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December 26
1873 - Vasquez gang raids Kingston in (now) Kings County; ties up townspeople, makes off with $2,500 in cash and jewels [story]
Kingston


lacopublichealth

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) confirms the first influenza-associated death in Los Angeles County for the 2016-2017 influenza season. The death occurred in a middle-aged man, from the northern part of Los Angeles County, who had significant pre-existing medical conditions. Laboratory testing identified the influenza virus strain as type A.

“Even though influenza activity in California and much of the country is currently at relatively low levels, the occurrence of this death should serve to inform everyone that influenza is now circulating within our County and can potentially cause very serious illness,” said Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, MD, MPH, Interim Health Officer for Los Angeles County. “Vaccination is the best method to protect oneself from the flu. Getting vaccinated against influenza protects both the person who receives the vaccine and also reduces the chance they will become ill and spread the flu to family and friends.”

Annually, thousands of people nationwide are hospitalized and die from the flu or its complications. Although each flu season is different, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that an average of 24,000 influenza-related deaths occur in the U.S. each year. Public Health anticipates that flu activity will increase as people get together for the holidays and as the winter season progresses. Because it can take up to two weeks to develop immunity from vaccination, now is the time to get vaccinated. Public Health and the CDC urge everyone older than 6 months to get vaccinated against the flu every year.

Surveillance conducted by the CDC indicates that this year’s vaccine closely matches the current circulating viral strains and should provide good protection against disease. This ‘community protection’ is important for those living in households or working with people who are more susceptible to severe outcomes from the flu (such as infants, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with medical conditions that may reduce their immunity).

People, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, who are at higher risk for severe influenza should seek medical evaluation if they experience a flu-like illness so that they can be considered for treatment with an antiviral medication. These medications are most effective in treating the flu when they are started soon after symptoms begin.

Key Points:
Public Health and the CDC recommend vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older.
Practice hand and respiratory hygiene to help reduce the chance of catching the flu.
Healthcare providers should consider antiviral medications for treatment and prevention of influenza, particularly among people at high-risk for severe influenza.

Resources:
Information about the flu can be found at: www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/flu.htm
Information from the CDC about the flu can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm

Visit www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ip/flu/flulocatormain.htm for: a list of Public Health’s flu vaccination locations; a searchable map of pharmacies offering flu vaccines; a list of community clinics that offer vaccines at no-cost or a reduced cost; influenza educational materials.

Residents may also call the LA County Information Line at 2-1-1 for referrals to flu vaccination sites.

About Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises nearly 4,000 employees and has an annual budget exceeding $900 million. To learn more about the Department of Public Health and the work we do, please visit PublicHealth.LACounty.gov.

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LOS ANGELES COUNTY HEADLINES
Wednesday, Dec 25, 2024
More than a dozen Val Verde and Castaic residents and community leaders came together on Tuesday, Dec. 17, to decry the “inaction and lack of concern” of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors around the public health emergency in the "diverse" community around the Chiquita Canyon Landfill operated by Waste Connections.
Tuesday, Dec 24, 2024
Exercising its mandate to improve transparency and accountability in law enforcement, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission has created a special committee to investigate how the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department handles complaints made by members of the public against its deputies.
Tuesday, Dec 24, 2024
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is advising residents to not feed their pets raw food following a voluntary recall of Northwest Naturals Brand 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe Raw & Frozen Pet Food due to detection of H5 bird flu virus in product samples.
Tuesday, Dec 24, 2024
The joy of the holiday season can quickly be ruined by scams, theft and fraud. Before you make a purchase or a donation it’s important to use caution. To help you navigate safely through the holidays
Tuesday, Dec 24, 2024
Are you ready for storm season? During heavy rain, Los Angeles County is particularly prone to flooding and erosion because so much of the land is paved over and debris can cause stormwater drains to become clogged or backed up.

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1873 - Vasquez gang raids Kingston in (now) Kings County; ties up townspeople, makes off with $2,500 in cash and jewels [story]
Kingston
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More than a dozen Val Verde and Castaic residents and community leaders came together on Tuesday, Dec. 17, to decry the “inaction and lack of concern” of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors around the public health emergency in the "diverse" community around the Chiquita Canyon Landfill operated by Waste Connections.
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Exercising its mandate to improve transparency and accountability in law enforcement, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission has created a special committee to investigate how the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department handles complaints made by members of the public against its deputies.
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Four students from California Institute of the Arts Character Animation program have been awarded scholarships by ASIFA-Hollywood’s Animation Educators Forum for the 2024-25 academic year.
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On Sunday, Dec. 15, nearly 2,000 people dressed in their favorite holiday outfits attended the Metrolink Holiday Express Train at the city of Santa Clarita’s Vista Canyon Multi-Modal Center in Canyon Country.
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The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is advising residents to not feed their pets raw food following a voluntary recall of Northwest Naturals Brand 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe Raw & Frozen Pet Food due to detection of H5 bird flu virus in product samples.
Public Health Warns Against Feeding Pets Raw Food
The joy of the holiday season can quickly be ruined by scams, theft and fraud. Before you make a purchase or a donation it’s important to use caution. To help you navigate safely through the holidays
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The City of Santa Clarita invites the community to come together for a Unity Walk in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, on Monday, Jan.20 at 8 a.m.
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Sometimes the best you can hope for when going against the best is to learn from the experience. And that's what The Master's University women's basketball team is hoping for after getting beat 97-77 by NAIA No. 1 Dordt University (IA) Wednesday, Dec. 18 on the final day of the Hope International Christmas Classic in Fullerton.
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College of the Canyons women's basketball used a 22-point fourth-quarter outburst to get past host Oxnard College 46-41 on Tuesday, Dec. 17, winning its second game across its last three outings.
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College of the Canyons freshman kicker Luis Rodriguez has been named to the 2024 California Community College Football Coaches Association All-America Team, while also joining the group of five Cougars earning All-State Team honors.
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1965 - Signal newspaper owner Scott Newhall shows up for a duel (of words) with rival Canyon Country newspaper publisher Art Evans, who no-shows and folds his paper soon after [story]
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The Santa Clarita Valley is ablaze with holiday lights and displays. Here are few of the most popular spots to see the lights. Some displays wrap up on Christmas night, others will run through New Year’s Day. See them before they are turned off until next year.
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The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has confirmed a human case of H5 bird flu in an adult who was exposed to livestock infected with H5 Bird flu at a worksite.
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The International Film Festival Rotterdam unveiled the first highlights of its 54th edition, set to take place in the Netherlands from Jan. 30 to Feb. 9. Among the lineup are world premieres by two filmmakers who graduated from California Institue of the Arts.
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