
> Prevention
>
> The best way to prevent WNV infection is to prevent the bite of an infected
> mosquito. Patients should be advised to:
>
> 1. DRAIN or DUMP standing water weekly since that's where mosquitoes lay
> eggs. Check items that can hold as little as an inch of water such as
> flowerpots & planter bases, outside toys, cans, leaky water faucets &
> sprinklers, buckets, and kiddie pools.
>
> 2. Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. REPAIR any
> holes or rips; and treat screens and door jambs with products labeled for
> mosquito control.
>
> 3. Limit outdoor activities or take precautions to prevent bites during
> DUSK & DAWN. Those are the times of day when the mosquitoes are most active.
>
> 4. During outdoor activities when mosquitoes are active, apply an insect
> repellent with the ingredient D.E.E.T. or Picaridan. Oil of lemon eucalyptus
> is another alternative that provides protection similar to repellents with low
> concentrations of DEET. And don't forget to apply the insect repellent every
> time you go outside according to the label's instructions.
>
> 5. Lastly, DRESS in long sleeves and pants during dawn and dusk or in
> areas where mosquitoes are active.
>
>
> Santa Clara County Vector Control District Mosquito Abatement
>
> The Santa Clara County Vector Control District will conduct limited nocturnal
> fogging in areas with proven infected mosquito pools using Pyrenone 25-5
> insecticide. This product contains pyrethrin, a botanically based pesticide
> commonly used in flea shampoos, as well as piperonyl butoxide, a chemical
> synergist. The pesticide will be disbursed in very low concentrations and
> only after informing the affected communities.
>
> Clinical Discussion of Illness
>
> The spectrum of disease caused by WNV ranges from asymptomatic infection,
> which is most common (approximately 80% of those infected), to West Nile fever
> (approximately 20% of those infected), to severe infection manifesting as
> encephalitis, meningitis or flaccid paralysis (less than 1% of those
> infected).
>
> West Nile fever (20% of those infected)
> Of the 20% of infected persons who do develop symptoms, most develop an
> illness known as "West Nile fever." The incubation of clinical disease is
> thought to range from 3 to 14 days. West Nile Fever was initially described as
> a mild illness, with symptoms lasting for 3 to 6 days, but more recent reports
> suggest that in some cases, the illness may be more severe than previously
> documented with 50% of patients reporting continued fatigue 30 days after
> symptom onset (Ann Int Med. 2004;141:360-365). Symptoms most commonly
> associated with West Nile Fever include fatigue (96%), fever (81%), headache
> (71%), muscle aches (61%), and rash (56%).
>
> Severe Infection (less than 1% of those infected)
> Approximately 1 in 150 infections result in severe neurological disease.
> Approximately 60-75% of those with severe neurological disease have
> encephalitis or meningoencephalitis and 25-30% have meningitis. More recently,
> a flaccid paralysis syndrome, West Nile poliomyelitis has also been described,
> but it is much less common than the other presentations of neuroinvasive
> disease. Headache can be a prominent feature of WNV fever, meningitis or
> encephalitis and is therefore not a useful indicator of neuroinvasive disease.
> * Encephalitis or meningoencephalitis is usually characterized by fever and
> headache as well as more global symptoms such as altered mental status
> (lethargy, confusion or coma). Focal neurological deficits, including limb
> paralysis and cranial nerve palsies, may be observed. Tremors and movement
> disorders have also been noted.
> * Aseptic meningitis usually involves fever, headache, and stiff neck.
> Pleocytosis is present. Altered mental status is unusual, and mild when
> present.
> * West Nile poliomyelitis is a flaccid paralysis syndrome characterized by
> acute onset of asymmetric limb weakness or paralysis in the absence of sensory
> loss. Pain sometimes precedes the paralysis. The paralysis can occur in the
> absence of fever, headache, or other common symptoms associated with WNV
> infection. Involvement of respiratory muscles, leading to acute respiratory
> failure, can sometimes occur.
>
>
>
> ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFO:
> Santa Clara County Vector Control District: 408-918-4770
> Santa Clara County West Nile Virus Hotline: 800-314-2427
> Santa Clara County Public Health Department: www.sccphd.org
> <http://www.sccphd.org/> California West Nile Virus Surveillance Information
> Center: www.westnile.ca.gov
> <http://www.westnile.ca.gov/> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
> www.cdc.gov/westnile
> <http://www.cdc.gov/westnile%A0>
