News Stories Wed., May 30, 2018

The inaugural year of the Tribal Health Scholars program, sponsored by the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence, Madras High School, On Track OHSU, and the Indian Health Service gave three selected students the opportunity to see firsthand work of health professionals. The Center of Excellence at OHSU works to address health care needs by increasing the Native American voice in the health professions. The three students, Lynden Harry, Kaliyah Iverson and Enrique Ramirez, spent time at the Warm Springs Health & Wellness Center observing and they all plan pursue careers as health professionals. The public is invited to a celebration of their hard work this Sunday, June 3^rd at Kahneeta Resort. The event will be held from 1-3pm at the Village Pavilion with food provided.

CNN)If you’re in your mid-40s and haven’t had your colon checked, it might be time. The American Cancer Society’s newly updated guidelines for colon and rectal cancer screening recommend that adults at average risk get screened starting at age 45 instead of 50, as previously advised. The updated guidelines come on the heels of what seems to be a rise in colorectal cancer among younger adults. Those at higher risk include African Americans, Alaska Natives, and people with a family history or a personal history of colon or rectal polyps; risk factors such as these could require screening earlier.

PORTLAND, Ore.— A new state analysis shows Oregon has seen a sharp increase in the rate of parents choosing nonmedical exemptions to vaccines for their kindergarten-age children. In 2015, the first year after a new law went into effect requiring parents and guardians to take certain steps to claim a nonmedical exemption, Oregon’s kindergarten nonmedical exemption rate fell from 7 percent, according to Oregon Health Authority data. However, since that initial decrease, the rates have increased each year, to 7.5 percent in 2018. Nonmedical exemption rates in Jefferson County in 2018 for students in grades K-12 were at 97 percent, 100 percent for WSK8. State law requires that children be immunized against diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella and hepatitis. The number of required vaccinations can vary depending on the child’s age or grade level and type of facility.

The Zone 6 platform and hook and line fishery will close at 6 PM tomorrow. The summer management period will begin on June 16. Subsistence platform fisheries will reopen at that time. Summer season commercial fisheries will be announced later. The four Columbia River Tribes are making the change because the total allowed treaty main stem spring Chinook catch is expected to be met based on the current Columbia River mouth run size.