It Takes a Community to prevent, promote and protect!

Transcription

1 Sidney-Shelby County Health Department to prevent, promote and protect! January 2015 Newsletter Shelby County Healthcare Providers & Staff; Shelby County Educators and Community Leaders Updates on Influenza Season Continued Influenza & Hepatitis B Increases National Radon Action Month Dental Health Month The January 16 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) estimates that getting a flu vaccine this season reduced a person s risk of having to go to the doctor because of flu by 23 percent among people of all ages. Since CDC began conducting annual flu vaccine effectiveness studies in , overall estimates for each season have ranged from 10 percent to 60 percent effectiveness ( in preventing medical visits associated with seasonal influenza illness. The MMWR report says this season s vaccine offers reduced protection and this underscores the need for additional prevention and treatment efforts this season, including the appropriate use of influenza antiviral medications for treatment. Myths of Head Lice Extreme Cold Preparedness Measles 6 & 7 Contact Information & Vaccine Update Corner For vaccine questions, handouts for patients, current updates & recommendations go to these dependable resources! * * Physicians should be aware that all hospitalized patients and all outpatients at high risk for serious complications should be treated as soon as possible with one of three available influenza antiviral medications if influenza is suspected, regardless of a patient s vaccination status and without waiting for confirmatory testing, says Joe Bresee, branch chief in CDC s Influenza Division. Health care providers should advise patients at high risk to call promptly if they get symptoms of influenza. One factor that determines how well a flu vaccine works is the similarity between the flu viruses used in vaccine production and the flu viruses actually circulating. During seasons when vaccine viruses and circulating influenza viruses are well matched, vaccine effectiveness between 50 and 60 percent has been observed. H3N2 virus has been predominant so far this season, but about 70 percent of the virus infection has been different or has drifted from the H3N2 vaccine virus. This likely accounts for the reduced vaccine effectiveness. Flu viruses change constantly and the drifted H3N2 viruses did not appear until after the vaccine composition for the Northern Hemisphere had been chosen.

2 Updates on Influenza Season Continued.. Another factor that influences how well the flu vaccine works is the age and health of the person being vaccinated. In general, the flu vaccine works best in young, healthy people and is less effective in people 65 and older. This pattern is reflected in the current season early estimates for VE against H3N2 viruses. VE against H3N2 viruses was highest percent -- for children age 6 months through 17 years. While not statistically significant, VE estimates against H3N2 viruses for other age groups were 12 percent for ages 18 to 49 years and 14 percent for people age 50 years and older. CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine even during season s when drifted viruses are circulating because vaccination can still prevent some infections and can reduce severe disease that can lead to hospitalization and death. Also, the flu vaccine is designed to protect against three or four influenza viruses and some of these other viruses may circulate later in the season. Flu activity so far this season has been similar to the flu season, a moderately severe flu season with H3N2 viruses predominating. Antiviral Supply Update While manufacturers of antiviral medications have stated that there is no national shortage of antiviral medications at this time, and that there is sufficient product available to meet high demand, there are anecdotal reports of spot shortages of these drugs. CDC s advice for patients and doctors is that it may be necessary to contact more than one pharmacy to fill a prescription for an antiviral medication. Pharmacies that are having difficulty getting orders filled should contact their distributor or the manufacturer directly. For large institutional outbreaks this season, CDC is taking new measures to help match demand with supply, working with commercial partners to facilitate filling of large orders of antivirals for long-term care facilities or institutions having difficulty accessing antiviral supplies in outbreak settings. More information is available at ### U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HEALTH ALERT Hepatitis B on the increase in Shelby County In 2014, there were 12 Chronic Hepatitis B cases and 5 acute Hepatitis B cases reported to the Health Department. This is greater than 3 times the numbers reported in There were 4 chronic Hepatitis B cases and 1 Acute Hepatitis reported in The Health Department had 2 cases of perinatal Hepatitis B to investigate this year, ensuring babies do not acquire Hepatitis B! A great resource for testing and vaccination called Hepatitis B: Testing and Vaccinations can be found at Page 2

3 As we start off a new year, the Sidney-Shelby County Health Department wants to remind everyone that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designates January as National Radon Action Month. Radon gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless which makes it easy to forget that it could be a problem in any home, school or building. Radon can pose a serious health risk to those exposed. Radon gas exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and causes about 20,000 deaths per year. For more information on National Radon Action Month, please go to the following websites: or So what is Radon and why be concerned? Radon is a radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless [2] gas, occurring naturally as an indirect decay product of uranium or thorium. Its most stable isotope, 222 Rn, has a half-life of 3.8 days. Radon is one of the densest substances that remains a gas under normal conditions. It is also the only gas under normal conditions that only has radioactive isotopes, and is considered a health hazard due to its radioactivity. Epidemiological studies have shown a clear link between breathing high concentrations of radon and incidence of lung cancer. Thus, radon is considered a significant contaminant that affects indoor air quality worldwide. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the second most frequent cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking, causing 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. While radon is the second most frequent cause of lung cancer, it is the number one cause among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. What can you do to protect you family? As part of National Radon Action Month, the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency (RAPCA), in partnership with Sidney-Shelby County Health Department, is offering 1,000 free radon test kits for Miami Valley homeowners to check their homes for elevated radon levels. Radon is a colorless, odorless soil gas that can build up in homes and may increase the risk of lung cancer for occupants. The Ohio Department of Health estimates about half of Ohio families live in homes with elevated radon levels. Last year, over 600 Miami Valley residents tested their homes for radon with free test kits provided by a grant from Ohio Department of Health. Testing is the only way to know if elevated levels exist in a home, more radon information is available by visiting or The Ohio Department of Health recommends all homes be tested, regardless of age, location, or construction type. Elevated indoor radon levels can be corrected with the installation of a ventilation system to direct the gas outdoors. Homeowners interested in reducing their family s lung cancer risk can visit or call RAPCA at to request a kit. The Sidney-Shelby County Health Department has coupons available for free radon test kits. Please stop by the Health Department to pick up a coupon between 7:30am-4:00pm, Monday through Friday. If you have any questions related to radon, please contact the Environmental Health Division at (937) Page 3

4 February is Dental Health Month! During February, we celebrate National Children s Dental Health Month. In Ohio, we can be proud of the improvements that have been seen in the oral health of our residents through public health efforts. Community water fluoridation, said to be one of the ten great public health achievements of our time, is available to 92 percent of our residents who drink water from public water systems. Dental sealants, the most effective tool to prevent the most common type of tooth decay seen in school-age children today, are being placed on the teeth of children in 50 counties through school-based dental sealant programs. These programs target schools that have a high percentage of children from lower-income families who are less likely to get dental care in a private dental office. The programs are mostly in Ohio's major cities and southeastern counties. Give Kids a Smile Day in Shelby County Myths and Facts about Head Lice Myths and facts are sometimes hard to differentiate. Evidence is clear that exclusion from school, having a nonit policy and mass screenings are not necessary, yet many schools continue to enforce these policies. The myths sometimes get confused with the facts, so here are the facts: lice is spread by head-to-head contact and are much harder to get than a cold or impetigo; lice do not spread any known disease and are not impacted by dirty or clean hygiene; head lice need a blood meal every few hours and the warmth of the human scalp to survive; nits/eggs are glued to the hair shaft by a cement-like substance and very hard to remove; length of hair does not impact his or her risk of getting head lice; lice do not hop, jump or fly; transmission in school is raremore common to get lice from a family member; transmission from helmets or hats are possible but rare; AND head lice are specific to humans. Lice can be successfully treated at home with over-the-counter lice-killing shampoo and diligent combing. Nothing is 100% effective. You can treat with home remedies but there is no scientific proof that they work. Combing is the most important weapon you have to get rid of head lice. If you have concerns or questions on head lice, ask your pediatrician or school nurse. Page 4

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6 Measles Cases From January 1 to January 23, 2015, 68 people from 11 states were reported to have measles. Most of these cases are part of a large, ongoing outbreak linked to an amusement park in California. On January 23, 2015, CDC issued a Health Advisory to notify public health departments and healthcare facilities about this multi-state outbreak and to provide guidance for healthcare providers nationwide. The United States experienced a record number of measles cases during 2014, with 644 cases from 27 states reported to CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). This is the greatest number of cases since measles elimination( was documented in the U.S. in The majority of the people who got measles are unvaccinated. Measles is still common in many parts of the world including some countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. Travelers with measles continue to bring the disease into the U.S. Measles can spread when it reaches a community in the U.S. where groups of people are unvaccinated. Recommendations for Health Care Providers Ensure all patients are up to date on MMR vaccine* and other vaccines. For those who travel abroad, CDC recommends that all U.S. residents older than 6 months be protected from measles and receive MMR vaccine, if needed, prior to departure. Infants 6 through 11 months old should receive 1 dose of MMR vaccine before departure. Children 12 months of age or older should have documentation of 2 doses of MMR vaccine (separated by at least 28 days). Page 6

7 Teenagers and adults without evidence of measles immunity** should have documentation of 2 appropriately spaced doses of MMR vaccine. Consider measles as a diagnosis in anyone with a febrile rash illness and clinically compatible symptoms (cough, coryza, and/or conjunctivitis) who has recently traveled abroad or who has had contact with someone with a febrile rash illness. Immunocompromised patients may not exhibit rash or may exhibit an atypical rash. The incubation period for measles from exposure to fever is usually about 10 days (range, 7 to 12 days) and from exposure to rash onset is usually 14 days (range, 7 to 21 days). Isolate suspect measles case-patients and immediately report cases to local health departments to ensure a prompt public health response. Obtain specimens for testing, including viral specimens for confirmation and genotyping. Contact the local health department for assistance with submitting specimens for testing. * Children 1 through 12 years of age may receive MMRV vaccine for protection against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. Infants who receive a dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should receive 2 more doses of MMR vaccine, the first of which should be administered when the child is 12 through 15 months of age and the second at least 28 days later. ** One of the following is considered evidence of measles immunity for international travelers: 1) birth before 1957, 2) documented administration of 2 doses of live measles virus vaccine (MMR, MMRV, or measles vaccines), 3) laboratory (serologic) proof of immunity or laboratory confirmation of disease. For more information: CDC. Measles United States, January 1 May 23, MMWR. 2014;63: CDC s Measles (Rubeola) website. CDC s Measles Vaccination website. CDC. Notes from the Field: Measles Transmission at a Domestic Terminal Gate in an International Airport United States, January MMWR. 2014; 63): Medscape Today: CDC Expert Commentary: Measles: What You Might Not Know Recognizing, diagnosing, and preventing measles (running time: 5:20 mins). CDC. Prevention of Measles, Rubella, Congenital Rubella Syndrome, and Mumps, 2013: Summary Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) CDC. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases; Chapter 7: Measles Page 7

8 Sidney-Shelby County Health Department Check out our West Poplar St. Sidney, Ohio Phone: Fax: sschd@odh.ohio.gov Do you have questions about: Birth and Death Certificates Jenni St. Myers jenni.stmyers@shelbycountyhealthdept.org Hours: 7:30 am 4:00 pm Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps (BCMH) Kathy Kipp, R.N. kathy.kipp@shelbycountyhealthdept.org Environmental Kent Topp, R.S., Director of Environmental Health kent.topp@shelbycountyhealthdept.org Emergency Preparedness Lou Ann Albers, R.N. louann.albers@shelbycountyhealthdept.org Help Me Grow Visiting Supervisor Lori Heins, R.N. lori.heins@shelbycountyhealthdept.org Immunizations Shelly Detrick, R.N. michele.detrick@shelbycountyhealthdept.org Nursing Margie Eilerman, R.N., Director of Nursing margie.eilerman@shelbycountyhealthdept.org Infectious Diseases Deb Graham, R.N. deb.graham@shelbycountyhealthdept.org Well Child Clinic; School Health Kathy Cavinder, R.N. kathy.cavinder@shelbycountyhealthdept.org WIC Tia Toner tia.toner@shelbycountyhealthdept.org Vaccine Update Corner: ACIP Recommendation for Pneumococcal Vaccines for All Adults 65 Years or Older Effective Sep 19, 2014 *NOTE: PCV13 and PPSV23 now recommended for all adults 65 years or older If not previously vaccinated, administer PCV13 first; give PPSV months after If previously received PPSV23, administer PCV13 12 months after Syndicated and print schedules do not yet reflect this change. Tdap Vaccine Available for $15 at the Health Department for the following individuals *Family members of an infant or newborn under 12 months of age *Caregivers of an infant or newborn under 12 months of age *Grandparents who care for an infant or newborn under 12 months of age All vaccine services are provided by appointment only, Monday through Friday, from 8:30-11:00 a.m. and 12:30-2:30 p.m. Please call the Sidney-Shelby County Health Department with questions or to schedule an appointment at Please contact Shelly Detrick, R.N. at the Health Department for an immunization consultation or a MOBI or AFIX for your office! Page 8