JACKSON — The new Mississippi State Public Health Laboratory currently under construction will now bear the name of the health official who pushed for its completion – former State Health Officer Dr. Ed Thompson.
Thompson served as state health officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) from 1993 to 2002 and was named [...] [...]

JACKSON — Dr. Paul Byers has been named Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) acting state epidemiologist. The position was previously held by State Health Officer Dr. Mary Currier.
“Dr. Byers has worked in public health for more than 15 years, and we’ve worked side-by-side for several years in the epidemiology office,” said Dr. Mary Currier. [...] [...]
The seventh-annual “Ready or Not? Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism” report, released by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), found that the H1N1 flu outbreak has exposed serious underlying gaps in the nation’s ability to respond to public health emergencies and that the economic [...] [...]
JACKSON — The 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) injectable and nasal mist vaccine is now available to the general public, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH). Both the injectable vaccine and the nasal mist vaccine are free at all county health departments. Some private providers and pharmacies also have the 2009 H1N1 (swine [...] [...]

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) announces the availability of the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) injectable vaccine to all designated priority groups. The groups are pregnant women, children six months through 24 years of age, those living with or caring for an infant less than six months of age, healthcare and [...] [...]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has confirmed the presence of 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in a pig sample collected at the Minnesota State Fair submitted by the University of Minnesota. Additional samples are being tested.
“We have fully engaged our trading partners to remind them that several [...] [...]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories will be conducting confirmatory testing on swine samples collected at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair between Aug. 26-Sept. 1.
The pigs sampled at the time showed no signs of illness and were apparently healthy. The samples collected were part of a University of Iowa [...] [...]
ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Seasonal flu shots are now available at all Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) county clinics. The seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for anyone age six months and older.
“This year it is important for everyone to get both the seasonal and swine flu vaccines,” said MSDH state epidemiologist Dr. Mary Currier. [...] [...]
QUITMAN COUNTY — The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reports one additional human case of West Nile virus (WNV) for 2009, bringing the state’s total to 47 with four deaths. The new case is in Quitman County.
The MSDH reports both confirmed and probable cases to the public.
Since July 2009, WNV cases have been reported [...] [...]
TYLERTOWN and BILOXI — Three years after establishing a health information center inside the Jackson Medical Mall Thad Cochran Center, the National Institute of Health (NIH) is expanding its services to reach more people statewide with its Mississippi Health Literacy Network. The network establishes satellite health literacy resource centers in both Tylertown and Biloxi.
“Our plan [...] [...]