North Dakota/Saskatchewan | Premier, Governor and Senator discuss Souris flood plan
Saskatoon | 3 Feb 2012
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall welcomed North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple and United States Senator John Hoeven for discussions on the preparation for spring runoff of the Souris River.
“We owe it to all the people throughout the Souris River Basin to meet their needs for short-term and long-term flood protection,” Dalrymple said. “Our on-going work has been productive and officials from both sides of the international border are committed to effective flood protection.”
“Over the last few months, Saskatchewan officials have worked closely with representatives from the United States and North Dakota,” Wall said. “It is important to us to be good neighbours and we will soon complete a plan to protect against the kind of flooding seen last year. We have already lowered levels at the Rafferty and Alameda Reservoirs in preparation for spring run off, and we will lower them further, if necessary.”
“Our biggest concern as spring approaches is to make sure all parties involved in use and management of the Souris River are co-ordinating closely to ensure there is ample storage in the reservoirs for both spring melt and summer rains,” Hoeven said. “That process is well underway, and so far Mother Nature is co-operating as well. We are also working closely with Premier Wall, his technical experts and the U.S. and Canadian governments to address changes in the International Agreement that are needed to improve flood management long term.”
Last year was by far the worst year on record for flooding on the Souris River. Heavy rains in June caused unprecedented flooding, far beyond the storage capacity of Saskatchewan’s reservoirs.
Vermont | Portable hospitals enhance statewide public health response capabilities
Burlington | 1 Feb 2012
A new 20-bed inflatable portable hospital and a mass care trailer stockpiled with medical and mass care supplies purchased by the Vermont Department of Health was on display Jan. 30 and 31 at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Jct.
Hospital and public health responders attended a two-day training session on its functions, set-up, take-down and maintenance.
Health Commissioner Harry Chen, MD, Public Health Preparedness Chief Chris Bell, and Peter Coffey, interim director of Vermont Emergency Management discussed the importance of this new medical surge capacity to respond to “all-hazards” public health events and emergencies.
The hospital cost approximately $175,000 and was purchased with Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant funds awarded to the Health Department from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).
There are now two portable hospitals in Vermont, including one housed at the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin.
“These pop-up hospitals are sophisticated – they have negative pressure capability to isolate people with highly infectious illness, and they are fully equipped to handle most medical needs,” said Health Commissioner Harry Chen, MD. “They can be set up quickly in an emergency situation where assessment, triage and treatment can save lives, used to temporarily ease a patient overflow situation, or stand up at a large gathering of people.”
Rhode Island | DEM and HEALTH warn of possible rabies exposure at Kennedy Plaza
Providence | 1 Feb 2012
The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Department of Health (HEALTH) are advising people who were in the Kennedy Plaza area on January 23, 2012 at approximately 8:45am be evaluated for possible exposure to rabies.
A man described as Latino in his mid 50′s, approximately six-feet tall, with a beard and glasses reportedly had a bat in a box and was displaying the bat to a crowd of people gathered there.
DEM and HEALTH are concerned that people may have had contact with this bat and subsequently been exposed to rabies.
DEM and HEALTH are asking for this man, or anyone else who could have had contact with this bat to call (401) 222-2577 or 272-5952 after hours for a rabies risk assessment.
Bat rabies is highly transmissible to humans, and can be transmitted without being bitten or scratched by the bat.
As a result, many times the rabies vaccinations are recommended if there is no visible bite mark and the bat is not available for testing.
Rabies is fully preventable if treatment is initiated soon after an exposure. Timely vaccination after rabies exposure is 100% effective in preventing human rabies.
DEM and HEALTH advise that all people avoid contact with wildlife.
HEALTH and DEM make the following recommendations: · Avoid all contact with stray or free-roaming domestic animals. · Avoid all contact with wild animals. · Call HEALTH if you have had any contact with a stray or free roaming domestic animal, or a wild animal.
North Carolina | Norovirus infections spreading widely across the state
Raleigh | 1 Feb 2012
Throughout January, several local health departments across North Carolina have reported multiple outbreaks of norovirus, prompting state public health officials to issue advice on steps everyone can take to avoid this common and unpleasant gastrointestinal illness.
“The most important message we have right now is that people who are ill with vomiting or diarrhea should not work, go to school or attend daycare while they are having symptoms, “said State Epidemiologist Dr. Megan Davies. “Everyone needs to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water. This is the most effective way to protect yourself and others against norovirus since hand sanitizers alone are not as effective against this hardy virus.”
Noroviruses are easily transmitted by touching a contaminated surface as well as by direct contact or by eating food or drinking liquids that have been contaminated with the virus. Noroviruses are notoriously difficult to kill with normal cleaning and disinfecting procedures. Surfaces that have been contaminated with stool or vomit should be cleaned immediately and disinfected with a freshly prepared diluted bleach solution or a bleach-based household cleaner.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Some may have fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness. The symptoms can begin suddenly and an infected person may go from feeling well to very sick in a very short period of time. In most people, the illness lasts for about one or two days. People with norovirus illness are contagious from the moment they begin feeling sick until at least three days after they recover. Some people may be contagious for even longer, she added. Infection can be more severe in young children and elderly people. Dehydration can occur rapidly and may require medical treatment or hospitalization.
“Unfortunately, there is no specific medications to treat norovirus, but infected people should drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost through vomiting and diarrhea,” Davies said. “The best course of action is prevention.”
Davies offered several simple steps to take if you suspect the presence of a norovirus:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water, especially after toilet visits and before preparing, serving or eating food or drink. Hand sanitizers are not as effective against norovirus.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces contaminated with vomit or diarrhea immediately using a bleach-based household cleaner, or dilute household bleach 1:10 in water (must be mixed fresh daily; never use undiluted bleach).
- Stay home when sick.
- Do not prepare food for other people when sick and for at least three days afterward.
For more information about norovirus, see the Division of Public Health Web site at www.ncpublichealth.com. More detailed information about cleanup in private homes and in other settings can be found at http://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/cd/norovirus/NORO_personal_health.pdf
New York | State DoH extends NIH offer of free evaluation for LeRoy High School students
Albany | 1 Feb 2012
New York State Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D, MPH today announced that the Department has secured an agreement with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that the NIH will provide the Leroy High School students suffering from tic-like symptoms with a free, independent third-party evaluation of their cases.
The evaluations will be performed under the auspices of Dr. Mark Hallett and Dr. Susan Swedo of the NIH Institute on Neurology in Bethesda, Maryland, at no cost for the specialized consultation or for travel and accommodation costs of the students and their families.
The Department of Health is sending information on this opportunity to visit NIH to the parents and families of those affected by this illness and urges them to take advantage of this opportunity to be examined by these experts.
Dr. Hallett is currently NIH’s Chief of the Medical Neurology Branch and Chief of its Human Motor Control Section. He is currently the Principal Investigator of a clinical study of the diagnosis and natural history of patients with neurological conditions.
Dr. Swedo is currently Chief of the Pediatrics and Developmental Neuroscience Branch at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Dr. Swedo and her NIMH team were the first to identify a new subtype of childhood disorder thought to be related to streptococcal infections known as Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS). Dr. Swedo’s work has led to the development of several possible therapies for the condition.
“The Department of Health understands that parents and students in the LeRoy School District are seeking more information on the tic-like symptoms that have presented in some students in the Jr/Sr High School,” Dr. Shah said. “Based on the clinical evaluations of the patients and the pattern in which these cases presented, the Department continues to believe that there is no environmental or infectious cause of these illnesses or public health threat to the community.”
At the request of the school district, water samples from the school were tested at the Department’s Wadsworth Laboratory in Albany. The Department analyzed three drinking water samples taken on January 25, 2012 from the Leroy High School by the Genesee County Health Department. Two samples were taken from areas frequented by students (student laboratory and kitchen). The third sample was taken where public water enters the building and is representative of water quality in the Monroe County Water Authority (MCWA) distribution system that supplies the high school and the surrounding area. The analyses of these samples were completed on January 30, 2012.
The results show nothing out of the ordinary. All three samples meet state and federal drinking water standards. The water quality in the student areas was no different from the water quality in the area around the high school. In addition, all three samples were consistent with the normally expected water quality for the entire Monroe County Water Authority (MCWA) service area. The only chemical detections to note were three disinfection by-products, the earth metal barium, and fluoride. All of these detected chemicals were at levels that are within state and federal drinking water standards. The disinfection by-products were found at levels consistent with entire the MCWA service area. Disinfection by-products occur at all drinking water systems that chlorinate surface water and result from the reaction of the primary disinfectant (chlorine) with naturally occurring organic material found in all surface waters of the State. The detected barium comes from Lake Ontario and is consistent with the level normally present in MCWA’s water. Fluoride is added by MCWA for dental protection purposes and the level detected is MCWA’s optimal target level for fluoride.
Delaware | Governor signs into law ban on dangerous ‘bath salts’ drugs
Dover | 1 Feb 2012
Surrounded by lawmakers, police officers, scientists, social service and health officials, the Governor signed a bill into law that makes permanent a ban imposed last September on a class of designer drugs popularly known as “bath salts.” The new law also gives police and prosecutors more flexibility in dealing with the dangerous drugs.
“This is where public safety and law enforcement meet science and public policy,” said Governor Markell. “This has been a scary epidemic. These drugs, with their high potential for abuse, have been a threat to people and public safety. The emergency ban ordered through Secretary of State Jeff Bullock in September has been a success because emergency rooms are seeing fewer people affected by these ‘bath salt’ drugs. By permanently banning these drugs, we hope to lessen their availability and their use.”
People on the drug can experience bouts of extremely violent paranoia requiring emergency room personnel to take measures, including rendering patients unconscious, to treat them. In some areas, bath salts cases threatened to periodically overwhelm some emergency rooms around the state. The compound of drugs exploded in popularity last summer.
“When it became clear how much these drugs were affecting our communities, we used our emergency powers to act quickly to get them off our streets and out of our stores,” Bullock said. “With the Governor’s leadership on this issue and with the strong support of the General Assembly, we have ensured that not only are bath salts outlawed in Delaware, but also other dangerous designer drugs.”
“In order to protect the public we’ve got to stay one step ahead of the criminals that develop these poisonous substances,” said Attorney General Beau Biden. “This new law not only permanently bans ‘bath salts,’ but also more than a dozen chemicals that could be used to produce new versions of these dangerous mind-altering drugs. I applaud Senator Hall-Long for her leadership in developing this legislation and thank the General Assembly and the Governor for working so quickly to enact this bill.”
Sen. Bethany Hall-Long, D-Middletown, who is also a nursing professor, had been developing legislation banning bath salts when the General Assembly took its summer break. During that time, she worked with the administration, law enforcement as well as medical and pharmacological experts to develop the new law.
“This was a team effort,” Hall-Long said. “These are drugs that you can make in your basement, if you have the right chemicals. Without the changes we made to the law, it wouldn’t have taken a lot to make a drug with the same devastating effects but with a subtle difference in its chemical makeup that would have shielded a person from prosecution.”
A significant investigatory role rests with the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office, which will test the chemicals in the drugs.
“This will be a big challenge,” said Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf. “But we’re going to work to ensure that the Medical Examiner’s office will have the resources it needs to meet that challenge and give our partners in law enforcement the information they need to prosecute these cases.”
Rep. Rebecca Walker, a practicing nurse, saw the effects bath salts have on people first hand in her job as an emergency room nurse at Christiana Hospital.
“People under the influence of these bath salts are so out-of-control and violent that they’ve injured nurses and EMS providers, making it difficult to provide the necessary treatment,” said Walker, D-Middletown. “My biggest concern is for members of the community who may be violently attacked. Permanently banning this dangerous designer drug is an important step in protecting Delawareans.”
Pennsylvania | DEP seeks info about antique medical kit containing Radium-226
Norristown | 1 Feb 2012
The Department of Environmental Protection is asking anyone who knows the history of an antique medical kit found in a Chester County trash bin to contact the agency’s Bureau of Radiation Protection.
“The radioactive material may have been contained in the kit for more than 80 years,” Bureau Director David Allard said. “The metal box likely came from a basement, an attic or a collector’s stash. Anyone who tampered with it or stored it for a long time may have been exposed to high levels of radiation.”
The material was found Jan. 19, when a load of construction debris set off radiation alarms at Waste Management Inc.’s Norristown transfer station. The company deployed a health physicist to recover the radioactive material, identified as
approximately one curie of radium-226. Exposure to one curie of radium-226 is equivalent to having more than 100 CT scans at once, and it has the potential to create skin burns within a few hours of contact.
DEP health physicists worked with Waste Management to properly evaluate and store the radium, and traced its source to a roll-off container that had come from the Hershey’s Mill retirement community in West Chester.
The radium-226 was contained in four capsules inside a small lead safe marked “Radium Chemical Co., Inc.” The safe and some antique surgical equipment were stored inside a larger, locking metal box, which had been pried open.
“Although the capsules do not appear to be leaking, we believe that someone could have had direct contact with these sources of radium-226,” Allard said. “The radioactive radium they contain is about five times the amount found in modern medical sources, and we are concerned about the health of anyone who may have handled them.”
Anyone with information about the kit is asked to contact Allard at 717-787-2480. All calls are confidential.
New York | FDNY firefighters honored for donating bone marrow
Firefighter James Wildes holds 6-year-old Alise Mareerose Williams during the Honor Roll of Life ceremony. Firefighter Wildes donated life-saving stem cells to Alise in 2009. © FDNY Photo Unit.
New York City | 26 Jan 2012
Alise Mareerose Williams may just be 6-years-old, but she’s already experienced more than most adults.
The young girl from Evansdale, Iowa, had two open heart surgeries by the time she was 16-months-old, after being diagnosed with a congenital heart defect when she was 2-months-old. Then, during a hospital stay, the young girl’s blood tests indicated that she had a rare genetic disorder called Fanconi anemia, and her family was told she someday would need a bone marrow transplant to survive.
Her doctors searched the National Bone Marrow Registry in September 2008, and found three perfect matches for Alise – something that almost never happens. On Feb. 4, 2009, she received the transplant.
Now, although her fight is not over, Alise’s health continues to improve.
The perfect match for Alise was 37-year-old Firefighter James Wildes from Engine 162.
The firefighter signed up to be a donor in 2002, when he was at the Fire Academy.
When the Registry called him, telling him he was a potential match, he said he was thrilled he could help and did not hesitate to be tested further. He donated his stem cells at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital on Feb. 3, 2009.
Almost exactly three years later, the two met for the first time during the eighth Honor Roll of Life induction ceremony at FDNY Headquarters on Jan. 25.
Six other firefighters’ names also were added to the Honor Roll plaque during the ceremony for their bone marrow and stem cell donations in 2011, including Lt. Salvatore Belmonte, Lt. Joseph P. Collins, Lt. Michael Kimball, FF Kyle Esquirol, FF Joseph Bordt and FF Francis Morrisey. There currently are 140 FDNY members’ names on the plaque – some of whom have donated several times.
“This is one of the most exciting events that we celebrate each year,” said Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano. “These FDNY members gave a part of themselves to save the life of someone else.”
More than 8,000 FDNY members have signed up with the registry and representatives from the New York Blood Center (NYBC) said that 13 percent of all bone marrow donors are FDNY members.
“I always say that we can all be donors and we may all be patients,” said Dr. Christopher Hillyer, President and CEO of the NYBC. “And FDNY members step up every time they are called.”
Chairman of the NYBC’s Board of Trustees Howard Milstein added, “Your heroism and dedication are an inspiration to all of us.”
After Firefighter Wildes met Alise, he said, “I can’t describe the feeling. To know I saved her, it’s unbelievable.”
He attended the ceremony with his wife, Mary, and their two children, Christian, 4, and Meagan, 16-months.
“I can’t imagine what their family is going through,” he said.
Alise’s mother, Debra, father, Troy, and 12-year-old brother, C.J., also attended the ceremony.
“I have no words,” Ms. Williams said. “I just keep saying ‘thank you.’ She’s here today because of him. It’s above and beyond a miracle.”
She urged everyone to sign up to donate, “You never know who your match will be. Who would have thought a New York City firefighter would match a little Iowa girl?”
Mr. Williams said he was overwhelmed to meet his daughter’s hero.
“Words can’t describe it,” he said. “I’ve seen my little girl die twice. If it wasn’t for this man here today, she wouldn’t be here.”
Although Alise was a little overwhelmed by the attention she received, she had two words to describe how she felt after the ceremony: “I’m happy.”
Learn more about registering as a bone marrow donor. See a list of NYBC blood drives and donor center locations in NY and NJ or call 1-800-933-2566.
Rhode Island | HEALTH monitoring cluster of flu-like illness
Wakefield | 26 Jan 2012
The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) is closely monitoring classroom clusters of flu-like illness at Wakefield Elementary School as Rhode Island officially enters peak flu season. HEALTH’s laboratory has confirmed some illnesses were caused by the influenza Type A virus, which is among the preventable flu strains in this year’s seasonal flu vaccination.
The school has experienced a high rate of absenteeism since the New Year and HEALTH is working directly with school administrators to limit the spread of flu and to make sure students receive appropriate medical care.
“The situation at Wakefield Elementary School underscores the importance of flu vaccination,” said Director of Health Michael Fine, MD. “Flu activity peaks in Rhode Island in January and February. It is not too late to get a flu shot. In fact, this is the most important time to make sure you are vaccinated. Every Rhode Islander who has not yet been vaccinated against the flu should get vaccinated now.”
Flu is a serious illness, especially for young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and anyone with a chronic health condition or a weakened immune system. Everyone older than 6 months of age should get a flu vaccination every year, even healthy people. Some children may need second doses of flu vaccine.
Symptoms of the flu include a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle pain, and fatigue. In addition to vaccination, good health habits can prevent the spread of germs that cause the flu.
• Wash your hands throughout the day with warm water and soap or an alcohol-based hand gel. • Cough or sneeze into your elbow. Flu is spread through coughing or sneezing on other people or into your hands. Cover your coughs and sneezes to prevent others from getting sick. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way. • Stay home if you are sick. If you have flu-like symptoms, stay home from work, school, or child care until you have been fever-free (temperature less than 100.4ºF/38ºC) for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Flu vaccine is available at primary care providers’ offices and pharmacies throughout Rhode Island. For more information, call the HEALTH Information Line at 401-222-5960 / Relay 711 or visit www.health.ri.gov/flu
Michigan | Before flu season peaks, recent cases push need to vaccinate
Lansing | 26 Jan 2012
It’s not too late to get vaccinated against the flu. In recent weeks, the Michigan Department of Community Health’s (MDCH) Bureau of Laboratories has seen an increase in the number of confirmed cases of influenza. In light of these cases, getting vaccinated today will protect you before influenza peaks and throughout the season.
“The recent cases of flu serve as a reminder for Michiganders to get their flu vaccine – before the flu season peaks,” said Olga Dazzo, Director of the MDCH. “We encourage all Michigan citizens to get vaccinated as it truly is the single best way to protect you and your loved ones from getting the flu.”
MDCH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine. Being that it takes about two weeks after vaccination for the body’s immune response to fully kick in, the sooner the vaccine is given, the better your chance of protection.
Based on information from the Michigan Care Improvement Registry, none of the individuals with confirmed flu cases received this season’s flu vaccine. The seasonal influenza viruses that have been submitted to CDC so far are well-matched to the virus strains in the 2011-2012 influenza vaccine. If this continues to be the case, this season’s vaccine should provide good protection to help protect individuals from influenza illness and serious complications resulting from influenza infections.
It is especially important that people at high risk of serious flu complications get vaccinated. So far in Michigan, over half of the cases have been in children. Children, especially those younger than 2 years of age, are at higher risk of serious flu complications such as hospitalization and death. Other high risk group individuals include pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
Vaccination is the first and most important step in protecting against the flu. In addition, there are some everyday steps people can take to stop the spread of influenza, including practicing good cough etiquette, washing hands frequently and staying at home when sick. For more information about the flu, visit www.michigan.gov/flu.
There is plenty of flu vaccine available throughout the state and doctors’ offices can still order flu vaccine if needed. Locations where the vaccine is being administered include doctor’s offices, clinics, health departments, pharmacies and college health centers, as well as by many employers, and even in some schools. Find a flu vaccination clinic near you today with the flu vaccine finder at www.flu.gov.
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