HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998/10/08 - Board of HealthMason County Board of Health Meeting
October 8,1998
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MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
October 8,1998
The Mason County Board of Health was called to order at 10:01 a.m. by Chairperson Cindy
Olsen with Board Member Mary Jo Cady and Board Member John Bolender present.
ATTENDANCE:
Cindy Olsen, Chairperson
Mary Jo Cady, Board Member
John Bolender, Board Member
Dr. Mark Trucksess, Health Officer
Brad Banner, Director Health Services
Steve Kutz, Personal Health Director
Mary Duncan, Reporter, Mason County Journal
Nancy Flews, Clerk
Sonja Rau, Transcriptionist
CORRESPONDENCE: None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
September 3`d, 1998 Minutes:
Board Member Mary Jo Cady moved to approve the September 3, 1998 Board of Health
Meeting Minutes. Board Member John Bolender seconded.
Olsen, Aye; Bolender, Aye; Cady, Aye.
August 6th and 13tb,1998 Minutes: Held over until the next meeting.
HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT:
The Health Officer gave the communicable disease report for the month of September:
1.) There was a rash investigation, which was at first thought to be measles, but was
negative on testing. The child is now jaundiced and they are doing a work up for
Hepatitis.
2.) Another case of Hepatitis is under investigation, which will probably turn out to be a
drug induced Hepatitis.
YAKIMA MEETING
Dr. Trucksess stated that he attended a meeting in Yakima on the Cryptosporidium food
outbreak in Spokane last December. There were 62 people who attended a banquet, of that 56
became ill with diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and chills. Cryptosporidium is a protozoan
Mason County Board of Health Meeting
October 8,1998
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parasite, it is not a bacterium. It lives outside the body for two or three months if kept wet. The
illness caused by Cryptosporidium can last as long as six to eight weeks. Of the random stool
samples of those attending the banquet, 10 of 10 were positive with Cryptosporidium and two of
the sixteen food handlers tested positive, however, these people probably got sick at the banquet.
There is no treatment available for Cryptosporidium. For the immune depressed it can be lethal.
The food investigation indicated two items responsible: romaine lettuce grown in California, and
green onions grown in Mexico. Potential contamination of food from harvesting, to storage, to
distribution centers, to preparation, to serving. It is important to observe sanitation measures all
along that line. Washing the food with chlorine will not kill it, nor will freezing. Washing fruits
and vegetables is important and not to eat them right off the shelf.
APRIL TO JUNE HIV -AIDS TESTING
There were 53 people in Mason County tested with no positives, and 27 received post-test
counseling which is 89% of that number.
FOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT:
Board Member Mary Jo Cady moved to accept Dave Fedderson of Shelton Safeway to fill
the vacancy on the Food Advisory Committee to represent Complex Large Markets. Board
Member John Bolender seconded.
Olsen, Aye; Bolender, Aye; Cady, Aye.
SEASONAL EVENTS FOOD HANDLERS:
There was a discussion on seasonal events food handlers. John Bolender asked that we check
with the other Counties to see how they handle this.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH WAIVERS:
Presented to the Board of Health by Brad Banner.
FLU VACCINE REPORT:
Steve Kutz, Personal Health Director, reported that the company that makes most of the flu
vaccine cultures had problems and the other manufacturers could not guarantee they will have
enough to meet the demand. Mason County ordered theirs in August and there has been a 50%
increase in participation of businesses that are involved in getting the flu vaccine from
Environmental Health.
—FIVE MINUTE RECESS—
Mason County Board of Health Meeting
October 8,1998
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FEES FOR SERVICE PUBLIC HEARING:
Brad Banner stated that they were looking at cutting expenditures and were still working on this.
It was decided to do Environmental Health as well as Health Services all at the same time.
Board Member John Bolender moved that we continue the Hearing for Fees for Services to
November 5th, 1998 at 10:30 a.m.. Board Member Mary Jo Cady seconded.
Olsen, Aye; Bolender, Aye; Cady, Aye.
Chairperson Cindy Olsen adjourned the meeting at 10:33 a.m..
Respectfully submitted by:
Sonja au, Transcriptionist
MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
Chairpe . on Cindy Olsen
J Bolender, Board Member
Di Mark Trucksess, Health Officer