Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002/03/07 - Board of HealthMASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MONTHLY MEETING COMMISSIONER'S CHAMBERS MARCH 7, 2002 PAGE 1 OF 3 MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER'S CHAMBERS MONTHLY MEETING MARCH 7, 2002 The Mason County Board of Health was called to order by Chairperson Bob Holier on March 7, 2002 at 10 a.m. with Board Members Herb Baze and Wes Johnson present. Chairperson Bob Holter asked that everyone stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. ATTENDANCE: CORRESPONDENCE: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES — Bob Holter, Chairperson Herb Baze, Board Member Wes Johnson, Board Member Dr. Mark Trucksess, Health Officer Steve Kutz, Health Department Director Debbie Riley, Environmental Health Director Mary Duncan, Mason County Journal, Reporter Nancy Plews, Clerk None Herb Baze moved for the approval of the February 7, 2002 minutes for the Mason County Board of Health. Wes Johnson seconded the motion for approval of minutes. Holter, Aye; Baze, Aye; Johnson, Aye. HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT: The Health Officer, Dr. Mark Trucksess gave the Health Report for the month of February. Communicable Disease Report: 2 positive Tuberculosis PPD's - one began latent therapy. Tacoma had an outbreak of Pertussis - 18 cases among the hospital staff at Mary Bridge Hospital MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MONTHLY MEETING COMMISSIONER'S CHAMBERS MARCH 7, 2002 PAGE 2 OF 3 and Tacoma General. Source is not known. Letter received from the Center of Disease Control from British Columbia, Canada, indicating 2 cases of Listeria Meningitis related to the consumption of Abbott's Cheese made in Vancouver, Canada. The cheese has been taken off the market. A new influenza virus strain has been circulating in the United Kingdom, Israel, Egypt, Wisconsin. The new strain is H1M2, which is seems to be part of a gene of the currently circulating influenza H1M1 and H3M2. It is not the start of a pandemic. The new virus is not covered by the vaccine this year. An announcement about the shortage of childhood vaccine, especially the meningococcal vaccine, the DPT vaccine. These are in shortage and all providers have been asked by the State Health Officer, Maxine Hays, to defer these vaccines until next year. A study report was done on violence in the workplace in Washington from 1995 to the year 2000. The study showed that work place injuries were related to assault, violence in the work place. Homicide ranked 4th place as the cause of death in the workplace. The most significant finding is the fact that people involved in the Health Services and Social Services are at highest risk for violence in the workplace and account for 50% of the assaults. There was a scare in the Middle School by a student with swollen glands which was not mumps. Children without immunization shots were identified due to this mumps scare. Health Director, Steve Kutz, stated that if the mumps scare had turn out to be true many, including students and workers, would have been quarantined from the schools for two weeks. Steve Kutz stated that the unused flu vaccine was returned to the Wyatt. Three vials were saved back, which is about 30 doses. He also stated that the person working with the maternity clinic for the Latino population, died and the clinic was dissolved. The Health Services is helping to fill that gap until it can be filled. The Health Department is in the process of working with an organization, called Smile Favors, to look at bringing in a stand alone, storefront dental clinic operation to serve the low-income children in the County. There are almost 600 kids enrolled in the ABCD Program, is a program that brings children into early preventative dental care program at a young age. He stated that they are talking to Smile Favors and grantors to help fund equipment for this dental clinic. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH: WAIVERSIVARIANCES: None. Presented. MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MONTHLY MEETING COMMISSIONER'S CHAMBERS MARCH 7, 2002 PAGE 3 OF 3 The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m.. Respectfully submitted by: Bob Holier, Chairperson Herb Baze, Board Member -/( Sonja A. R, Transcriptionist Dr. Mark Trucksess, Health Officer Wes Johnso , Board Member