Affiliated Community Health Foundation recently received notice that it will receive a grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Dawn Cocchiarella will continue to serve as outreach coordinator on the project. Increasing awareness regarding the importance of early detection of breast cancer remains the primary focus.

The program promotes three components of breast cancer screening: mammography, clinical breast exam and self breast exam.

Falls from windows account for an estimated 12 deaths and 4,000 injuries among children under 10 years of age every year in the U.S. In Minnesota, between 1993 and 2007, there were at least 193 serious injuries from unintentional window falls, with 19 being fatal. Of these, 151 were among children under 10 years of age, with four fatalities.

Reported new cases of HIV infection in Minnesota reached 325 in 2007 compared to 318 new cases in 2006 and 304 cases in 2005, according to a new report from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), “HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report – 2007.”

State health and agriculture officials are investigating whether there are any cases of illness in Minnesota that may be linked to recalled cereal from the Malt-O-Meal company after at least 21 cases of Salmonella agona have been identified in at least 13 states.

The Minnesota Department of Health has identified one case of Salmonella agona in the state that matches the genetic fingerprint of the other states’ cases and the strain of Salmonella found in the cereal that was recalled April 5.

State officials announced that laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of varying amounts of lead fragments in a number of venison samples collected from Minnesota food shelves. While there have been no reports of illness associated with the venison, the state has taken the precaution of directing food shelves to destroy any remaining venison. At the same time, consumers who have venison obtained from a Minnesota food shelf are asked to throw it away.

While the majority of swimming pools in the state are operated safely, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) each year investigates a number of incidents involving pools where the public’s health and safety were put at risk. In the last nine months there have been nine reported serious
incidents at Minnesota swimming pools or water parks, where people became ill, were injured or died.

The number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Minnesota climbed to a new high of 17,057 in 2007, according to new data released by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for National STD Awareness Month in April. Reportable STDs in Minnesota include chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. The number of cases of STDs in 2006 was 16,428.

Consumers urged to cook raw chicken products thoroughly and to avoid using microwave

State health and agriculture officials said today that two recent cases of salmonellosis in Minnesota have been linked to raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken entrees. The implicated product is Milford Valley Farms Chicken Cordon Bleu with a stamped code of C8021. This product is sold at many different grocery store chains.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed into law March 18 lowering the blood donation age to 16.

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives and Senate passed the bill, which lowers the blood donation age from 17 to 16 if the person obtains written permission from a parent or guardian.