Prevent Animal-Borne Diseases This Summer

Jefferson County, CO--Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is reminding residents that along with warm weather this summer residents may be exposed to wild animals and insect that carry the following diseases.   Rabies, West Nile Virus, Western Equine Encephalitis, Zika Virus, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Bubonic Plague, Tularemia, and Colorado Tick Fever.  There diseases can be carried by wild animals and insects (rodents, rabbits, squirrels, mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks) and then transmitted to humans. 

JCPH encourages everyone to protect their family and pets by taking the following precautions.  Always wear insect repellant and appropriate clothing when enjoying outdoor activities.  Control the presence of rodents and mosquitoes around their home by sealing all openings and removing standing water.  Vaccinate all of your pet cats, dogs, ferrets, and valuable livestock for rabies and provide fleas and tick protection.  Do not to handle sick or dead animals or animal waste, and contact your local animal control agency for assistance in dealing with domestic or wild life encounters.

Rabies
Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals.  People and domestic pets can get rabies from the bite of a rabies-infected animal (rabid animal).   Any wild mammal, such as raccoon, skunk, fox, coyote or bat can have rabies and transmit it to people through a bite. It is also possible, although rare, for persons to get rabies when infectious material, such as saliva from a rabid animal, gets into an individual's eyes, nose, mouth or open wound.

Bats are by far the most common carriers of rabies in Colorado and Jefferson County but skunk rabies has returned to Colorado and several skunks have tested positive for rabies in 2016 in Jefferson County.  Because rabies is a fatal disease and skunk rabies is now in the Denver metro area everyone should take steps to protect your family and pets against rabies.  The best and most economical way is to have a licensed veterinarian vaccinate all your domestic cats, dogs, ferrets, and valuable horses and livestock against rabies.  It’s important to vaccinate your pets even if they stay indoors because rabid bats have been found inside homes as well as outdoors.  Protect your home from wildlife and insects by making sure all windows, doors or other openings are always closed and have screens that are in good condition.  Keep your home and yard clutter free and seal any openings.

Bites and Exposures: If bitten by a bat, dog, cat, raccoon or other mammal, wash the affected area thoroughly and seek medical advice immediately. Contact your local animal control agency with the location of the animal so the animal can be collected to undergo appropriate testing or quarantine.  If your pet comes into contact with a wild mammal and is unvaccinated (and the wild animal is not available for rabies testing to rule out rabies) your pet is subject to euthanasia or, a strict 4 month quarantine at a secure facility such as an animal boarding facility or veterinarian clinic. 

West Nile Virus and Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE)
These diseases are carried by mosquitoes and can be passed on to humans through the a mosquito bite.  Both diseases can also cause encephalitis or inflammation of the brain and lining of the brain and spinal cord.  Encephalitis can be life threatening for anyone and is particularly serious for those whose ability to fight off infections is compromised. 

The mosquitoes of greatest concern concerning WNV in Jefferson County are Culex tarsalis and Culex pipiens, these mosquitoes feed primarily in the few hours at dawn and dusk.  Dead birds are no longer tested for WNV testing but residents can report dead bird findings to the Colorado Help Line at 1- 877-462-2911.

Preventing WNV: The best way to prevent mosquito-borne disease is to mosquito proof your home and backyard.  Prevent mosquito bites by wearing appropriate clothing and wear insect repellent according to the label directions when conducting all outdoor activities.  This is especially important during dawn or dusk, when Culex mosquitoes are active.  For a complete list of repellants and their effectiveness, please visit the JCPH website at jeffcou.us/public-health.

Culex mosquitoes breed in almost any source of standing water, including old tires, irrigated fields, flowerpots, tree holes, or any puddle of water that lasts for more than a few days.  Mosquitoes lay up to 250 eggs at a time in still water, which hatch into adult mosquitoes in as few as 2-3 days. Eliminating standing water every two to three days will keep mosquitoes from breeding.

Symptoms:  Although most people who are infected with mosquito-borne viruses do not become ill and have no symptoms, others may develop symptoms between 3 and 14 days after being bitten. Symptoms may include fever, headache, and tiredness lasting about 2-7 days. In some cases, the virus can cause a more serious brain infection such as aseptic meningitis or encephalitis. These infections begin with a sudden onset of high fever and a headache, and then may progress to stiff neck, disorientation, tremors, and coma. Severe infections can result in permanent impairment or death. There is no specific treatment for infection with these viruses except supportive care.

Zika Virus

Zika virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus).  Local mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus has been reported in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. The number of Zika cases among travelers visiting or returning to the United States is projected to increase as we head into the spring and summer. 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suspects that Aedes species mosquito could carry the Zika virus well beyond the Southeast during the summer into the Midwest and Northeast.  The Zika virus can also be spread during sex by a man infected with Zika to his male or female partners.  Some non-travelers in the United States have become infected with Zika through sex with a traveler.

Public Health’s top priority for the Zika response is to protect pregnant women and their fetuses. The range of health effects linked with Zika infection during pregnancy as well as how many and which pregnancies may be at risk of poor outcomes are essential pieces of information for the public health response to the Zika outbreak

Symptoms: Most people infected with Zika virus won’t even know they have the disease because they won’t have symptoms. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes). Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache. The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) for Zika virus disease is not known, but is likely to be a few days to a week. See your doctor or other healthcare provider if you are pregnant and develop a fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes within 2 weeks after traveling to a place where Zika has been reported. Be sure to tell your doctor or other healthcare provider where you traveled. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week.

Preventing Zika:  Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Make sure all windows and doors have screens in good condition or keep windows and doors closed.  Prevent Zika by avoiding mosquito bites. (See Fight the Bite) Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-registered insect repellents and always follow the product label instructions. Prevent sexual transmission of Zika by using condoms or not having sex.

Everyone should always practice the 4 Ds during the upcoming mosquito season to prevent any mosquito borne diseases such as WNV, Dengue, or Zika.   The most effective way to protect yourself from being bitten by mosquitoes is to use insect repellant for all outdoor activities, even to pick up the mail or going out to get in your car.

Resources: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

CDC Changes Reporting of Numbers of Pregnant Women affected by Zika Virus

Zika Virus and Pregnancy or Planning a Pregnancy

CDC’s recommendations for couples thinking about pregnancy

Areas with Zika: United States

Bubonic Plague
Bubonic Plague is a disease caused by a bacterium named Yersinia pestis. These bacteria can be transmitted to humans by the bites of infected fleas or by direct contact with infected animals. Plague is frequently detected in rock squirrels, prairie dogs, wood rats and other species of ground squirrels and chipmunks. It is also found in fox squirrels, a tree squirrel common in front range city parks and residential areas.

Symptoms: The incubation period for plague is usually 2-6 days. Typical symptoms include sudden onset of fever and chills, severe headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and a general feeling of systemic illness. Lymph node pain and swelling is a suggestive symptom of bubonic plague. Treatment with antibiotics is effective during the early stages of disease. 

Preventing plague:  The best way to prevent plague is to control the presence of rodents and fleas in and around the home. In addition, people should avoid contact with any species of wild rodents, especially sick or dead rodents. Dogs and cats should be confined so they cannot prey on infected rodents and then bring the disease home with them. Pet owners who live close to rodent populations should use flea control products recommended by their veterinarian. Controlling fleas on pets will prevent the transfer of fleas to humans.  If these reasonable precautions are taken, the probability of contracting plague is extremely low.

If a dead rabbit, squirrel, prairie dog or other rodent is found, do not directly handle the animal. Use gloves and place in a plastic bag. Large die-offs of dead squirrels, prairie dogs, other rodents and rabbits should be reported to JCPH Environmental Health Services at 303-232-6301.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a serious respiratory disease caused by a virus (hantavirus). Hantavirus is carried by wild rodents, particularly deer mice, and is present in their droppings (feces), urine and saliva. These dried droppings or urine can be stirred up in dust and breathed in by people. People may get hantavirus when they breathe in air contaminated by the virus. Hantavirus has not been shown to infect other kinds of animals, such as dogs, cats, or farm animals. The disease is not contagious and does not spread from human to human.

Symptoms: The incubation period (time between exposure and appearance of symptoms) varies widely, but ranges from 1 to 6 weeks, with an average of 2-3 weeks. First symptoms of HPS include fever, headache, and muscle pain, severe abdominal, joint and lower back pain, nausea and vomiting. A cough and shortness of breath usually develops 1 to 5 days after the onset of symptoms. The primary symptom of HPS is difficulty in breathing due to fluid build-up in the lungs. This can quickly progress to respiratory failure.

Preventing Hantavirus: The best way to prevent the risk of hantavirus infection is to control the presence of rodents in and around the home. This includes sealing up rodent entry holes or gaps; trapping mice and rats; and, being careful not to create food sources for the rodents, i.e. keeping yard clean and putting away pet food. Hantavirus is often encountered when cleaning vacated sheds, cabins or other enclosed areas, so it is especially important that areas where rodents have been are cleaned cautiously and carefully. Areas should not be swept or vacuumed as this can stir up dust. Instead, use gloves and thoroughly wet contaminated areas with a bleach solution or household disinfectant. Once wet, contaminated materials can be taken up with damp towel and then mopped or sponged with bleach solution or household disinfectant.  Contaminated gloves should be disinfected before taking them off. After taking off the clean gloves, wash hands with soap and warm water.

Colorado Tick Fever
Colorado tick fever is caused by a virus that thrives in the environment through a rodent-tick-rodent cycle. The virus can be transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected Rocky Mountain wood tick. Ticks emerge in the mountains of Colorado in late March and are present throughout the summer with the peak season occurring in late May through early June. 

Symptoms: Colorado tick fever is the most common tick-borne disease in Colorado. However, it is believed that most cases go unrecognized. This viral illness is characterized by fever, headache, body aches, nausea, abdominal pain, and lethargy. Symptoms usually last 4-5 days, followed by an apparent recovery, and then a relapse with symptoms for 2-3 more days. Complete recovery can take 2 or 3 weeks.  The disease is not life threatening and infection results in life-long immunity.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a rare disease caused by a bacterium, Rickettsia and transmitted to humans through the bite of the Rocky Mountain wood tick and American dog tick. Ticks can carry spotted fever organisms (rickettsia) and infect humans via a bite at any time during the year.

Symptoms: The initial symptoms, which follow an incubation period of 3 to 14 days, are "flu-like": there may be sudden onset of high fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches. A rash often appears a few days later. This rash spreads rapidly over the entire body and may even be seen on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be fatal if medical attention and treatment is delayed. The illness can be treated with antibiotics.

Prevention: When going to the mountains, people are advised to wear light-colored clothing, tuck trousers into the tops of socks and shirttails into trousers, and to apply a small amount of an insect repellant containing DEET on clothing. Frequent “tick checks” should be performed every two to three hours especially in key areas such as the back, scalp and behind the ears. Once embedded in the skin, a tick can be removed by using a pair of tweezers to grasp the tick and gently but firmly pull backwards, without crushing the tick or leaving the mouthparts in the skin. Avoid crushing tick between fingers as infection can occur if the rickettsia bacteria enter the skin. Washing hands and applying an antiseptic to the bite after removal is advised.  Ticks should always be removed carefully and as soon as possible to prevent disease transmission.

A tick must be attached for several hours for the disease to be spread.

Tularemia

Tularemia is bacterial disease associated with various animal species, especially rodents, rabbits, hares and beavers.  Tularemia is now being found every year in Jefferson County and has already been detected in several counties in Colorado in 2015. Humans can be infected with the bacteria, which is treatable with appropriate antibiotics. People can get tularemia from many different sources including through the bite of an infected insect (usually a tick or deerfly), handling infected animal carcasses, consuming contaminated food or water, or by inhalation of the bacteria.  Although this disease can occur throughout the year, the peak times correspond with tick season (in spring and summer and with the rabbit hunting season in early winter. Tularemia is not spread from person to person.

Symptoms:  Symptoms of Tularemia disease usually appear 3-5 days after exposure and can include a sudden high fever, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, muscle and joint pain, and a sore or lesion at the site where the bacteria entered the body.  In addition, if the bacteria are ingested, such as by swallowing contaminated water or eating improperly cooked/prepared rabbit meat, a person may have a sore throat, abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea.  If any of these symptoms are noted after handling dead animals or swallowing untreated drinking water (as you find in a creek), contact your physician.

Recommendations for avoiding exposure to tularemia include the following:

Do not handle sick or dead animals.  Instruct children to leave wildlife alone.  When mowing, gardening, or landscaping: don’t mow over sick or dead animals;  when possible, check the area for carcasses prior to mowing; Use of masks during mowing and other landscaping activities may reduce your risk of inhaling the bacteria, but this has not been studied. Wear rubber gloves when skinning or handling animals, especially rabbits. Thoroughly cook meat from wild game, especially rabbit and squirrel meat, before eating.  Use protective clothing and insect repellents to avoid deerfly and tick bites.   Conduct frequent “tick checks”.  Avoid untreated drinking water.  Use DEET or other tick repellant during the Colorado tick season. Ticks emerge in the mountains of Colorado in late March and are present throughout the summer with the peak season occurring generally in late May through early June.  

For more information on animal borne disease and prevention please call JCPH Environmental Health Services Zoonosis Program at 303-271-5700 or visit JCPH at jeffco.us/public-health.  Information is also available on the Colorado Department of Health and Environment web site: www.cdphe.state.co.us or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov .

Attention Pregnant Women - ZIKA Update

Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals in the world because of the diseases they spread. Zika virus disease (Zika) spreads to people mainly through the bite of two types of mosquitoes. The newest edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vital Signs focuses on the threat of Zika to pregnant women and their fetuses and the steps that can be taken by them, their partners and communities to thwart this public health risk. In past outbreaks, most people with Zika have not gotten sick, so people may not even know they've been infected.

Based on current knowledge, the greatest risk for complications from Zika is to a pregnant woman's fetus. According to the Vital Signs report, pregnant women can take the following actions: 

• Avoid travel to any area with Zika. 

• Take preventive steps such as wearing insect repellent.

• Talk to her doctor first if she must travel to an area with Zika, and get tested for Zika between 2 and 12 weeks after returning. 

• Use latex condoms, the right way, every time or choose not to have any type of sex with a partner who has been in an area with Zika.

For more information on Zika and pregnancy, visit the CDC website.

For more information on animal-borne diseases, please contact our Zoonosis Program at
303-232-6301 or dvolkel@jeffco.us.

Prevent Animal-Borne Diseases

 

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) reminds residents that with summer and warm weather upon us, so is the risk of contracting certain animal-borne diseases. Rabies, West Nile Virus, Western Equine Encephalitis, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Bubonic Plague, Tularemia, and Colorado Tick Fever are all diseases that can be carried by various animals and insects (rodents, mosquitoes or ticks) and then transmitted to humans. 

Tularemia is on the rise throughout Colorado as evidenced by the increased incidence of infection in wildlife, domestic animals and humans in 2014. Causing a zoonosis frequently referred to as ‘rabbit fever,’ the bacterium can infect over one hundred species of wild mammals, birds and insects. The disease is maintained in rabbit and rodent populations and is transmitted between animals by insect bites, direct transmission, and inhalation or ingestion of the bacteria. The infective dose of the bacterium is very small and it can persist for long periods of time in the environment in water, soil and carcasses.

Hantavirus cases occur year-round, but most people are exposed during the spring and summer months. Hantavirus symptoms begin one to six weeks (average 2 weeks) after exposure to infected rodents or their excreta (urine, droppings, or saliva) and often associated with domestic, occupational, or recreational activities. Although not all patients will give a history of rodent exposure, reports of increases in mouse populations around their residence or exposure to mice infested buildings are common among Hantavirus patients.

Most animal-borne diseases occur more often during the spring and summer months, when people tend to be outdoors more often and wild animals and insects are active.  JCPH recommends everyone help control the presence of rodents and mosquitoes around their home; and, when heading outdoors, particularly to areas where wild animals and insects are active, wear insect repellent, appropriate clothing and protect your pets from fleas and ticks. Remember not to handle sick or dead animals or animal waste. A few precautions go a long way towards preventing animal-borne disease.  To learn more about animal-borne diseases, please visit our website.

Get Your Heart Into It . . . Wear Red on February 6, 2015

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States, claiming approximately 1 million lives annually. Every 33 seconds someone in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease which is roughly the equivalent of a September 11th- like tragedy repeating itself every 24 hours, 365 days a year. But, heart disease is preventable and manageable.

Jefferson County Public Health recently completed a comprehensive health assessment and cardiovascular disease is also the leading cause of death in Jefferson County. It accounted for more than 24 percent of all deaths in 2011. Heart disease and stroke are the most common types of cardiovascular disease. Although cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Jefferson County, the number of deaths has declined over the past 10 years. Heart disease can often be prevented. Tackling known risk factors such as tobacco use, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and inactive lifestyle can greatly reduce risks for illness and death from heart disease.

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) reminds everyone that Friday, February 6, 2015 is National Wear Red Day. Wearing something red on February 6, is a simple, powerful way to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke.

JCPH is organizing a photo opportunity at the Jefferson County Courts and Administration Building, 100 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden on Friday, February 6, 2015 at 12 noon. Please join us and wear your favorite red.

• For more information on heart disease and prevention, please visit the American Heart Association www.americanheart.org
  
• Act in Time! Learn the warning signs and the importance of calling 9-1-1 immediately at the onset of symptoms.
  
• The health department also has handouts and other educational materials on heart health and reducing your risk factors.
  
• Get Involved in Healthy People Healthy Places Jeffco (a community collaboration working on a health improvement plan for Jefferson County.

Jefferson County Public Health is committed to promoting health, preserving the environment and preventing injury and disease for the residents of Jefferson County, Colorado. Please call 303-232-6301 or visit our web site at jeffco.us/public-health for more information.

Healthy Habits Prevent Spread of Disease

Our hands are exposed to germs with our every action. Keeping hands clean through proper handwashing practices is one the most effective and important steps taken to control spreading germs and/or getting sick. People often touch their eyes, nose, and mouth-- places where many germs exist—with their hands numerous times each day without even noticing. Germs can also make their way onto our hands after using the toilet, handling raw foods, shaking hands with another person, or touching any object someone has sneezed or coughed on or around, for example. 

With the height of flu season just ahead and other viruses and illnesses threatening our health this fall, it’s important to use the most basic sanitary practices to stay well. Simply washing hands with soap and clean, running water can prevent the spread of many diseases, illnesses and conditions and help people and communities stay healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), handwashing with soap could protect about 1 out of every 3 young children who get sick with diarrhea and nearly 1 out of every 6 young children with respiratory infections like pneumonia.

For more information on the correct handwashing procedures view this brochure.

Enterovirus D68: What You Need to Know

As with any illness that spreads quickly across the country, it is natural for the public to have increased concern and even worry. After all, there have been almost 277 confirmed Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) cases across 40 states. Everyone can help prevent the spread of respiratory illness.

Jefferson County Public Health has compiled a list of facts to help better understand and prevent the virus.

Who Does the Virus Affect and How? 

• Children under the age of five are at higher risk of contracting the virus, but older kids and teenagers have been affected;
  
• Children with asthma and other preexisting respiratory issues are at highest risk and experience the most severe cases of EV-D68;
  
• Common symptoms include runny nose, cough, fever, and achiness. EV-D68 can also cause more severe and serious symptoms such as breathing issues leading to the need for respirators;
  
• The virus is spread through direct contact or through the air when propelled by a cough or sneeze of an infected person. 

Treatment and/or Prevention? 

• There is no vaccine or antibiotic treatment for EV-D68; 

• EV-D68 can only be diagnosed by doing specific lab tests on specimens from a person’s nose and throat;
  
• The best protection against contracting and/or spreading this respiratory virus is by practicing good hygiene: frequent hand washing, disinfecting areas and surfaces that may be contaminated, and containing sneezes and coughs so that particles cannot be spread through the air;
  
• Parents can treat aches and pains associated with the virus with over-the-counter medications. More serious cases are treated by doctors with supplemental oxygen and other prescription medications to ease pain.

If you believe your child has a respiratory illness, it is prudent to keep a close eye on their breathing. If your child begins to wheeze, breathe at a fast and irregular rate, or experience strain pulling in enough oxygen, immediately contact your medical provider. For children with asthma, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends meeting with your doctor to create and/or update an “asthma action plan.”

The CDC is working closely with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and Children’s Hospital Colorado to investigating the possible linkage of a cluster of neurological disease to the EV-D68 outbreak. The investigation is ongoing and the CDC will provide updated information as needed.

Download this infographic about EV-D68 from the CDC, and don’t forget to get an annual flu shot.

Protect against Rabies

September 28, 2014 is World Rabies Day. Rabies is a serious disease that affects the nervous system and can be fatal if left untreated. By keeping your pets vaccinated against rabies, you are not only protecting them, but you are protecting yourself and your family too. Show your pets how much you love them by honoring September 28th and getting them vaccinated. The Foothills Animal Shelter offers rabies vaccinations for your dog or cat for only $15. Please visit their website or call 303-278-7575 for more information.

The JCPH animal borne disease program works to monitor and respond to disease threats in the county. Recently, several bats in the County have tested positive for rabies . This is a good reminder for everyone to take precautions against rabies exposure. While only a small percentage of bats are infected with rabies, it is important to avoid close contact with them. The public should contact their local animal control if they find a dead bat or if they find a bat behaving strangely. Animal control will determine whether the bat needs to be collected and tested. Animal Control will collect specimens for rabies testing if there is a possibility that the bat had contact with people or their pets--particularly within the home or other enclosed buildings.

Jefferson County Health officials advise that even what may seem as insignificant contact with a bat may still be sufficient to transmit the rabies virus. Rabies is spread most often through contact with bat saliva, as a result of bites or from exposure to cuts on the skin. In some instances, people may be unaware that they were bitten and may not see puncture wounds.

Steps to Control and Prevent rabies:

• Avoid contact with all stray and wild animals, including bats.
• Vaccinate all cats, dogs, ferrets, and valuable livestock.
• Do not allow pets to roam free.
• Teach children to leave wildlife alone
• If bitten or scratched by a pet or wild animal, immediately wash any wounds with soap and water and contact your healthcare provider.
• If you are concerned that you or one of your animals might have been exposed to rabies, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately.

Resources:

• For more information or to report a suspicious animal, please contact your local Animal Control agency or Jefferson County Animal Control: 303-271-5070
• For more information on rabies and prevention tips please visit our web site at: http://jeffco.us/public-health/animal-borne-disease/rabies/ or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/ or call the JCPH Animal-borne Disease Program at at 303-271-5700.

2014 West Africa Outbreak

The Guinean Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation of Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Liberia, and the Nigerian Ministry of Health are working with national and international partners to investigate and respond to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. As of August 22, 2014, the suspected and confirmed case count was 2,615.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola HF) is one of numerous Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers. It is a severe, often fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates (such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). Ebola viruses are found in several African countries. The first Ebola virus was discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, outbreaks of Ebola among humans have appeared sporadically in Africa. Public health professionals are using contact tracing to attempt to stop the disease from spreading. View this CDC infographic to learn more about contact tracing.

Visit the CDC web page for more information on Ebola and the current outbreak, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/guinea/index.html

Help Your Child Stay at a Healthy Weight

One in 3 children in the United States is overweight or obese. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and Jefferson County Public Health encourages families to make healthy changes together. Childhood obesity can be prevented.

• Get active outside: Walk around the neighborhood, go on a bike ride, or play at the park. Jeffco Open Space and Parks offers diverse trails and outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy.
  
• Limit screen time: Keep screen time (time spent on the computer, watching TV, or playing video games) to 2 hours or less a day. Check out these tips for helping your family limit screen time.
  
• Make healthy meals: Buy and serve more vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain foods. Livewell Colorado also offers tips for buying and eating healthy and includes healthy recipes.
  
• Become a part of WE CAN, a national initiative to reduce childhood obesity.

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is working with parents, schools, policymakers, communities, businesses and others to improve active living and healthy eating for everyone in Jefferson County. JCPH has provided technical assistance to several municipalities in Jefferson County as they adopt policies that improve their communities’ access to physical activity and healthy food. Learn more about the Livewell Colorado HEAL (Healthy Eating and Active Living) Cities and Towns Campaign Please view our community health improvement plan at www.healthypeoplehealthyplacesjeffco.com.

Do You Know the 4 D’s of West Nile Virus Prevention?

The best way to protect yourself, your family and your community from mosquito bites, is to follow the four D’s: Drain, Dusk/Dawn, Dress, DEET.

DRAIN: Drain or empty standing water around your home and neighborhood, since that is where mosquitoes lay their eggs

DUSK/DAWN: Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing during evening and early morning (dusk and dawn) or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times when mosquitoes are most active

DRESS: Dress in long sleeves and pants during dusk and dawn or in areas where mosquitoes are active. Wearing light-colored clothing may also help prevent being bitten.

DEET, Picariden or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus: Wear insect repellant containing either DEET, Picariden or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

• Follow label instructions 
• Apply repellants to exposed skin and/or clothing. 
• Never use repellants over cuts, wounds or irritated skin 
• If using DEET, choose the concentration that best fits the amount of time spent outside. 25 percent DEET lasts up to 5 hours, 5 percent lasts 45-90 minutes. Use a concentration of 30 percent or less for children. 
• DEET should not be used on children less than 6 months of age. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children less than 3 years of age.

For more information:

• Visit Colorado’s Fight the Bite website.
  
• Visit JCPH’s animal-borne disease prevention web page.

Tick Activity Increases with the Return of Spring

This article is adapted from “Hot topics in Epidemiology, April-2014” produced by the Disease Control and Environmental Epidemiology Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Colorado residents who spend time outdoors this spring and early summer should avoid tick bites to prevent some diseases. The primary vector of tick-borne diseases in our state is the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni. The Rocky Mountain wood tick is generally found in sagebrush, juniper and pine habitats in areas that have moderate amounts of shrubs and grasses from elevations of 4,000 to 10,000 feet. The adult tick readily feeds on human blood, and can transmit Colorado tick fever (CTF) and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). Cases of CTF are common in Colorado, whereas cases of RMSF are not. CTF is not a reportable condition, but RMSF is.

Adult Rocky Mountain wood ticks usually come out from their overwintering sites beginning in March and tick activity peaks in April. We expect most tick activity to end in June because of hot, dry conditions though this is weather dependent. Ticks wait on grasses and shrubs for animals (or people) to pass by and brush up against the vegetation, than the tick hitches a ride. The tick crawls up until it finds an area of skin to bite. Ticks are often found behind the knees, at the waistband and groin area, around the armpits and at the nape of the neck.

Both CTF virus and the bacteria that causes RMSF are found in rodents in nature. Immature ticks (larvae and nymphs) feed on infected rodents and become infected themselves. Adult ticks will feed on larger animals such as deer and humans. People are at risk of getting sick when an infected adult Rocky Mountain wood tick bites them. Unlike people, rodents and other animals infected by these disease agents do not become sick.

If you are bitten by a tick carrying CTF virus or the RMSF bacteria you may become ill. The time from the tick bite to when symptoms begin can be as short as one to two days, or as long as two weeks. Symptoms for these two diseases are similar, with patients experiencing fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and lethargy. Less than 20% of people with CTF will have a rash on their body, whereas up to 90% of RMSF patients will have a rash. Many patients with CTF will become better on their own within a few weeks, and there is no treatment because CTF is caused by a virus. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a more serious disease than CTF, it is caused by bacteria and should be treated with antibiotics as soon as possible. People should consult their healthcare provider if they develop a fever and become ill after a tick bite or after having been in tick habitat. Many people who become ill do not recall being bitten by a tick, so they should be sure to mention that they’ve been in tick habitat even if they don’t think they were bitten by a tick.

Recommendations for avoiding tick bites include using a tick repellent and taking a shower after being outdoors. A factsheet about ticks and tick-borne diseases in Colorado is available from the Colorado State University Extension Office. Additional information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about avoiding tick bites can be found here. Information about different tick-borne diseases found in the United States is available from the CDC here.

Earth Day is Every Day at Jefferson County Public Health

"Some people who talk about the environment talk about it as though it involves only a question of clean air and clean water. The environment involves the whole broad spectrum of man's relationship to all other living creatures, including other human beings. It involves the environment in its broadest and deepest sense.”
- Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earth Day

Public Health is all about preventing illness and disease in our communities and while this year’s earth day, April 22, 2014, has come and gone,  every day is earth day at Jefferson County Public Health. Creating healthier communities involves taking a close look at what makes us healthy or sick to begin with. The Jefferson County Public Health 2013 annual report highlights some of the work we are doing to improve health for everyone in the county.  A recent report released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Time to Act: investing in the Health of our Children and Communities urges that we integrate health into community development, especially for low-income neighborhoods.  JCPH is committed to working with agencies, businesses and the community towards creating a healthier county for all to live, work, play and age.

Jefferson County Public Health's Environmental Health Services (EHS) works to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling harmful environmental factors in Jefferson County.  EHS prevents, investigates and responds to health threats in the County from environmental sources such as our air, land, water, the food we eat and the  domestic and wild animals and insects we encounter. EHS also inspects facilities including schools, daycares and restaurants for adherence to public health safety and disease control measures.  Information, resources and referrals are available from specialists in water quality, air quality, consumer protection and environmental protection. 

Resources and services include, but are not limited to, the following topics; air pollution, water pollution, individual sewage disposal systems, solid waste, drinking water, food borne illnesses, food service inspections, child care inspections, recycling and radon mitigation. For more information on any environmental health service, please call 303-232-6301 or visit the JCPH EHS web page.  

Every division in Jefferson County, including the health department, practices environmental stewardship through reuse, recycling, energy conservation, and water conservation.  These actions are good for people and the planet.  Everyone has a role in protecting our earth and natural resources.  Consider bringing your own shopping bag to the store,  recycling household hazardous waste as well as other household items, using water thoughtfully and saving energy when possible.  Together we can make a difference. 

Learn more about Earth Day and its founder, Senator Gaylord Nelson.   Earth Day . . . The making of the modern environmental movement.  www.nelsonearthday.net    Accessibility on the web continues a Gaylord Nelson focus of making environmental knowledge freely available to all citizens so that local and national decisions could be informed, collaborative, and effective.

Resources:

• Visit the JCPH web page for more information on Environmental Health Services
• View the JCPH recycling resource page
• Check out the Denver Post’s listings of Earth Day Events
• Visit Rooney Road Recycling

Immunizations can save your child’s life . . . Infant Immunization Week is April 26 – May 3, 2014

Thanks to immunizations, children can be protected against more diseases than ever before. In fact, some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children, have been eliminated completely and others are close to extinction– primarily due to safe and effective vaccines. Take polio for example, this was once the most-feared disease in America, causing death and paralysis across the country, yet today, thanks to vaccination, there are no reports of polio in the U.S.

Despite advances in immunizations, too many children in Jefferson County, Colorado and in the U.S. still get vaccine-preventable diseases. In fact, we have seen resurgences of measles and whooping cough (pertussis) over the past few years.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from January through July 2013, more than 11,000 cases of whooping cough were reported in the U.S.  Pertussis can be life threatening, especially for infants. Currently California and New York are experiencing increased measle cases.  Travelers, infected abroad, brought the disease with them and spread it among those in the U.S. who have not been vaccinated. Read this editorial on measles and its return to New York City and here is an article about rising cases in California.

JCPH urges everyone to be sure their children have the vaccinations they need. 

• Please call 303-232-6301 to schedule an immunization clinic visit at our Arvada or Lakewood offices. 
• For more information about the importance of infant immunization, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines

Public health takes on obesity: A route to better health

Public health experts across the country agree, we have a growing problem.

Obesity is a serious and costly health problem facing our nation. The number of kids and teens who are obese has nearly tripled in the past three decades, leading to a generation at risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other serious health problems. However, there is hope. For the first time in recent years, obesity rates have declined. Innovative public health approaches and partnerships are contributing to improved food choices and creating opportunities for physical activity and are helping to curb obesity. View and share the APHA infographic on obesity.

Learn more about Jefferson County Public Health and our efforts to improve healthy eating and active living for everyone in the County.

Get Your Heart Into It . . . Wear Red on February 7, 2014

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, but heart disease is preventable and controllable.

Jefferson County Public Health reminds everyone that Friday, February 7, 2014 is National Wear Red Day. Wearing something red on February 7, is a simple, powerful way to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke.

Jefferson County Public Health is organizing a photo opportunity at the Jefferson County Courts and Administration Building, 100 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden on Friday, February 7, 2014 at 12 noon. Please join us and wear your favorite red.

Jefferson County recently completed a comprehensive health assessment and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Jefferson County. It accounted for more than 24 percent of all deaths in 2011. Heart disease and stroke are the most common types of cardiovascular disease. Although cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Jefferson County, the number of deaths has declined over the past 10 years. Heart disease can often be prevented. Tackling known risk factors such as tobacco use, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and inactive lifestyle can greatly reduce risks for illness and death from heart disease.

It’s important that individuals talk to a medical provider about risk factors, screening tests, lifestyle changes, and treatment services to prevent heart disease.

• For more information on heart disease and prevention, please visit the American Heart Association www.americanheart.org

• Act in Time! Learn the warning signs and the importance of calling 9-1-1 immediately at the onset of symptoms. 

• The health department also has handouts and other educational materials on heart health and reducing your risk factors. 

• Get Involved in Healthy People Healthy Places Jeffco (a community collaboration working on a health improvement plan for Jefferson County. 

Jefferson County Public Health is committed to promoting health, preserving the environment and preventing injury and disease for the residents of Jefferson County, Colorado. Please call 303-232-6301 or visit our web site at jeffco.us/public-health for more information.

Jefferson County Public Health partners with Jeffco Open Space to promote healthy living. Jeffco Open Space focuses on the benefits of getting outdoors for physical and mental health, and conveying the importance of nature and the environment to youth and families. To learn more about the 28 Open Space Parks in Jefferson County visit jeffco.us/parks/open-space.