THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, AN OUTBREAK OF A RARE EBOLA VIRUS IN AFRICA RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT ITS POTENTIAL IMPACT IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE FIND OUT HOW THE VIRUS SPREADS AND WHAT THE RISKS ARE FOR AMERICANS AS WE GET READY TO ENTER THE SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON AS THE STRESSORS IN OUT FOR MANY AMERICANS.

SO DOES THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DEALING WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME WAYS TO LOWER YOUR BP ASIDE FROM MEDICATIONS AND BRINGING SOME ADDED RELAXATION TO A READING SESSION.

THE LIBRARY THAT IS INCORPORATING SOME COACHES TO MAKE THINGS MORE COMFORTABLE FOR YOUNG READERS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AN OUTBREAK OF EBOLA IN CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA RAISING ALARMS ABOUT THE ABILITY TO CONTAIN THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VIRUS.

NEW TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE TO TRY TO KEEP THE VIRUS FROM ENTERING THE UNITED STATES.

TRAVELERS FROM DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, UGANDA AND SOUTH SUDAN MUST ARRIVE IN ONE OF 3 U.S.

AIRPORTS TO BE SCREENED.

THOSE AIRPORTS ARE IN ATLANTA, HOUSTON AND WASHINGTON, D.C., IN AFRICA.

AT LEAST 1000 EBOLA CASES AND 220 DEATHS FROM THE VIRUS ARE SUSPECTED THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION HAS ISSUED WARNINGS THAT THE SPREAD OF THE EPIDEMIC IS OUTPACING ANY RESPONSE EFFORTS.

DOCTOR TYLER, BE EVANS IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AND CEO OF WELLNESS EQUITY ALLIANCE.

DR EVANS JOINS US NOW TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE EBOLA OUTBREAK AND ITS IMPACT AND DR EVANS.

YOU HAVE WORKED IN GLOBAL HEALTH ACROSS DOZENS OF COUNTRIES, INCLUDING IN SIERRA LEONE IN 2015 AND IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO IN 2019, DURING THE LARGEST RECORDED EBOLA OUTBREAKS IN HISTORY.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT IS EBOLA AND HOW IT IS TRANSMITTED?

>> SURE.

HAPPY TO.

SO JUST ZOOMING OUT.

WHAT IS THE BALL AS IT IS?

IT'S AN RNA VIRUS AND ITS SPREAD THROUGH CONTACT.

NOW THAT COULD BE THROUGH THAT COULD BE THROUGH DROPLETS.

THAT COULD BE THROUGH A NUMBER OF OTHER SORT OF WAYS.

BUT IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT IS VERY TRANSMISSIBLE.

AND AND ACTUALLY DURING THAT, THE 2014 TO 2016 OUTBREAK, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE ACTUALLY GETTING INFECTED AND AS THEY WERE MANAGING THE CADAVERS.

SO THE VIRAL LOAD ACTUALLY INCREASES SIGNIFICANTLY.

IT'S UP.

IT'S AT ITS HIGHEST WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER DEATH.

SO SO MANAGING THE CADAVERS IS IS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND AND IN TERMS OF ITS SYMPTOMS, IT STARTS.

IT'S IT CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO BASICALLY 3 DIFFERENT PHASES.

THE FIRST PHASE AND ARE YOU ARE SORT OF FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS, VERY HIGH FEVER, MUSCLE ACHES.

YOU COULD HAVE A COUGH, SOME OTHER UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION LIKE SYMPTOMS.

BUT THE MUSCLE ACHES AND THE AND AND THE THE HIGH-GRADE FEVER, A KEY SECOND PHASE ARE BASICALLY THE GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS.

AND AND THE 3RD PHASE IS BASICALLY THE HEMORRHAGIC.

SO THAT'S KIND OF LIKE THE CLASSIC SORT OF BLEEDING OUT AND THAT THAT YOU'LL SEE WITH EBOLA AND INC FROM AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STANDPOINT, THIS IS THIS IS AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS IS VERY SERIOUS.

THIS IS IN FROM THE WHO FREE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION FRAMING.

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IN HISTORY THAT THE BALL HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN OR PH D I C SO IT'S NOT A PANDEMIC, BUT IT'S IT'S SORT OF CLOSE TO THAT IN TERMS OF IN TERMS OF CONCERN.

>> WHY IS IT SO DEADLY?

I DO UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO VACCINE AS WELL.

WHY IS IT SO DEADLY?

>> I MEAN, THE REASON WHY IT'S SO THE CASE FATALITY RATE IN GENERAL FOR EBOLA CAN CAN FLUCTUATE ANYWHERE IS FROM 10 TO 2 TO ABOUT 50% IT WITH THAT WITH THE WITH THIS CURRENT STRAIN THAT THE BOOT, BUT IT.

BUT YOU DO NEED A A STRAIN.

IT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 25 TO 50% IN GENERAL.

THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE MANY OF THESE FOLKS DO NOT GET INTO CARE AND IN FACT, ALMOST ALL EBOLA OUTBREAKS IN HISTORY HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

THE FIRST EBOLA OUTBREAK TOOK PLACE IN THE 1970'S THAT WE KNOW OF.

AND AND AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN RURAL SETTINGS.

AND SO A LOT OF THESE FOLKS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

SO AS A RESULT OF NOT SORT OF GETTING THAT ACCESS, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY THEY OFTEN DO PASS AWAY IF FOLKS DO GET CARE, WHICH IS WHAT WE DESCRIBE A SUPPORTIVE, SUPPORTIVE TREATMENTS.

THEY DO TEND TO DO, YOU KNOW, QUITE A BIT BETTER.

SO THAT CASE FATALITY RATE WOULD SORT OF REDUCE.

BUT THAT'S THAT REALLY WITH THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S CUES.

THAT NUMBER FROM A SORT OF SOME FROM A PATHOLOGICAL STANDPOINT.

WHAT WHAT EXACTLY THE SORT OF THE MECHANISM IS.

IT'S REALLY THE HEMORRHAGIC COMPONENT WITH FOLKS SORT OF BLEEDING OUT AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT SUPPORTIVE TREATMENT WITH I, THE FLUIDS, ET CETERA.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT CAUSES THAT THAT THAT SORT OF THAT LATELY FALLETTI.

>> THE DOCTOR WHO IS MOST AT RISK FOR THIS.

>> WHAT HEALTH CARE WORKERS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE NUMBER ONE.

I SORT OF RISK FACTOR RIGHT NOW.

ANYBODY WHO'S GOING TO BE SORT OF IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THEM IN IN THIS PARTICULAR OUTBREAK?

WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND WHY WHY WE ARE SO WORRIED ABOUT IT IS BECAUSE THERE'S REALLY 5 DIFFERENT REASONS.

NUMBER ONE, WE HAVEN'T HAD THE PROPER TESTS TO REALLY START TRACKING THIS AT AN EARLY STAGE AND THE REASON THE REASON IS IS BECAUSE THIS IS AGAIN, THIS IS A THIS IS AN UNUSUAL STRAIN.

NUMBER 2, WE DON'T HAVE VACCINATIONS ARE THERAPEUTICS THAT WE KNOW OF.

WE ARE STILL TESTING TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THE VACCINATIONS HAVE ANY EFFECT.

SO WRITE.

BUT RIGHT NOW THE JURY IS OUT.

NUMBER 3, THE CONFLICT IN CONGO IS IS ESSENTIALLY IT'S ONE OF THE MOST CONFLICTED NATIONS IN THE WORLD.

AND IF NOT THE MOST, IF NOT THE MOST CONFLICTED.

THE REASON THAT'S MOST IMPACT RIGHT NOW IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.

CONGO IS ON THE EASTERN BORDERS IN THE TORY PROVINCE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

ON THE GONE TO RWANDA, BORDER AND IN A LOT OF THE START OF THE REBEL GROUPS AND A LOT OF THE CONFLICT IS TAKING PLACE RIGHT THERE.

SO THE CONFLICTS ARE MAJOR ISSUE.

INFRASTRUCTURE IS VERY POOR IN THIS AREA AND THAT THAT HAS THAT HAS BEEN EXACERBATED BECAUSE OF THE PULLOUT OF US.

HE ID FOR FUNDING AS WELL LOT OF SORT OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WAS HELPING DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC CONGO AND UGANDA.

BASICALLY TRACK AND RESPOND TO THESE TO THESE ISSUES IN REAL TIME.

SO WE'LL SERIOUS CHALLENGES NATIONALLY AND THEN A AND THEN FINALLY THAT THE 5TH MAJOR CHALLENGE HERE IS THE URBAN INVOLVEMENT.

SO LIKE I SAID BEFORE, ALMOST ALL OUTBREAKS IN THE PLATE IN THE IN THE PAST HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN RURAL AREAS.

BUT THIS IS NOW IN 3 MAJOR AFRICAN CITIES.

SO IT'S IN GOMA, KINSHASA AND KAMPALA.

ONCE THE BALL ONCE ANY INFECTIOUS DISEASE, BUT PARTICULARLY EBOLA GETS INTO URBAN CENTERS, PARTICULARLY REALLY SORT OF CONCENTRATED CENTERS LIKE THE 3 THAT I JUST DESCRIBED.

IT BECOMES IT BECOMES REALLY A CLUSTER BECOMES REALLY CHALLENGING 2 TO TRACE IT AND TO AND TO BASICALLY SORT OF ISOLATED.

SO FOR THOSE FOR THOSE 5 REASONS, WE'RE WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT ABOUT THE IMPACT HERE, BOTH FROM A SORT BUT FROM A REGIONAL STANDPOINT AS WELL, FROM A GLOBAL STANDPOINT, >> WHAT PRECAUTIONS WOULD YOU ADVISE FOR ANY TRAVELERS THAT ARE HEADING OUT FOR SUMMER TRIPS THAT THEY SHOULD BE AWARE OF.

>> I THINK IT'S GOOD QUESTION.

AND YES, SUMMER TRAVEL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO SORT OF, YOU KNOW, PRECIPITATE ANY SORT OF PANIC.

I THINK FOR FOLKS THAT ARE THAT ARE TRAVELING NATIONALLY RIGHT NOW, I WOULD JUST KEEP AN EYE ON, YOU KNOW, ON THE ON THE CASE IS TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE ANY AMERICAN CASES.

IF THERE ARE, IF THERE ARE ANY CASES IN THE U.S.

AND THEN FOLKS ARE GOING TO REALLY, REALLY NEED TO BE VIGILANT.

I MEAN, HAND HYGIENE IS IMPORTANT KNOWING WHERE THE CASES ARE.

AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY INFORMATION IS IS REALLY IS AS POWERFUL RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT HAND HYGIENE, YOU KNOW, EVEN WHETHER IT'S EBOLA, WEATHERS NOROVIRUS, WHETHER IT'S ON TO VIRUS, WHETHER IT'S FLU, WHETHER IT'S COVID HAND HYGIENE IS KEY I'VE GOT 2 LITTLE ONES AND THEY'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THEY'RE A KALEIDOSCOPE OF MICROBES.

SO, YOU KNOW, DO YOUR HAPPY BIRTHDAYS WHEN YOU'RE WASHING YOUR HANDS?

YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EXPERTISE ON THE SUBJECT TODAY, DOCTOR.

>> COMING UP, PROVIDING FIRST-CLASS CARE AND REHABILITATION FOR EVERY SPECIES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE'RE HEADING TO SANIBEL TO LEARN HOW VOLUNTEERS ALLOWED CROW TO CARRY ON ITS MISSION.

CARRY ON ITS MISSION.

NEARLY HALF OF ALL AMERICAN NEARLY HALF OF ALL AMERICAN ADULTS ARE LIVING WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

AND ACCORDING TO THE CDC, ONLY 22% OF THOSE AFFECTED HAVE THEIR CONDITION PROPERLY UNDER CONTROL.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ALSO KNOWN AS HYPERTENSION, PUTS A PERSON AT A HIGHER RISK OF HEART DISEASE AND STROKE AS WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE LEARNED THERE ARE MULTIPLE LIFE CHANGES.

PEOPLE CAN MAKE TO LOWER THEIR RISK OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

>> SO JOINING ME NOW TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE RISKS OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS DOCTOR PILE COLEY GENERAL IN PREVENTATIVE CARDIOLOGIST IN DENVER, COLORADO, AND ASSOCIATE ADJUNCT PROFESSOR WITH JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY AND DUKE UNIVERSITY DR.

CALLIE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> HYPERTENSION, OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IMPACTING MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.

BUT SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR?

>> YOU KNOW, HYPERTENSION, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ONE OF THE MOST COMMON THINGS THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO AMERICANS.

IN FACT, YOUR CHANCE OF DEVELOPING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN YOUR LIFETIME IS 80 TO 90%.

AND THERE'S 120 MILLION AMERICANS WALKING AROUND WITH THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE, ELEVATED AND NEARLY HALF OF THEM ARE NOT CONTROLLED.

DESPITE TAKING THE MEDICINES THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE IN, YOU KNOW, HYPERTENSION IS CALLED THE SILENT KILLER FOR REASON.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE OFTEN EARLY IN THE DISEASE, THERE'S NO SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS AND IT'S REALLY ONLY WHEN THE BLOOD PRESSURE GETS VERY, VERY HIGH THAT YOU CAN ADD DIZZINESS, HEADACHES, BLURRY VISION IS EVEN HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES.

BUT EARLY IN THE DISEASE, THE WAY THAT WE DIAGNOSE IT IS BY CHECKING.

SO I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY LISTENING HERE EMPOWERS THEM SELVES TO KNOW THEIR NUMBERS AND KNOW THEIR RISK IN WHETHER YOU HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF HYPERTENSION OR DON'T IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE CHANCE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DEVELOP HYPERTENSION, AS YOU GET OLDER IS SO HIGH.

>> AND THEN ARE THERE CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT ARE PRE TO PUT THIS POST A HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR IS THIS A RISK OF DEVELOPING FOR REALLY ANYBODY?

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY MOST ANYBODY CAN GET HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND THAT'S WHERE THE 80 TO 90% LIFETIME RISK COMES FROM.

AND PART OF THAT, OF COURSE, IS OUR MODERN DIET BECAUSE 90% OF AMERICANS CAN STILL WAY TOO MUCH SODIUM IN THE AVERAGE AMERICAN DIET THAT WE'RE HAVING.

BUT PART OF IT IS ALSO AS WE TEND TO AGE OR BLOOD VESSELS TEND TO GET STIFFER.

THERE ARE CERTAIN CONDITIONS THAT CAN INCREASE YOUR RISK OF DEVELOPING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HYPERTENSION.

CERTAINLY IF YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE, IF YOU HAVE CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE, IF YOU HAVE DIABETES, IF YOU HAVE HEART FAILURE, IF YOU HAVE A CONDITION CALLED SLEEP APNEA, OUR ONE CALLED A TOOL FOR RELATION.

THESE ARE ALL TARGETS SIGNS THAT GET PUT ON YOU TO DEVELOP HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, BUT IT CAN HAPPEN TO JUST THE EVERYDAY AMERICAN.

IT CAN HAPPEN TO THE THE THE YOUNG, THE FIT, THE HEALTHY AMERICAN.

AND I OFTEN TELL MY FEMALE PATIENTS AFTER MENOPAUSE, THERE'S A HUGE TRANSITION THAT HAPPENS IN OUR LIFE AND OUR HEALTH AND THE ESTROGEN LEVELS GO DOWN, WHICH CAN CAUSE BLOOD VESSELS NOT ONLY TO GET STIFFER, BUT IT CAN ALSO CAUSE AND A HORMONE CALLED AL DOSTER OWN TO GO UP.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE KEY PLAYERS AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

SO REALLY IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, WHICH IS WHY ONE, EVERY SINGLE PERSON TO KNOW THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE.

>> AND THEN IF IT DOES GO UNTREATED, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LONG-TERM RISKS THAT PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF.

IS THAT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE CAN AFFECT ANY ORGAN IN THE BODY BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, EVERY SINGLE ORGAN IN THE BODY HAS A BLOOD VESSEL, RIGHT?

AND SO THE PRESSURE INSIDE THOSE BLOOD VESSELS IS VERY HIGH.

YOU CAN REALLY DAMAGE THOSE ORGANS.

AND SO CERTAINLY WE TALK ABOUT RISK LIKE CARDIOVASCULAR DEATH, HEART ATTACKS, STROKES AND HEART FAILURE.

BUT YOU CAN ALSO GET KIDNEY DAMAGE OR KIDNEY DISEASE.

YOU CAN GET DEMENTIA, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FEARS THAT WE ALL HAVE AS WE AGE.

AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN EVEN DEVELOP CONDITIONS LIKE BLINDNESS, WHICH IS AGAIN, ONE OF THE WORST THINGS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN TO ANY OF THE FACT THAT IT'S PREVENTABLE IN MODIFIABLE AND THAT IT HAS SUCH SEVERE OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH IT REALLY MAKES ME FEEL LIKE EVERY AMERICAN TO TAKE CONTROL.

>> AND NOW THERE ARE MANY MEDICATIONS ON THE MARKET THAT SAY THEY HELP WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR HYPERTENSION, BUT A LOT OF TIMES THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT TAKE MEDICATIONS FOR OTHER REASONS.

MAYBE THEY INTERACT WITH OTHER PRESCRIPTIONS.

THEY'RE ON.

SO WHAT CAN FOLKS DO THAT ARE STEPS TO HELP WITH THEIR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

WHEN MAYBE MEDICATIONS ARE NOT THE ANSWER FOR THEM OR MAY NOT WORK WITH THEM.

>> SO I WOULD SAY THAT YOU DON'T WALK AWAY FROM MEDICATIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT CLASSES OF MEDICATIONS THAT CERTAINLY IT'S IMPORTANT TO ADOPT THE RIGHT DIET, THE RIGHT LIFESTYLE.

SO, YOU KNOW, REDUCING THE SODIUM, INCREASING THE POTASSIUM.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE, EXERCISING GETTING 5 DAYS OF ACTIVITY, AT LEAST 30 MINUTES A DAY, GETTING THOSE 7 TO 9 HOURS OF SLEEP, TREATING SLEEP APNEA.

IF YOU HAVE IT, THESE ARE ALL GREAT PREVENTIVE MEASURES AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE.

LOSING WEIGHT ALWAYS HELPS WITH REDUCING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IF YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE.

BUT DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON THE MEDICATIONS BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE LIFESTYLE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH TO GET THAT BLOOD PRESSURE DOWN.

AND IT'LL PRODUCE YOUR SYSTOLIC.

YOU'RE TALK NUMBER BY A FEW POINTS, BUT YOU MAY NEED A 2030, POINT REDUCTION TO GET YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GET TO.

AND IN FACT, THE NEW AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, BLOOD PRESSURE GUIDELINES SAY THAT WE REALLY SHOULD BE TARGETING BLOOD.

PRESSURE IS LESS THAN ONE 20 OVER 80 FOR EVERYONE TO REDUCE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING DEMENTIA TO REDUCE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING HEART DISEASE.

SO IT'S SAFE.

YOU CAN'T TAKE SOME OF THE OLDER MEDICINES.

AND ONE OF MY CHALLENGES AS A CARDIOLOGIST, US THE MEDICINES THAT I'M USING TO TREAT BLOOD PRESSURE OLD.

THERE.

ONE OF THEM IS 68 YEARS OLD.

YOU KNOW?

AND SO SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK OR A CAUSE OF SIDE EFFECTS.

AS YOU POINTED OUT, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE ONES THAT CAUSE HORMONAL SIDE EFFECTS.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT ALTERNATIVE MEDICATIONS.

AND THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THESE NEW MEDICATIONS THAT ARE NOW COMING ONTO THE MARKET THAT DON'T HAVE AS MANY SIDE EFFECTS COULD POTENTIALLY BE GAME CHANGERS FOR SOME OF THESE PATIENTS.

>> DOCTOR COLEY, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME AND BE SURE TO CHECK THAT BLOOD PRESSURE.

>> YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL OF THE MEDICAL HAPPENINGS AND HEALTH TIPS BY HEADING TO OUR WEB SITE.

WGCU DOT ORG, AFFORDABLE VETERINARY CARE AND FORT MYERS COULD BE MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN EVER AFTER THE GULF COAST.

HUMANE SOCIETY CUT THE RIBBON ON ITS NEW CLINIC.

THE INCREASED CAPACITY FOR SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES AT THE NEW BUILDING IS EXPECTED TO GREATLY HELP REDUCE THE CAT AND DOG OVERPOPULATION IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

>> YOU NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY IS TREMENDOUS.

IT IS NOT REPLACING OR SUBSTITUTE FOR DAY PRACTICES ARE SPECIALIST WHEN THEY'RE NEEDED IN OUR AREA.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE AN ADDED BENEFIT.

>> DOCTOR SHARON POWELL IS A VETERINARIAN WHO WAS ON THE BOARD OF THE GULF COAST, HUMANE SOCIETY.

THE NEW BUILDING IS MORE THAN 10,000 SQUARE FEET AND WILL NEARLY DOUBLE THE ORGANIZATION'S CAPACITY.

>> WELL, WITH US, THEY NEED TO CONDUCT IN 2025.

WE'VE PERFORMED TO JUST UNDER 11,000 SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES.

THAT'S WHAT 2 SURGEONS AND TO SURGICAL TABLES HERE.

WE ACTUALLY DOUBLED OUR CAPACITY.

WE HAVE 4 SURGICAL TABLES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SUCH A BIGGER IMPACT FOR SPAY NEUTER AND OVER POPULATION HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

OUR VETERINARY CLINIC, WE HAD 4 EXAM ROOMS AND LAST YEAR WE DIDN'T LEAVE.

SAW ABOUT 10,500 PATIENTS.

NOW WE'RE EXPANDING IT TO A EXAM ROOMS WITH DOUBLING THAT AS WELL.

>> DARCY ANDRADE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GULF COAST, HUMANE SOCIETY.

AND SHE SAYS THAT THE CURRENT WAIT TIME FOR AN APPOINTMENT IS 5 WEEKS, BUT THEY HOPE TO CUT THAT TIME IN HALF.

SHE ALSO SAYS THE TRADITIONAL LOW FEES CHARGED BY THE CLINIC WILL REMAIN THE HUMANE SOCIETY'S VET CLINIC ON SWAMP CABBAGE COURT IS NOW OFFICIALLY CLOSED AS ALL PET TREATMENT MOVES INTO THE NEW BUILDING.

THE CARE AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL ANIMALS IS AN IMPORTANT MISSION FOR MANY OF US IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ON SANIBEL ISLAND, THE CLINIC FOR REHABILITATION OF WILDLIFE OR CROW RELIES ON VOLUNTEERS TO SPEARHEAD ITS CONSERVATION EFFORTS.

WGCUS KATE CRONIN HAS MORE.

>> IF IT'S RED, THE BLACK, IT'S A FRIEND OF JACK.

ITS RED TO YELLOW CALOSOF.

>> WHEN YOU STEP INTO CROW, SANIBEL IS TEACHING HOSPITAL AND EDUCATION CENTER.

THE FIRST FACE YOU SEE IS TYPICALLY THAT OF A VOLUNTEER, WHETHER IT'S TAKING CARE OF AN INJURED ANIMAL MANNING, THE GIFT SHOP, WE'RE EDUCATING VISITORS ABOUT NATIVE WILDLIFE.

THE 200 STRONG FORCE IS THE BACKBONE OF CROWD.

ACCORDING TO VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, PAM STOREY.

KEY.

>> I LOVE SEEING THEM EVERY DAY AND THE PASSION THAT THEY POUR INTO OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE COMMITMENT THAT THEY SHOW HERE IS REALLY HEARTWARMING.

AND IT IT IS TRULY AMAZING TO SEE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY GIVE US.

WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS THAT WORK IN ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT AREAS HERE, AS THEY SAY, IT TAKES A VILLAGE >> MARAIS MERRIFIELD HAS VOLUNTEERED TO CROW SINCE 2012.

HER TASK GIVING SNAKES OUTDOOR ENRICHMENT TIME.

SHE WORKS WITH RED FRED IN EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE OVER 6 AND A HALF FEET LONG.

AND COBB AN APTLY NAMED CORN SNAKE WHO LOVES TO BE AROUND.

I WANT PEOPLE TO COME AND SEE THE BEAUTY OF THEM.

AND AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE COURTS TAKE.

WE HAVE COBB.

YEAH, HE'S IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

HIS FELLOW.

>> WELL.

PEOPLE DO APPRECIATE IT AND TAKE CARE OF MAN.

WE REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE IN THE ECO SYSTEM HERE.

THE ZONE AND LOVE WITH THIS MAN.

>> MERRIFIELD FALL IN LOVE WORKING WITH STAKES WHEN SHE HELD VIOLET.

A FORMER AMBASSADOR SNAKE AT CROWN.

>> SHE WAS A BIG STAGE IS ACTUALLY BIGGER THAN FRED.

IT IS.

IT WAS SOMETHING ABOUT.

HOLDING HER AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SEEN HER BEAUTY AND PARTICULARLY THE WAY SHE MOVED IN EVERYTHING.

>> I THOUGHT THIS IS SOMETHING I WANT TO DO.

>> MERRIFIELD MAKES SURE THE SNAKES HAVE THE SENSORY STIMULATION OF BEING OUTSIDE IN A CHANCE TO EXERCISE.

NEITHER STATE CAN BE RETURNED TO THE WILDERNESS BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH BORN IN CAPTIVITY, IN LACK THE INSTINCT TO SURVIVE OUTSIDE OF CROW.

AND SO THEY BECOME AMBASSADOR SNAKES.

THEY HELP TEACH VISITORS ABOUT WHAT TO DO.

IF YOU SEE A SNAKE IN YOUR YARD.

BUT IF YOU'RE NOT TOO KEEN ON SNAKES, DON'T WORRY.

VOLUNTEERS DO MUCH MORE CROW, ESPECIALLY IN THE BABY ROOM.

YOU COULD GUESS THAT THE BABY ROOM IS WHERE A NEWBORN ANIMALS ARE NURTURED AS THEY CROWNED SCROLL CURRENTLY CARES FOR OVER 150 BABIES.

JEANNIE COOK IS A VOLUNTEER WHO SPENDS HER TIME.

HE'S LED TO LEAKS BY HAND.

THIS DESPITE THE ADORABLE NATURE OF HER WORK, IT CAN BE DEMANDING WITH FEEDINGS EVERY HOUR IN SOME DIFFICULT PATIENTS.

>> YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE PURPOSE, EVEN IF YOU'RE WASHING THE DISHES.

THE NEVER ENDING FOOD BOWLS AND STICKS AND CLEANING THE CAGES.

IT'S STILL MATTERS IS STILL WORTHWHILE BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

IT HELPS YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE SOMETHING OF A TREND AND HAS SERVED 10.

BRINGING BACK FROM AN INJURY.

THIS MAN CALL LIST.

>> TO DATE THIS YEAR, CROWE HAS OVER 2000 ANIMALS THAT INCLUDES THE 60 BABY POSSUMS THAT CAME INTO THEIR CARE AFTER BEING ORPHANED OR ABANDONED.

THEY WILL BE RELEASED AFTER GAINING MORE STRENGTH.

YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT YOU CAN VOLUNTEER FOR CROW FROM YOUR COUCH THESE BABY EASTERN SCREECH OWLS AND MOCKING BIRDS ARE IN NEED OF NAS THAT PROVIDE WARMTH AND COMFORT WHILE THEY HEAL.

CROWE IS ASKING FOR DONATIONS OF KNITTED OR CROCHETED NESTS THAT ARE SOFT AND SUPPORTIVE.

YOU CAN FIND A FREE PATTERN AND INSTRUCTIONS ON CROWS WEBSITE.

>> BABY STEPS, EARNEST.

WE NEED THE LITTLE SOFT TOWELS.

WASH CLAUSE, HAND TOWELS.

WE JUST PACK ONE OF THE LITTLE SCHOOL IN US WITH THAT.

MAKE IT IN THERE IN A VERY HIGH AND.

THAT'S HOME TO THEM.

>> AND EVEN BIGGER THINGS ARE ON THE WAY WITH THE NEW HARKEY SEE TO A COMPLEX SCHEDULED TO OPEN SOON.

THE ONLY ACCREDITED SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL FROM KEY WEST TO SARASOTA SHOULD BE ACCEPTING PATIENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

4 DEPUTY GCU NEWS.

I'M KATIE CRONIN.

>> AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, THE PERFECT COMPANION FOR A READING ADVENTURE.

WE CHECK OUT THE LIBRARY THAT IS BRINGING IN MAN'S BEST FRIEND TO HELP INSPIRE MORE BOOKWORMS.

NATIONWIDE.

CHILDREN ARE FACING DAILY CHALLENGES THAT IMPACT THEIR LIVES LIKE READING APTITUDE AND FOOD INSECURITY TO HELP COMBAT THE STRUGGLES.

LOCAL LIBRARIES ARE PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP FIND SOLUTIONS.

WGCU REPORTER YOUN JOO PARK LEARNED ABOUT 2 PROGRAMS IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY AIMED AT ENHANCING CHILD LITERACY.

>> AT THE NEWLY OPENED TO MID COUNTY REGIONAL LIBRARY IN PORT CHARLOTTE.

THOSE WHO COMMAND THE MOST ATTENTION ARE THE SILENT VISITORS CERTIFIED THERAPY.

DOCKS.

THE FOUR-LEGGED VISITORS MAY NOT MAKE A SOUND, BUT PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO THEIR CALMING INFLUENCE LIBRARY VISITOR VICTOR BARNES LINGERED STOOP AT EACH OF THEM.

>> THEY HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS TO ENJOY AND SOMETHING LIKE THE OLDER PEOPLE AS OPPOSED TO GIVE THEM THAT THEY CAN SHARE THAT THEY MAY.

>> I HAVE AT HOME THE DOG.

SO SO SERVICE READING ASSISTANCE THROUGH THEIR MERE PRESENCE.

THE LIBRARY HAS A PROGRAM CALLED STOCK TALES, WHICH CHILDREN BUILD UP THEIR LITERACY SKILLS BY READING TO THESE CANINE COMPANION.

>> VIOLENCE GRANDMOTHER, SUSIE JONES.

I WAS PLEASED TO SEE HER GRANDDAUGHTER'S BUSTLE OF BRAIN ACTIVITY AMID A FOCUSED ENVIRONMENT.

AND I HAD A WIFE WAS SITTING HOME WATCHING TV AND WE WANT TO DO AND THE WATCHED AS HER YOUNGER SISTER DEVELOPED HER READING KNOWLEDGE.

>> I SUPPOSE I WAS HIS HOURS ARE LIKE KINDERGARTEN, BUT I WAS HER AGE.

SO I USUALLY DO EVERY YEAH, IT THEY'RE GOING TO GET OUT.

A COUPLE BOOKS ARE.

>> I THINK THE JOB WE DO, KIM CORBY BROUGHT HER GOLDEN RETRIEVER NAMED WHISPER AND SAYS SHE CAN SEE HER DOG MAKING A TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE.

WE'VE MET CHILDREN THAT.

>> WE'RE FREE TO READ OUT LOUD IN A WHISPER WHEN THEY'RE READING.

AND THEN BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THEY WERE BEATING LOUDLY AND PROUDLY TO THE DOGS.

RIGHT?

BECAUSE JOHNSON NON-JUDGMENTAL.

SO EVEN THOUGH WE BRING THEM AND WE HAVE TO SIT WITH THEM AND ME AND OUR HANDS ON THE LEASH AT ALL TIMES TO CHILDREN.

JUST 2 WEEKS TO GET THERE BECAUSE THE MEN ARE LEADING TO THE DOG WHO'S NOT JUDGING IT NOT LEAST.

>> COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> ENRICH TO LIBRARY OFFERINGS.

>> WHICH LIBRARIAN A BROWN IS PARTICULARLY PROUD OF.

>> WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT WE REALLY LOVE.

THAT'S CONCRETE IN FEET.

>> A CHARLOTTE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM.

PREPARES ALLEGES AND THEY HAVE A A TEARY, A COACH AND SON WHEELS TO AN END.

IT'S A SCHOOL BUS THAT'S PAINTED LIKE A COW WITH IT.

THE HORN MS.

IT'S REALLY Q A TRAVEL HERE AND BRING LUNCHES ITS CAN.

AND GET A FREE SCHOOL LUNCH.

JUST 38 HERE UNDER TO GET A LUNCHEON, PARTICIPATE.

THEY EAT HERE ON THE PREMISES AND THEN WE TRY TO GET THEM TO CHECK OUT BOOKS AND, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATE IN OR AN R RATING >> CHILD LITERACY IS AT THE FOREFRONT AFTER LIBRARY SKULL AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS MAKE THIS MISSION POSSIBLE IN THESE WAYS.

LIBRARIES PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH FOOD FOR THE STOMACH, AS WELL AS FOOD FOR THE BRAIN FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M YON JOO PARK.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.