I was able to speak with Public
Health Communications expert, Nancy Braden, on the public health issues
affecting Jefferson County, Colorado. She was able to answer some general
questions that I had about recent trends in public health in her county, and
then she referred me to her website and message board, where all her recent
public health announcements had been posted. Based on the information that she
gave me, as well as the postings, I was able to five basic public health trends
for the area.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough): There has been an increase
in the reported cases of whooping cough in Jefferson County this year, although
the numbers appear to be going down. Last week there were 20 incidences of
whooping cough reported. Prior to that, roughly 30 people a week were receiving
treatment for the disease. Because whooping cough is highly contagious and can
cause death in infants younger than 12 months, the Jefferson County Public
Health Office is actively tracking occurrences of the disease. It is
recommended that those who believe that they have whooping cough, see a medical
specialist as soon as possible. DTaP vaccines are available for infants, who
should begin the series at 2 months and continue it at 4 and 6 months.
Rabies: In Jefferson County, the primary carriers of
rabies are skunks and bats. Although the last reported instance of a person in
Jefferson County contracting rabies occurred in 1930, cases of rabies transfer
to livestock and companion animals continue to be reported. There has recently
been an increase in the number of cases of rabid skunks reported on the Front
Range of Eastern Colorado, as well as reports of foxes contracting rabies after
coming in contact with the skunks. The Jefferson County Department of Public
Health has been sending educational materials to schools, to help children
learn how to protect themselves and their pets from being bitten by infected
animals.
Influenza: Last week in Jefferson County there were 44
cases of influenza hospitalizations, as well as 5 pediatric deaths. Although
these numbers are high, they are substantially lower than they were at the
beginning of the year. In the first week of January alone, there were almost
150 cases of hospitalization resulting from influenza. Because this disease is
highly communicable, state law requires that all instances of influenza be
reported to the Public Health Department. In order to prevent the spread of
influenza, Jefferson County Public Health is asking that everyone six months
old and older get their seasonal flu shot— especially the children, pregnant
women, the elderly, and healthcare workers.
Salmonella: There have been a number of recent cases
of salmonella in Jefferson and the surrounding counties. Although salmonella is
usually a food-born illness caused by eating eggs, the most recent outbreaks
have been attributed to the improper handling of live poultry. The public
health office has found that around Easter, cases of salmonella tend to
increase dramatically as a result of parents giving baby chicks and ducks to
their children. The CDC and Jefferson County Public Health Office have advised
that parents keep children under the age of 5 away from live poultry, and that
those who handle birds wash their hands with soap and water, and avoid letting
the birds come in contact with kitchen surfaces.
Radon: The Jefferson County Public Health Office is
currently offering free private residence radon testing kits for anyone who
feels like their home may be at risk. Radon is an invisible, odorless gas that
is present in most homes in Jefferson County, and can be toxic in high
quantities. Although the acceptable level of radon gas is 4.0 pCi/L, the
average home in Jefferson County has been found to contain about 6.2 pCi/L. After
it is detected, the buildup of harmful radon gas can be prevented by sealing up
cracks in insulation and installing adequate ventilation systems. If not
stopped, continued exposure to radon may lead to lung cancer and other diseases.
No comments:
Post a Comment