Zika Virus Information
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- Published on Thursday, 16 June 2016 08:50
T
he Zika virus (Zika) is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus species of mosquito. Mosquito transmission of the Zika virus is found in nearly 50 countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean, Pacific Islands and Africa.
While there have been no mosquito transmitted Zika cases in the continental United States, the mosquito species that can carry the virus are believed to be present in Missouri. These mosquitoes may be daytime or nighttime biters, prefer to live indoors, and can spread other viruses such as dengue and chikungunya. It is important to note these mosquitoes can spread Zika among people only after biting an infected person.
Missouri data regarding mosquito-borne infection can be found on DHSS’s Data and Statistical page.
Continental United States Zika Data can be found at CDC’s Zika site.
Most people with Zika will not have symptoms. Once a person is infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections. However, they can pass the virus on to others if bitten by the Aedes mosquito while the virus is present in their blood or, if a man is infected, through sexual contact. This infectious period usually lasts seven days. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). If a person does get sick, the illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. For this reason, many people might not realize they have been infected. However, Zika virus during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects, including microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. There are no vaccines to prevent Zika virus disease and no drugs to treat it.
The two most effective methods of Zika prevention include reducing mosquito populations and using personal protection measures to prevent mosquito bites and sexual transmission. For more information regarding Zika prevention and personal protection measures, visit Controlling Mosquitoes, Personal Protection Measures, If You Have Zika, Zika and Pregnant Women, and Zika and Travelers.
For additional information please visit http://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/zika/?/mosquitoes
Walk in School Immunization Clinic
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- Published on Tuesday, 07 June 2016 13:08
Walk in immunization clinic for school age vaccinations!
Andrew County Health Department
106 N. 5th Street Savannah
816-324-3139
June 24th and July 1st
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
This clinic is offered to the Uninsured, Underinsured and Medicaid Clients 18 years and under.
Barbecue Basics: Tips to Prevent Foodborne Illnes
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- Published on Thursday, 02 June 2016 09:46
It’s the season for picnics, cookouts, and other outdoor parties. But eating outdoors in warm weather presents a food safety challenge. Bacteria in food multiply faster at temperatures between 40°F and 140°F, so summer heat makes the basics of food safety especially important.
“Fortunately, there are a lot of steps consumers can take to keep family and friends from becoming ill,” says Marjorie Davidson, Ph.D., education team leader in FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
Wash hands
It seems basic, but not everyone does it. Wash hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before cooking or eating. If you’re in an outdoor setting with no bathroom, use a water jug, some soap, and paper towels. Consider carrying moist disposable towelettes for cleaning your hands.
Keep raw food separate from cooked food
Don’t use a plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, or seafood for anything else unless the plate has first been washed in hot, soapy water. Keep utensils and surfaces clean.
Marinate food in the refrigerator, not out on the counter
And if you want to use some of the marinade as a sauce on the cooked food, reserve a separate portion. Don’t reuse marinade that contained raw meat.
Cook food thoroughly
To kill any harmful bacteria that may be present, use a food thermometer. Hamburgers should be cooked to 160°F. If a thermometer is not available, make sure hamburgers are brown all the way through, not pink. Chicken should be cooked to at least 165°F. If you partially cook food in the microwave, oven or stove to reduce grilling time, do so immediately before the food goes on the hot grill.
Refrigerate and freeze food promptly
It can be hard to remember while a party is going on, but food should not be left out of the cooler or off the grill for more than two hours. Never leave food out for more than one hour when the temperature is above 90°F.
Keep hot food hot
Hot food should be kept at or above 140°F. Hot food should be wrapped well and placed in an insulated container. If bringing hot take-out food such as fried chicken or barbecue to an outdoor party, eat it within two hours of purchase. In addition to bringing a grill and fuel for cooking to an outdoor location, remember to pack a food thermometer to check that your meat and poultry reach a safe internal temperature. When re-heating food at the outing, be sure it reaches 165°F.
Keep cold food cold
Cold food should be held at or below 40°F. Foods like chicken salad and desserts that are in individual serving dishes can be placed directly on ice or in a shallow container set in a deep pan filled with ice. Drain off water as ice melts and replace ice frequently.
This article appears on FDA’s Consumer Update page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.
June is National Safety Month
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- Published on Thursday, 02 June 2016 09:28
Injuries are a leading cause of disability for people of all ages – and they are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 44. The good news is everyone can get involved to help prevent injuries. During National Safety Month, the Andrew County Health Department is working with community members to help reduce the risk of injuries. This June, we encourage you to learn more about important safety issues like prescription painkiller abuse, transportation safety, swimming safety, fireworks safety, and slips, trips, and falls.
Prescription painkiller abuse:
Prescription painkiller overdoses are a growing problem in the United States, especially among women. About 18 women die every day from a prescription painkiller overdose – more than 4 times as many as back in 1999.
Transportation safety:
Doing other activities while driving – like texting or eating–distracts you and increases your chance of crashing. Almost 1 in 5 crashes (17%) that injured someone involved distracted driving.
Swimming safety:
Drowning is the second most common cause of death from injuries among kids under the age of 14. Drowning can happen so fast — sometimes in less than 2 minutes after a person's head goes under the water. That leaves very little time for someone to help.
Fireworks safety:
Fireworks are synonymous with our celebration of Independence Day. Yet, the thrill of fireworks can also bring pain. 230 people on average go the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday.
Slips, trips, and falls:
One in 3 older adults falls each year. Many falls lead to broken bones and other health problems.