Article 8 Katrina still killing, medical experts say

Storm survivors are dying from both psychological and physical stress from the dust and mold still in dwelling to financial problems to fear of crime, health experts and official say. Old people who are just giving up. There are people who are killing themselves because they feel they can't go on. The city was abandoned after Katrina struck august 29, 2005 and many people did not begin returning until mid 2006. The official death toll in new Orleans stands at about 1,100. State health official said deaths have not been listed as Katrina related since the end of 2005. But Dr.Frank Minyard said he believes the hurricane is still behind many deaths. Many storm- damaged hospitals are not operating fully, and that could help explain why other health facilities are seeing more patients. Another signal is the rise in paid death notices in The Times- Picayune. Stephens analyzed the death notice pattern before and after the storm and said he believes it confirms more local people are dying. His study will be published this month in the Journal of Disaster Medicine and Public Health Medical Preparedness, am American Medical Association's publication.