Media Releases
2006

LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS OUTLINE PLANS TO COMBAT ILLNESS OUTBREAK AT WARWICK SCHOOL Media Release: December 30, 2006

Norovirus (Gastrointestinal Illness) Present in Rhode Island; Preventive Measures Recommended Media Release: December 27, 2006

Soft-Cheese Alert: Two Kinds of Cheese Made With Unpasteurized Milk, Sold in RI Media Release: December 22, 2006

RI Health Department Advisory Not to Consume Prepared Foods Purchased at Compare Foods, 863 Broad St., Providence, RI Media Release: December 15, 2006

HEALTH Grants South County Hospital Permission to Establish Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization Service Media Release: December 15, 2006

Poison Prevention Tips for the Holidays Media Release: December 15, 2006

Steps to Prevent Foodborne Illness (Salmonella, Campylobacter) from Chicken Media Release: December 8, 2006

Flu Cases Expected to Increase in RI Over Next Few Weeks; Plenty of Vaccine Still Available in the State Media Release: November 30, 2006

Preventing Foodborne Illness During the Holidays Media Release: November 20, 2006

Birds Eye Foods is Voluntarily Recalling Frozen Cooked Winter Squash Due to Potential Contamination Media Release: November 17, 2006

National Leader in Worksite Wellness Research to Speak at HEALTH; Program is Free and Open to the Public and Media Media Release: November 16, 2006

Governor Carcieri and HEALTH Release First Statewide Report on Family & Resident Satisfaction for Nursing Home Care in Rhode Island Media Release: November 15, 2006

Medical Examiner Amends Cause of 1964 Death from Suicide to Homicide; Second Autopsy Identified Previously Overlooked Gunshot Wound to Head Media Release: November 15, 2006

HEALTH Announces Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program; Protects Health and Prevents Pollution Media Release: November 10, 2006

Halloween Safety Tips Media Release: October 27, 2006

Horse Stabled at Tennessee Walking Horse 2006 National Celebration Tested Positive for Rabies; Individuals Who May Have Been Exposed to Rabid Horse Should Call For Assessment Media Release: September 11, 2006

Misleading Advertisement For Hand Washing Signage In Food Service Establishments Media Release: September 5, 2006

Vibrio vulnificus found in Narragansett Bay Media Advisory: August 4, 2006

HEALTH and Other Partners to Present Breastfeeding-Friendly
Workplace Awards during World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7) Media Release: August 2, 2006

HEALTH Issues Heat Advisory Media Release: August 2, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Closings Media Release: August 1, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Closings Media Release: July 29, 2006

HEALTH Confirms Powder Found at Death Scenes Contains Fentanyl; Fentanyl in Combination with Illegal Drugs is Extremely Lethal Media Release: July 27, 2006

HEALTH and Wayland Square Surgicare, Inc. Reach Agreement on Charity Care Media Release: July 25, 2006

First Lady Suzanne Carcieri Launches the Capitol Hill Farmers' Market Media Release: July 25, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Closings Media Release: July 19, 2006

Middletown Sewer Main Repair Completed; Voluntary Water Usage Restriction Ends Media Release: July 12, 2006

Middletown Sewer Main Break: Updates from 10:20PM Tuesday Night and 6:00AM Wednesday Morning Media Release: July 12, 2006

Middletown Sewer Break- Update Media Release: July 11, 2006 4:25PM

HEALTH Recommends Beach Closings Media Release: July 11, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Openings Media Release: July 10, 2006

"Immunize for Life" Vaccination Clinics Media Release: July 10, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Openings / Closings Media Release: July 7, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Closings Media Release: July 6, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Closings / Openings Media Release: July 1, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Closings / Openings Media Release: June 29, 2006

Financial Health of Rhode Island Hospitals is Improving According to Report by HEALTH Media Release: June 29, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Openings Media Release: June 27, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Closings Media Release: June 25, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Opening Media Release: June 23, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Closing Media Release: June 21, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Openings Media Release: June 20, 2006

"Immunize for Life" Vaccination Clinics Media Release: June 19, 2006

State Chief Medical Examiner Releases New Data on Injuries in Rhode Island at Injury Prevention Forum Media Release: June 19, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Openings Media Release: June 17, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Closings / Openings Media Release: June 16, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Closings Media Release: June 15, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Openings Media Release: June 13, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Openings Media Release: June 11, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Closings Media Release: June 8, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Closings Media Release: June 7, 2006

HEALTH Recommends Beach Closings Media Release: June 6, 2006

HEALTH Announces Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program
Media Release: June 5, 2006

HEALTH Announces Extension of Expiration Dates for Online Renewals of Certain License Categories Media Release: June 1, 2006

Health Department Releases 2005 Hospital Financial Dataset Media Release: May 15, 2006

HEALTH Co-Sponsors Grow Smart RI’s “Power of Place” Summit; Gifford Makes the Connection Between Healthy Environments and Healthy Lifestyles Media Release: May 10, 2006

Rhode Island Reports Progress on Influenza Pandemic Planning Media Release: May 4, 2006

National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week Media Release: April 24, 2006

HEALTH Announces Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program: Protects Health and Prevents Pollution Media Release: April 24, 2006

Rhode Island Celebrates National Minority Health Month in April; HEALTH and Community Agencies Partner to Eliminate Health Disparities Media Release: April 17, 2006

Departments of Health and Education Announce Improvement in Health Risk Behaviors Among Public High School Students Media Release: April 11, 2006

HEALTH Confirms Norovirus in Northern RI Gastrointestinal Outbreak Media Release: April 5, 2006

Rhode Island Department of Health Hosts Innovative Workshop to Promote Physical Activity and Reduce Childhood Obesity in Celebration of National Public Health Week Media Advisory: April 4, 2006

HEALTH Investigating Cluster of Gastrointestinal Illness Media Release: April 3, 2006

Medical Marijuana Program Regulations Filed Media Release: March 31, 2006

The RI Health Department Ends Boil Water Advisory For North Smithfield Residents Served By Blackstone Water System Media Release: March 30, 2006

Pandemic Flu Planning Funding Heard Today by House Finance Committee Media Release: March 30, 2006

RI HEALTH Downgrades Do-Not-Use Order to Boil-Water Advisory for North Smithfield Residents Served by Blackstone Water System Media Relaese: March 29, 2006

News Update: Security Breach in Blackstone Water System, MA Media Release: March 28, 2006

Security Breach in Blackstone Water System, MA; Potential Contamination in System That Serves 83 RI Households Media Release: March 28, 2006

Seasonal Influenza is Now Widespread in Rhode Island; Some Influenza Vaccine Is Still Available In the State Media Release: March 16, 2006

Rhode Island Reaches Youth Smoking Milestone Ahead of Schedule Media Release: March 16, 2006

Indiana Firm Recalls Frozen Stuffed Chicken Entrees Associated With Illnesses Media Release: March 15, 2006

New Jersey Firm Recalls Chicken Noodle Soup Product Due To Undeclared Allergen Media Release: March 15, 2006

Ho's Trading Inc. Recalls Fortune Star White Fungus Media Release: March 15, 2006

Chariho Schools Lead the Way with Healthful Food Choices for Students Media Release: March 13, 2006

North Kingstown School Health and Wellness Council to Survey Nutrition and Physical Activity Practices in Local Schools Media Release: March 13, 2006

Gifford Appoints New Chief Medical Examiner; New Medical Examiner Is Current City Medical Examiner for Manhattan, NY Media Release: March 8, 2006

Vision Screening Now Required for Children Entering Kindergarten Media Release: February 28, 2006

Director of Health Says Jury’s Lead Paint Decision Opportunity to Finally Eliminate Lead Poisoning in Children Media Release: February 22, 2006

RI Health Department Evaluates Commercial Health Plans; High Rates of Emergency Department Use Suggest Imbalance in Health Care System Media Release: February 8, 2006

Director of Health, David Gifford, Presents CDC Award to Chair of Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition Media Release: February 6, 2006

Final Public Vaccination Clinics for This Flu Season Scheduled Media Release: February 1, 2006

HEALTH Examines Roger Williams Medical Center’s License Renewal Media Release: January 20, 2006

Rhode Island Ranks Ninth in the Country In Report Card on the State of Emergency Medicine Media Release: January 11, 2006