West Nile Virus Information for 2005

All files are in .PDF format. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to open these files. Please report confirmed/suspected arboviral infections in patients living in Milwaukee County to SurvNet at 414-286-3624 (phone) or 414-286-0280 (Fax). Patients outside of Milwaukee County should be reported to their local health departments.

For questions related to arboviral environmental surveillance, please call Dave Campbell at 414-286-5488. For questions related to human disease testing/reporting, call Susan Schultz at 414-286-3608 or Sandy Coffaro at 414-286-2124. Additional information can be found by visiting the City of Milwaukee Health Department website

Case Definition of Arbovirus Infections (Human)

Surveillance For Arbovirus Infections/Laboratory Testing Capability

Enhanced Wisconsin Arbovirus Surveillance Lab Form

CDC: Updated Information regarding Mosquito Repellents

Smoke Free Wisconsin

Wisconsin Children’s Initiative (WCI) Update

Bad News: The state needs to come up with $401 million to cover the costs of our Medicaid and BadgerCare programs.
Good News: The state can come up with $401 million to cover the costs of our Medicaid and BadgerCare programs, lower health care costs and stop kids from smoking all at the same time.

Although this $410 million shortfall is definitely not really good news, we see this as an opportunity to bring the tobacco tax back to the legislature’s and the Governor’s attention.

As you know, increasing the tobacco tax by 85 cents would bring $300.9 million per year in additional tax revenues into the state coffers.

We want our lawmakers to increase the tobacco tax, rather than cut needed Medicaid and BadgerCare services or restrict enrollment in these very important programs. In addition to funding these health care programs, we would like to see part of the increased tax revenue to go towards tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

Given this new Medicaid and BadgerCare crisis, we have come up with a new strategy and timeline for the Wisconsin Children’s Initiative. Expect to hear more from us as we flesh out the plan. We will definitely need YOUR help to make the tax, and its health, tobacco prevention, and cost saving benefits the #1 issue in legislators’ minds.

Strategy for Success

Now—April
• The legislature is in session. The strategy is to work with groups to call for the Governor and Legislature to solve the Medicaid (MA) crisis now and not go on summer vacation until they have done their job. Work with legislators to publicly discuss the Medicaid crisis and offer the tobacco tax as a long-term solution for funding.
• Work to get grassroots from partner organizations and general public (as possible) to agitate for a solution to the MA problem and suggest that the tobacco tax is the answer.

May—November
• Survey legislative candidates on tobacco issues including support for the tax and the link with Medicaid. Have the Friends of WCI work to educated voters about who the friendly candidates to our issue are.
• Hold community forums throughout the state to address the rapid increase in health care costs and how raising the tobacco tax will help lower smoking rates and increase revenue.

December—June 05
• If the tax has not been enacted, the crisis will certainly be looming. Instigate media and grassroots advocacy to increase the tax.
• Get lawmakers to propose raising the tobacco tax to pay for MA in future budgets.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

Can you . . .
• Help plan community forums?
• Mobilize people to come to forums?
• Attend a community forum?
• Write to legislators about the importance of preventing kids from starting to smoke?
• Write letters to the editor in your local newspaper about the win-win-win of an increased tobacco tax (reducing health care costs, keeping kids from starting to smoke, and raising revenue)?
• Educate other organizations and community groups about the Medicare budget and how raising the tobacco tax can help reduce smoking rates and increase state revenue?
• Include questions about the tobacco tax in your community forum or candidate questionnaire?
• Please reply to this email and let us know which of these options you can take on! That way we can send you sample letters, talking points, and other information.

THANKS!!!