March is National Nutrition Month . . . "Nutrition from the Ground Up."

Jefferson County Public Health reminds everyone of the importance of making informed food choices and developing good eating and physical activity habits. This year’s National Nutrition Month, March 2010 theme "Nutrition from the Ground Up" offers excellent resources for parents and children. The American Dietetic Association campaign also includes, Registered Dietitian Day, March 10, 2010 which raises awareness of the important role registered dietitians play in our communities. Do you know who your family nutritionist is? Learn more about nutrition services and how dietitians help people live healthier. >> http://www.eatright.org/NNM/content.aspx?id=5342

Jefferson County Public Health Nutrition Services Program dietitians have compiled information on a variety of topics they feel everyone should pay some attention to. “The importance of healthy eating and active living really cannot be over-emphasized, says Sara Lemley, RD Nutrition Services Manager. “We hope people take some time to learn about food choices and nutrition. There is a lot of information out there and all of us thought compiling some of the best resources could help consumers make informed decisions.”

Throughout the month of March, Nutrition Services will provide nutrition advice and resources. Please check Jefferson County Public Health’s web site for upcoming articles and resources on stretching your food budget while improving nutrition with meatless meals and on the benefits of buying local.>> www.jeffco.us/health

The first of four articles provided by JCPH Nutrition Services and their team of Registered Dieticians encourages all of us to plan ahead and shop smarter. Check in next week for the latest article titled - Healthy and Affordable Grocery Shopping.

Jefferson County H1N1 School Located Clinics Open to General Public

After much discussion with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and after careful review of JCPH current vaccine distribution and availability, Jefferson County Public Health decided to open its school-located H1N1 clinics scheduled for Saturday December 12, 2009 and December 19, 2009 to the general public. To date, JCPH has received 114,800 doses of H1N1 vaccine and distributed 96,484 doses to its high priority populations via distribution to healthcare providers in the County, special priority group clinics and mass school-located clinics. Now that the majority of our high risk population has been vaccinated, we are making vaccine available to anyone who wants it.

JCPH has over 15,000 doses of vaccine available for the upcoming clinics. The clinics will be on a first-come, first-served basis. and both the injectable shots or nasal spray will be provided free of charge. Our goal is to vaccinate as many people as possible. Anyone who wants to protect themselves from H1N1 should attend the clinics.

For locations and dates, visit our web page at http://bit.ly/clinics.
You can also email us at publichealthclinics@jeffco.us and let us know which clinic you plan on attending. For those who have already notified us, thank you.

Emergency Preparedness and H1N1

H1N1, Swine Flu, its everywhere these days. What is good information and what is bad? Is the vaccine safe? Where can I get it? How can I tell if I have H1N1? What is the big concern now when seasonal flu impacts so many Americans each year?

These are all questions that we have received over the last few months as the H1N1 virus has picked up speed and is infecting millions of Americans. The truth is that right now no one is really looking for H1N1 specific flu unless you are hospitalized. Early studies and tests have shown that 99.9% of the flu circulating in the country right now is H1N1. Since it costs state laboratories so much to subtype for this specific virus, health authorities are assuming that if you have the flu, chances are, it’s H1N1. So while you will not know specifically if you have H1N1, you can make that assumption when it comes to caring for yourself and your family.

So what do you if you get sick with flu? Start with good hygiene such as washing hands well and often; stay home or keep your kids home if you have a fever or cough; be especially attentive to washing hands and disposing of tissues and staying away from others to prevent spread. Most people have not needed medical care and have been able to recover at home. There are some however, who are more likely to get flu complications and they should talk to a health care provider about whether they need to be examined if they get flu symptoms. This includes, pregnant women, children under the age of 2 and those with chronic medical conditions. Eating right, getting good rest and regular exercise will also help you stay healthy.

Although many people have strong opinions about vaccines, all data indicates that vaccines are a safe effective way to prevent disease. But why get a shot if this flu virus is no worse than the seasonal flu? First off this flu is targeting younger, healthier adults and children at an alarming rate, similar to the 1918 pandemic that killed millions. Second, the seasonal flu kills 36,000 people in the U.S each year; if we try to minimize H1N1 by comparing it to the seasonal flu we are minimizing the loss of 36,000 lives.

Jefferson County Public Health has distributed nearly 35,000 doses of vaccine to our high risk community members via special clinics and distribution to healthcare providers and emergency workers. Call your healthcare provider or check the Immunize Colorado Website for vaccine clinics in your county. Jefferson County residents are also asked to attend one of our school located clinics if they are unable to access vaccine through their provider. Please see: http://bit.ly/clinics

The 2009 H1N1 influenza virus will impact your community in some way, especially since the spread of seasonal flu has not yet kicked up. Think seasonal flu times two, except now we are watching a different age group (children) being most affected. This virus spreads very easily and it is still possible that it will combine with another flu virus that have a much higher mortality rate creating more deaths and more illness. Working together we can slow the spread and reduce the chances of a stronger, deadlier flu strain appearing in the spring or next fall.

Stay healthy, stay informed, and visit our website for more information.

Jody Erwin, Emergency Response Coordinator

Quit for a Day…Quit for Life

If you’ve ever though about quitting tobacco, or know someone who is, now may be the time to make that change. The Great American Smokeout is Thursday, November 19th and Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) encourages all tobacco users, whether you smoke or use spit tobacco, to Quit for A Day or Quit for Life. This year the County is dubbing the day the “Great Smoke and Spit Out” to encourage those who using chew/spit tobacco to join the challenge to quit.

According to the American Cancer Society, people who have a plan for quitting DOUBLE the odds of staying quit forever. If you want to take the tobacco-free plunge – whether it’s for one day or for good, there are steps to take now that will help you prepare and significantly increase your chances for success.

JCPH, through the Tobacco Prevention team, is making information available to the community and employers about resources to help quit tobacco for the day or for life. We are also offering “Getting Ready to Quit” classes which are free, one-time, mini-workshops designed to help those thinking about quitting smoking or chewing tobacco to plan for success. There are 2 different sessions scheduled: one on Friday, November 13 from 6 – 8 pm at the Freedom Center (870 Kipling Street in Lakewood) and the other on Monday, November 16 from 6 – 8 pm at Exempla Lutheran Medical Center (8300 W. 38th Avenue, Conference Room F in Wheat Ridge.) To reserve a spot and for more information, call (303) 275-7565.

There are many other options to help support tobacco users who would like to quit. (Please see the list at the end for more information.) You may also visit the tobacco prevention page on the JCPH website, for the “9 Days to Prepare to Quit” plan, which provides information about the key steps to take to successfully quit for good. If you would like a free quit kit with educational materials to support the quitting process, call (303) 275-7509 or email fdjcisan@jeffco.us.

For a list of additional resources on quitting, check out our news release.

Prevent Animal-borne Disease - End of Season

The 2009 zoonoses season is winding down and pet and citizen encounters with insects and wildlife are starting to decrease. The summer started out cool and wet and it looked like we might have a very active season West Nile Virus (WNV) season. Our integrated mosquito management program started in early June and was prepared for a very busy season but the WNV activity started slow and remained that way throughout the 2009 season. Compared to past years this will be one of the slowest WNV seasons we have had since WNV first came to Colorado. At this time Jefferson County has had 5 cases of WNV and the State has 51. The total number of cases in the State will probably increase slightly but that number will still be lower than any of the past five years. Jefferson County cases have always been lower than other highly populated counties and that is the case this year, never having more than 10 cases during the WNV season the last five seasons.

The wet and cool weather did lead to more plague activity in prairie dog colonies than we have seen over the past few years. We had prairie dog die offs due to plague from infected fleas in the north and south ends of the county. Citizen use in those areas was restricted and JCPH monitored the flea activity in those areas and continued to find infected fleas weeks after the prairie dogs were gone. The health department is now waiting for the first frost of the year to eliminate any remaining fleas so the areas can be opened for public use.

The number of specimens submitted for rabies testing in 2009 has been about average this year with over 70 animals tested with 40 of those specimens being wild animals. Two bats tested positive for rabies this summer. Every year, several counties from around the State, including Jefferson County, have bats test positive for rabies. In 2007 skunk rabies was detected in several eastern Colorado Counties and this summer skunk rabies worked its way into El Paso County and eastern Arapahoe County. El Paso County is south of the Denver metro area and had several skunks test positive for rabies this past summer. It is only a matter of time before skunk rabies makes its way into the Denver Metro area and into Jefferson County. Now that there are two wild animals that could have rabies in Colorado (bats and skunks) it is very important that everyone always remember the following points.

Keep your pets (dogs, cats, and ferrets), horses and other high-value livestock up to date on their rabies vaccinations.
Stay away from an animal exhibiting bizarre behavior, such as a nocturnal animal like a skunk wandering about during the day or a bat on the ground.
Never feed or approach wild animals and everyone should stay away from wild animals.
If your pet is bitten or scratched by a wild animal consult your veterinarian immediately.
Contact your doctor immediately if you suspect you’ve been exposed to rabies.
If you must remove a dead animals from your property lift the carcass with a shovel or other tool and place the animal into a double-bag and throw it out in the trash.

As the summer comes to a close and everyone starts to enjoy winter time activities remember to add warm clothes, water proof shoes, and a winter time survival kit to your planned activities.

That’s it for me, now I will turn the reins over to Jody Erwin who is going to teach us all about Emergency Preparedness and H1N1.

July was a busy month for the Jefferson County Public Health Zoonosis program because there was one of the largest prairie dog die offs due to plague that the county has ever seen. Two areas in the northern area of the county were closed while dealing with the issue, a recreational campground and large off leash dog park.

Plague is spread by the bite of an infected flea and the poor prairie dogs have no immunity. The prairie dog usually takes the blame for plague but they are actually the biggest victim. The plague will spread through the colony killing upwards of 100% of the population in as little as 10 days. The problem is the infected fleas, while they will die in due time because they have killed their host, they are very stout insects and can hang on for weeks or even months while they wait for an un-suspecting animal (wild or domestic) to use. The flea will jump onto their new host and begin their life cycle all over. Dogs are not very susceptible to the plague but they will bring the infected fleas home to humans and cats.

Because of possible interactions with infected fleas the two public areas were closed while the empty burrows were treated with an insecticide to kill the fleas. After the areas were treated the health department went back to look for fleas that may have lived through the treatment or burrows that might have been overlooked during the insecticide application. If fleas, or areas that were un-treated are found than those areas are re-treated. This process will go on until all the areas are treated and no fleas are found during follow-up inspections.

The campground area represents a very typical area that the health department deals with each summer. An area, such as this one, will be inspected, closed and the burrows treated. After treating with an insecticide, the area can be opened to the public with brochures and signs posted at all the entrances informing people of plague in the area. These postings also remind them to always keep their pets on leashes and have their veterinarian prescribe a flea treatment.

Plague is a treatable disease if detected early. That is why all the areas are posted to inform people that if they become ill shortly after visiting this park or any park in the state they should consult their physician and inform them of their possible exposure to plague.

The dog park area, located in Westminster, was a different story because it was a very large off leash park that covered hundreds of acres with many different trials running the entire length and width of the park. In order to open the park up for the public it was divided into two areas. The main area of the park near the parking lot which is the area where the majority of people come to let their dogs run and the second larger area that is west of the parking lot. The western area has hundreds of acres of wide open land with trails running all over. The main off leash area was treated twice with insecticide and after inspecting the burrows and not finding any fleas in this area it was allowed to re-open.

The western part of the park was so large that JCPH was finding fleas on every inspection and in burrows near to the trails. This area remains closed at this time and is being evaluated.

As with everything else in life the insecticide process can not guarantee that 100% of the fleas have been killed but the process is aimed at significantly reducing the risk of encountering an infected flea. If you are taking your pets into the woods, parks, or camping always work with your veterinarian to have a good flea treatment for your pet. Remember that there are always rodents and insects in the woods that can carry many different kind of parasites and possible diseases. Always use insect repellant according to label instructions every time you go camping and hiking. Conduct flea and tick inspections on yourself and your pets after every excursion into the wild. These simple precautions will go a long way to help you have another enjoyable and memorable summer.

Preventing Animal-borne Disease...

Plague Confirmed in Jefferson County Prairie-Dog Population
Jefferson County Public Health received positive test results for plague today from a flea specimen collected from a prairie dog die-off at the Westminster Hills Open Space/Dog Park. The dog park is located at 105th Avenue and Simms Street. The area of concern includes the entire dog park and open space area from Simms Street west to Indiana Street.
Environmental Health Services submitted flea specimens to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for testing on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 and received results back this morning. The area is being closed to the public and posted with plague warnings signs today.
Dr. Jim Dale, DVM, MPH, Director of Environmental Health Services said, “There have been no reported human cases of plague in the area and if precautions are taken the disease is not considered to be a threat to humans.”

Health officials are advising visitors to the Westminster Hills Open Space/Dog Park, and all Jefferson County citizens, to take precautions. JCPH recommends that everyone living in or visiting the area in and around the Westminster Hills Open Space/Dog Park take the necessary precautions, listed below, to protect themselves and their pets from plague.

Plague is an infectious disease caused by Yersinia pestis, a bacterium. Prairie dogs are extremely susceptible to plague. Plague is transmitted via fleas that have bitten plague-infected wild rodents. Cats most commonly contract the disease from flea bites, a rodent scratch/bite, or ingestion of a rodent. Dogs are generally resistant to plague, however they may pick up and carry plague-infected fleas. Humans may be infected with plague through bites from infected fleas, by the cough from an infected animal, or by direct contact (i.e. through a bite) with blood or tissues of infected animals.

Residents are urged to talk with their veterinarian regarding effective flea control products -- always read and follow directions on flea product labels. People can protect themselves and their pets from plague by:

• rodent-proofing their homes;


• maintaining litter and trash-free environments;


• storing food and garbage properly to prevent rodent access;


• keeping domesticated animals indoors;


• and when recreating, pet owners should:


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  use insect repellant;

  
  

  
  

  keep their pets on leashes;

  
  

  
  

  and use flea control products on pets.

If these reasonable precautions are taken, the probability of contracting plague is extremely low.
Symptoms of plague in humans occur within two to seven days after exposure. Infected persons may experience fever, headache, weakness and rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath; chest pain; cough; and sometimes bloody or watery saliva. The pneumonia progresses for two-to-four days and may cause respiratory failure and shock. Plague is treated with antibiotics. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should consult a physician.

The Health Department will continue its plague surveillance of rodent populations in the County. Citizens are requested to report any unusual rodent die-offs to Jefferson County Public Health at 303-271-5700.
For more information, contact the Jefferson County Public Health Environmental Health Services at 303-271-5700 or www.jeffco.us/health.

For more information on the dog park closing, go to http://www.ci.westminster.co.us/33_2765.htm