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Poll: Majority of Wis. Residents Want Universal Care Last Updated: 11:22 AM 05/06/08 - 61 percent of those who responded to the University of Wisconsin Survey Center's Badger Poll say they favor replacing the current health care system with one that covers everyone and is run entirely by the state. (Full Story)

Dogs Die in Waukesha Shelter Possibly Due to Bacteria Last Updated: 9:15 PM 05/03/08 - MILWAUKEE (AP) -- A bacterial strain that killed more than 1,000 dogs in outbreaks in Las Vegas and Miami has been found in some of the seven dogs that were stricken and died at a Wisconsin shelter. (Full Story)

Wisconsin Health Officials Confirm 6 Measles Cases in State Last Updated: 2:46 PM 04/24/08 - Wisconsin health officials have confirmed two more cases of the measles. The Department of Health and Family Services had listed one case in Racine County and one in Walworth County as probable, but spokeswoman Stephanie Marquis says laboratory tests have now confirmed they are measles. (Full Story)

Health Care Company Denies Personal Data Was Ever at Risk Last Updated: 2:33 PM 04/24/08 - The chief executive of the company that controls a database containing sensitive information about senior citizens and disabled people in Wisconsin says the data was never at risk of a breach. (Full Story)

Stem Cell Research Conference to be Held in Wausau Last Updated: 4:55 PM 04/21/08 - Northcentral Wisconsin residents are getting an opportunity to ask doctors and scientists questions about stem cell research. The research has come under fire in the past because of some of the procedures used to harvest embryos. (Full Story)

Some Wisconsin Residents Will Still Have SSN as Identifiers Last Updated: 11:49 AM 04/21/08 - Even after the state moves away from using Social Security numbers as identifiers for Medicaid recipients, those who also receive Medicare won't get new random identification numbers. (Full Story)

Gesundheit! It's Allergy Season in Wisconsin Last Updated: 3:33 PM 04/17/08 - Millions of Americans suffer from allergies and residents of Northcentral Wisconsin are already feeling the effects. Doctors say now that trees are starting to bud it's a sure sign that allergy season is here. (Full Story)

Wis. Watchdog: Organic Baby Formula Uses Banned Ingredients Last Updated: 4:23 PM 04/16/08 - A Wisconsin watchdog group claims organic baby formula commonly uses ingredients that are prohibited by federal regulations - and is asking the government to stop it. (Full Story)

Families Seeking Measles Vaccinations After 4 Infected Last Updated: 2:41 PM 04/12/08 - The Milwaukee Health Department says lots of families are showing up at clinics to get vaccinations against the measles. (Full Story)

Teens Promote Anti-Smoking Messages to Elementary Students Last Updated: 7:17 PM 04/10/08 - Some local teenagers are hoping they can help keep future generations away from cigarettes. (Full Story)

Survey Shows Support of Wis. Smoking Ban Increasing Last Updated: 12:09 PM 04/08/08 - A new survey shows that support for a statewide smoking ban covering all bars, restaurants and workplaces is increasing. 69 percent of survey respondents say they support such a law. (Full Story)

Doyle Signs Bill Requiring Fire-Safe Cigarettes Last Updated: 1:24 PM 04/08/08 - All cigarettes sold in Wisconsin will have to be the type that automatically extinguish when they're not being smoked under a bill signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle. Wisconsin now joins 22 other states in requiring that only fire-safe cigarettes be sold. (Full Story)

Doctors Say Wisconsin Runner Died of Heart Condition Last Updated: 12:19 PM 04/08/08 - A pathologist says the UW-Madison graduate student who died after running the Little Rock Marathon had a heart condition usually seen in older people. 27-year-old Adam Nickel collapsed after finishing the race in Arkansas March 2nd. (Full Story)

Doyle Meets with Leavitt to Discuss Wis. Health Insurance Program Last Updated: 6:44 PM 04/07/08 - Gov. Jim Doyle hopes to get federal approval for an expansion of the state's BadgerCare Plus health insurance program within the next three to five months. The plan to expand the basic coverage to about 81,000 childless adults starting Jan. 1 has already won approval from the state Legislature. (Full Story)

Edgar Family Living With Autism Diagnosis Last Updated: 5:56 PM 04/02/08 - World Autism Day is Wednesday April 2nd, 2008 and a family in Edgar is sharing their story hoping to inspire others not to lose hope. (Full Story)

Marshfield Overwhelmingly Passes Smoking Ban Last Updated: 11:47 AM 04/02/08 - Marshfield is the latest place in Wisconsin to ban smoking. Tuesday voters overwhelmingly passed a referendum banning indoor smoking in public places, including bars and taverns. (Full Story)

Wausau Paramedics Urge People to Learn Heimlich Maneuver Following Man's Choking Death Last Updated: 6:31 PM 03/28/08 - The Wausau Fire Department is urging people to use the Heimlich maneuver if someone is choking. The encouragement follows the death of an 84-year-old Wausau man who choked on a piece of steak while celebrating his birthday. (Full Story)

NEW INFO: 11-Year-Old Girl Died of Untreated Diabetic Condition Last Updated: 3:29 PM 04/29/08 - Chief Dan Vergin tells NewsChannel 7 an 11-year-old Weston girl died Sunday of a diabetic condition. Vergin says Madeline Neumann weighed 75 pounds when she died, and that her parents prayed over her but sought no medical attention. (Full Story)

Marathon County Adult Sick from Eating Contaminated Cantaloupe Last Updated: 6:02 PM 03/25/08 - The state Department of Health and Family Services says at least three Wisconsin residents have been sickened in a multistate salmonella outbreak believed to be linked to tainted cantaloupe. Stephanie Ward, a spokeswoman for the agency, says two of the adults are in Outagamie County and one lives in Marathon County. (Full Story)

Report Says Wisconsin Has Shortage of Mental Health Beds Last Updated: 2:30 PM 03/24/08 - A national report says Wisconsin is one of 11 states that have what a Virginia mental health group characterizes as a "severe" shortage of public hospital beds for psychiatric patients. The Treatment Advocacy Center suggests 50 beds per 100,000 people, whereas Wisconsin has less than half that. (Full Story)

Doyle Signs Bill Lowering Age to Donate Blood in Wisconsin Last Updated: 11:29 AM 03/14/08 - 16-year-olds in Wisconsin can now donate blood. Gov. Jim Doyle signed a bill Friday that allows 16-year-olds to give blood with their parents' consent. (Full Story)

Janesville Treats Wastewater with Sugar, Molasses Last Updated: 10:58 AM 03/14/08 - Ingredients better suited for a cookie recipe are being used to treat Janesville's wastewater. Workers are dumping sugar and molasses into the wastewater at the treatment plant. (Full Story)

Constitutional Amendment Would Bar State Health Care Last Updated: 7:10 AM 03/13/08 - Measure would prohibit residents from participating in a state health care plan. (Full Story)

Madison to Host World Stem Cell Summit in September Last Updated: 12:05 PM 03/12/08 - Hundreds of the world's top players in the field of stem cell research will gather in Madison for a summit in September. Up to 1,000 researchers, philanthropists and business representatives are expected to attend the World Stem Cell Summit at the Alliant Energy Center on Sept. 22 and 23. (Full Story)

HealthCheck 7: New Local Website for Fighting Breast Cancer Last Updated: 3:55 PM 03/07/08 - The local affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has recently launched a new website dedicated to breast cancer... (Full Story)

NEW INFO: Wausau Health Officials Blame Water Pump Failure for Chlorine Incident Last Updated: 3:56 PM 03/07/08 - A water pump with a blown fuse is being blamed for the hospitalization of 40 children and adults at a Wausau pool Friday, February 29. (Full Story)

NEW INFO: Student in Fair Condition After Exposure to Noxious Gas at Pool Last Updated: 3:54 PM 03/03/08 - Nearly everyone affected by a medical scare at a Wausau pool last week is back home. (Full Story)

Pool Where Students Became Ill to Remain Closed Indefinitely Last Updated: 7:26 PM 03/03/08 - Authorities say the pool where about 40 kindergarten students became ill will remain closed indefinitely until it's determined what happened. (Full Story)

NEW INFO: Three Children Still in the Hospital after Pool Mishap Last Updated: 11:15 PM 02/29/08 - The Marathon County Health Department says the State Department of Health will be investigating this morning's chlorine accident at the North Central Health Care Pool in Wausau. A health department official tells us there had been mechanical work done on pumps at the pool this morning. (Full Story)

Insurance Company: Wisconsin Doctors' Social Security Numbers Went on Web Last Updated: 12:32 PM 02/28/08 - A health insurance company in California has notified more than 100,000 doctors in Wisconsin and 10 other states that their personal information was posted on the Internet. Some of the doctors involved were from the Marshfield Clinic in Eau Claire. (Full Story)

Wisconsin Senate Passes Bill Requiring Autism Coverage Last Updated: 3:04 PM 02/27/08 - Insurance companies would be required to cover autism under a bill that passed the state Senate but probably will not go any further. Gov. Jim Doyle has been a strong advocate for the bill, which passed Tuesday under a 25-8 vote. (Full Story)

Wisconsin Battles Flu Outbreak Last Updated: 5:53 PM 02/25/08 - Wisconsin is being effected with a later than usual flu outbreak and doctors are saying if you haven't gotten your flu shot there is still time. (Full Story)

Air Quality Advisory for Saturday & Sunday Last Updated: 6:51 PM 02/23/08 - The Wisconsin Department of Natural resources has issued an air quality advisory for fine particle pollution. (Full Story)

Doyle Says Youth Smoking Hits Lowest Point Ever in State Last Updated: 11:06 AM 02/22/08 - Governor Doyle says illegal sales of cigarettes and tobacco to young people in Wisconsin has hit an all-time low. Doyle says the 2007 sales survey shows that the noncompliance rate was just 4.5 percent. That compares with 5.5 percent in 2006, the previous low. (Full Story)

Report: Toxins Could be Sickening Some Wis. Residents Last Updated: 11:32 AM 02/12/08 - Environmental toxins, including mercury, lead and PCBs could be increasing the incidence of health problems like low birth weights, stroke and coronary heart disease in Milwaukee County. (Full Story)

Women Need to Be Heart Health Too Last Updated: 10:44 PM 02/09/08 - Heart disease, typically thought of as a man’s disease, is affecting more women than ever, but there is hope and the pattern can be changed. (Full Story)

CDC REPORT: State Funded Programs Help Smokers Quit Last Updated: 12:10 AM 02/03/08 - New research by the centers for the disease control and prevention shows greater investments in state tobacco control programs are associated with larger and more rapid declines in adult smoking prevalence. (Full Story)

Sign-Up Starts Friday for BadgerCare Plus to Cover Uninsured Children Last Updated: 2:54 PM 02/01/08 - Governor Jim Doyle has a message for all the children in Wisconsin without access to health insurance: you have access now. (Full Story)

U.S. Health Official Praises Wis. Health Insurance Plan for Kids Last Updated: 2:52 PM 02/01/08 - The nation's top health official is praising a new Wisconsin program that makes all children eligible for health insurance. (Full Story)

Marshfield Clinic Brain Surgery to be Webcast Last Updated: 1:26 PM 01/30/08 - Marshfield Clinic will Webcast brain surgery Thursday at 4 p.m. to a worldwide audience. (Full Story)

Aspirus Health Beat 7 helps you make better health care decisions with news about the latest medical breakthroughs, research and technology. Tune in for information about exciting new care options you and your family can access right here in central Wisconsin through Aspirus doctors, services and the Wausau Hospital. March 17-21 DISTINGUISHED HOSPITAL AWARD Diane Poster Slattery, PhD President and Chief Operating Officer, Aspirus Wausau Hospital March 24-28 COLON CANCER SCREENING AT ASPIRUS STEVENS POINT SURGERY CENTER Chris Young, MD Gastroenterologist, Aspirus Wausau Hospital March 31-April 4 WOMEN'S HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENTS Sheri Holmes, MSN, APRN, BC Director, Aspirus Women's Health April 7-11 BUNION SURGERY AT ASPIRUS STEVENS POINT SURGERY CENTER Joseph Gelling, DPM Podiatrist, Aspirus Wausau Hospital April 14-18 HOSPICE CARE IN WISCONSIN RAPIDS AND STEVENS POINT William Benn, MD Medical Advisor, Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services April 21-25 NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR LUMBAR DISC SURGERY Christopher MacKay, MD Neurosurgeon, Aspirus Wausau Hospital April 28-May 2 GENE THERAPY STUDY Pavel Guigauri, MD Cardiologist, Aspirus Heart & Vascular Institute May 5-9 WOMEN'S ONLINE CARDIOVASCULAR RISK ASSESSMENT McKenzie Peckman, MS, RCEP Exercise Physiologist, Aspirus Women's Health May 12-16 ASPIRUS BARIATRICS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE Steve Weiland, MD Bariatric Surgeon, Aspirus Wausau Hospital May 19-23 BODY CONTOURING AFTER WEIGHT LOSS John Butler, MD Plastic Surgeon, Aspirus Wausau Hospital May 26-30 COUMADIN STUDY Timothy Logemann, MD Cardiologist, Aspirus Heart & Vascular Institute June 2-6 PERSISTENT PAIN AFTER BACK SURGERY Mazin Elias, MD Anesthesiologist, Aspirus Pain Clinic June 9-13 ASPIRUS PET THERAPY PROGRAM GROWS Jenny Nowak, Volunteer Pet Therapy Program Co-Chair, Aspirus June 16-20 FALL PREVENTION IN THE HOME Sue Burtch, PT Director of Therapies, Aspirus VNA Home Health