The Westport Weston Health District today announced the availability of a vaccine against whooping cough.

It said the state Department of Public Health Immunization Program has provided the District with a supply of the vaccine in an effort to vaccinate all eligible individuals against pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

Vaccination with pertussis-containing vaccine is recommended for all persons who have close contact with infants, a news release said.

Eligible persons include post-partum women, mothers and fathers of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) babies, adoptive families, siblings, and household contacts and caregivers of infants less than 12 months.

Members of Norwalk Hospital’s Westport Community Advisory Board took part in an update session at the hospital with advisory boards from other communities. Pictured (l-r) are (front row) Doree Levy, Shelly Kassen, Helen Garten, Teresa Giegengack, Monica Wheeler, and Jonathan Roth; (back row) Norwalk Hospital President and CEO, Dan DeBarba, Norwalk Hospital Foundation Board Member, Amy Schafrann and Christopher Sawch. Board members represent Westport in offering feedback to Norwalk Hospital about the health care needs and interests of area residents.To learn more or get involved, contact Suzanne Schintzius at (203)852-2386 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Nursing home and assisted living rates rose significantly from 2009 to 2010, according to the Market Survey of Long-Term Care Costs released today by Westport-based MetLife Mature Market Institute.

Private room nursing home rates rose 4.6 percent to $229 per day or $83,585 per year, while assisted living rose 5.2 percent on average to $3,293 per month, or $39,516 per year.

These increases come on top of increases from 2008 to 2009 when both nursing home and assisted living costs were up 3.3 percent.

Costs for home health aides and adult day services were unchanged in the past year. Home health aide costs remain at an average price of $21 per hour, while adult day services costs are still $67 per day.

The Westport Weston Health District announced today it will begin its annual flu vaccination clinics for people 4 years old and older next month and continue into November.

Mark A.R. Cooper, District director of health, said the first seasonal flu shot clinic will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 6, at the Health District’s office, 180 Bayberry Lane.

Preregistration is strongly encouraged, he said, and can be done by following the flu links on the District’s Web site after Wednesday.

Additional flu clinics will be held on Monday, Oct. 18 in the Westport Town Hall auditorium from noon to 3 p.m; Tuesday, Oct. 26 at the Weston Public Library from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 pm; Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Westport Weston Health District office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 10 at the Westport Center for Senior Activities from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Tuesday, Nov. 23 at the Westport Public Library from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Volunteers from Connecticut’s Department of Environmental Protection were out checking the water quality and the fish species and population of Stony Brook behind the office building on Sylvan Road South. Westport Conservation Director Alicia Mozian said the monitoring by the DEP’s Fisheries Division indicates water quality—the greater the fish populations and species variety, the healthier the stream. In addition to Stony Brook, the DEP will be sampling in the Saugatuck and Aspetuck Rivers in coming days, she said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Eckman for WestportNow.com

The State Mosquito Management Program today announced that a New Haven resident has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) infection and has been hospitalized.

“We wish this person a speedy recovery from this serious illness,” said Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. J. Robert Galvin. “This case reminds us of how serious West Nile virus can be and how important it is to do what we can to protect ourselves from mosquito bites.”

So far this season, positive mosquitoes have been identified in 12 towns, including Westport. In addition to this confirmed case, there has been one probable case of West Nile virus infection identified this year

The Department of Public Health said the New Haven resident between 60 -69 years of age became ill during the second week of August and is currently hospitalized.

The director of health of the Westport Weston Health District said today that confirmed cases of West Nile Virus in mosquitoes in towns surrounding Westport and Weston should heighten residents’ awareness of the dangers of mosquito bites.
Mark A. R. Cooper:  take precautions. File photo

Mark A.R. Cooper, said the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program found mosquitoes trapped in Norwalk, Bridgeport, Bethel, Orange, and Meriden have tested positive for the virus.

“As West Nile Virus continues to circulate and intensify within the mosquito population, it is likely mosquitoes in Westport and Weston will also become infected, if they have not already done so,” he said in a news release.

Cooper urged residents to begin taking precautions to prevent mosquito bites.