NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health has received reports of 49 cases of serious lung injury among people who use electronic cigarettes or other vaping devices. This is an immediate public health concern with potentially severe consequences.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Governor Bill Lee has proclaimed October 2019 Child Health Month in Tennessee. Child Health Month is a time to celebrate and raise awareness around what Tennessee is doing to promote the health of our most important resource: Tennessee’s children.

The Blount County Health Department celebrated its centennial year of service today at the clinic in Maryville. Blount County Health Department staff members joined colleagues from the Tennessee Department of Health, Blount County officials and other community members for the event. The Blount County Health Department was established as the first public health department in Tennessee in 1919.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health is working with the United States Department of Agriculture to help prevent rabies by distributing oral rabies vaccine for wild raccoons along Tennessee’s borders with Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. The annual baiting program administered by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services will begin in Tennessee October 3, 2019.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP has appointed John Webb as deputy commissioner for operations. Webb joins TDH after serving as deputy commissioner for fiscal and administrative services with the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP has suspended new admissions of residents to The Terrace at Mountain Creek effective Sept. 5, 2019. Piercey has also imposed eight state civil monetary penalties of $3,000 each and four civil monetary penalties of $500 each for a total amount of $26,000. A special monitor has been appointed to review the facility’s operations.

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Health has reported six cases of suspected serious respiratory disease among people who use electronic cigarettes or other vaping devices. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating a cluster of severe pulmonary disease among people who use e-cigarettes or vape, with 215 cases reported to date in 25 states.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health is asking health care providers across the state to report any cases of suspected serious respiratory illness they treat among patients who use electronic cigarettes or other vaping devices. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a cluster of severe pulmonary disease among people who use e-cigarettes or vape, with more than 150 cases reported to date in 16 states.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health and numerous state and local partners continue to investigate and respond to a large, multi-state hepatitis A outbreak. More than 2,000 cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed in Tennessee, including 13 resulting in the deaths of the patients.

NASHVILLE – Alexa Witcher, JD has been appointed assistant commissioner for legislative affairs for the Tennessee Department of Health. In this role, Witcher will direct and oversee the department’s legislative efforts and initiatives. She will also coordinate with and assist legislators in public health-related issues and departmental legislative proposals.

NASHVILLE – Adele Lewis, MD has been appointed state chief medical examiner for Tennessee. Lewis previously served as deputy state chief medical examiner and had been acting chief ME since the retirement of Julia Goodin, MD.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has proclaimed July 28 – August 3 as Human Trafficking Awareness Week in Tennessee. Human trafficking, also known as modern day slavery, is quickly becoming a major public health concern. Today, an estimated 40.3 million people are being trafficked worldwide, including an estimated 94 children each month here in Tennessee.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health kicked off the new “Tennessee Faces of the Opioid Crisis“ public education and awareness campaign July 16 at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville. This project will feature people from every county of Tennessee sharing personal stories of how they have been impacted by the opioid crisis. The campaign also provides resources and information on how everyone can be part of the solution to this problem.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health will launch the new “Tennessee Faces of the Opioid Crisis“ public education and awareness campaign July 16 at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville.

NASHVILLE – Marion Kainer, MD, MPH, FRACP, FSHEA has been named the 2019 recipient of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists’ Pumphandle Award. Kainer serves as director of the TDH Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program, leading a team working to make healthcare safer and to combat antimicrobial resistance.