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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995/08/31 - Board of Health MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH August 31, 1995 The Board of Health was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Chairperson Mary Faughender with Board Member Mary Jo Cady in attendance. Board Member Hunter absent. ATTENDANCE: Mary L. Faughender, Chairperson Mary Jb Cady, Board Member Brad Banner, Health Services Director Steve Kutz, Director of Personal Health Dr. Mark E. Trucksess, Health Officer Nanci LaMusga, HIV/AIDS Educator Kevin Burton, Journal MINUTES APPROVED Board Member Cady/Chairperson Faughender moved/seconded that the minutes of the July 6th, 1995, meeting be approved as corrected. Motion carried. Vote: C: yes; F: yes; H: absent. HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT Dr. Mark E. Trucksess reported that the Hepatitis A Vaccine was available at the Mason County Health Department at a cost of approximately $50 per shot. Primary use of the vaccine would be for travelers visiting high-risk countries, day care personnel and health care workers. Scheduled dosage for children was 2 vaccines one month aparffollowed by a booster with a total cost of approximately $150. Adults would receive one dose and a booster. The vaccine would also be used in exposure situations. Two cases of measles had been reported in King County in July. Awareness needed to be heightened that rabies may be on the upswing. People are certainly cautioned to avoid contact with wild animals and immediately report any wild animal bites to the Health Department and seek immediate medical attention. Animals and bats biting humans should be captured and tested for rabies. He noted that one death due to rabies of a child in Centralia occurred in March of this year. Two cases of Hepatitis A were reported in Mason County since January, 1995. Thurston County has had 50 cases since January. Primarily the cases have involved the IV drug using population, not the restaurant business. In addition, there has been a report on a new Hepatitis virus named Hepatitis Non-ABC. A report on the King County high school student who contracted tuberculosis last spring was given as well as an explanation of the process taken to test other individuals who may have been at risk. Dr. Trucksess informed that he and Mr. Kutz were presently working on a tuberculosis program for Mason County. Reported tuberculosis cases are at their highest since the early MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH August 31, 1995 - Page 2 of 4 1970s. Two reasons for this increase are the number of immigrants entering our country from countries where active tuberculosis was prevalent and the AIDS epidemic. One case of whooping cough has been reported in our county. In New York State, 100 cases were reported statewide in 1975. However, New York had 400 cases last year. A large proportion of the cases were in adults. Chairperson Faughender asked if there were any shellfish related illnesses reported this summer. Dr. Trucksess replied there had not been,to his knowledge. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES POLICY MANUAL Brad Banner asked that the policy manual be approved by the Board of Health. Board Member Cady/Chairperson Faughender moved/seconded that the policies be approved as presented and that it be noted that certain portions pertaining to personnel issues, and specifically page 24, would need to be amended in the future when such matters would be handled by their Human Resources Director and not the department. Motion carried. Vote: C: yes; F: yes; H: absent. HIV EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STATISTICAL UPDATE Steve Kutz presented an HIV epidemiological statistical update for our region. Overhead projections were used to present the information to the Board of Health. These statistics will be used for HIV planning purposes in the state. Each region, and more specifically, each county would be required by the Centers for Disease Control to have prevention planning meetings to come up with intervention strategies and decide where scarce resources would be placed. Mr. Kutz reported that 124 people had been tested for HIV/AIDS in Mason County during the 1994 year, and one person had tested positive. Thurston County had 8 cases identified as positive after performing approximately 2,000 tests. Rural counties, in general, have lower numbers. The statistics showed that out of Mason County's diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases, 3 8% of the cases were classified as men who have sex with men, and 38% as injection drug users. This was a glaring difference from the other counties and the state-wide percentages, which showed, on average, 52% to 73% cases as men who have sex with men and 0% to 20% as injection drug users. At first, staff had believed these high percentages in the HIV drug user category were based on the fact that Mason County has a prison population. However, after taking out the prison population figures, it was found that the figures dropped down to only 35% for IV drug users. This particularly high percentage of injection drug users appears to be unique to Mason County. Board Member Cady asked if Mr. Kutz had an explanation why Mason County was different than other locations in the high amount of drug users. Mr. Kutz stated he did not know the answer MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH August 31, 1995 - Page 3 of 4 at this time, that these statistics had came to his attention in only the last month. He noted that the figures were based on people infected 8 to 10 years ago, and that the population would be a hard one to identify. He had believed the numbers from the prison would be higher. Chairperson Faughender noted that this issue needed additional analysis. Mr. Kutz agreed, stating that the statistics show that there was definitely a problem. WESTERN WASHINGTON WALKS AGAINST AIDS Brent Long, Mason County employee and AIDS Advisory Council Member, informed the Board that nine people have actually died in Mason County from AIDS. He advised that the Advisory Council, along with the Columbia-Olympic AIDS Services Task Force (COAST) was sponsoring a Walk Against AIDS in Mason County on September 16 beginning at 9 a.m., in the Walmart parking lot. There would be a 2-mile route and a 4 mile route. Pledges would be received from those participating in the walk. Funds raised here would be used in Mason County to provide financial support for people who were living with HIV/AIDS. This support could be for medical purposes, food, or whatever their needs happened to be. Mr. Long invited the Board of Health and the Health Officer to participate in the walk or to pledge someone who was walking. He also asked if they would like to speak briefly before the event started. Board Member Cady, Chairperson Faughender and Dr. Trucksess stated they would be unable to attend due to prior commitments. Mr. Kutz suggested that Mason County employees be encouraged to participate in the walk. Board Member Cady directed him to see that a memo was sent to county employees from the Health Department informing them of the activity. Chairperson Faughender asked how the funds would be distributed. Mr. Long informed that 18% would go to the COAST organization for administrative costs; the other 82% would stay in the county. Nancy LaMusga reported that individuals would verify their HIV status to the HIV/AIDS Case Manager and she would submit a request to COAST to draw funds for individuals. Using resources within the community would be encouraged first so that these funds could be used as an emergency financial program. The fund raiser was aimed specifically for immediate needs, not an education or prevention fund. Chairperson Faughender asked if COAST had a Mason County representative. Ms. LaMusga responded that COAST has a Board of Directors, but at this time, Mason County does not have a representative. However, input can be given and participation in the process was encouraged. MISSION STATEMENT AND VALUES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Chairperson Faughender asked what process was utilized to develop the mission statement. Mr. Banner replied that he and the Environmental Health staff had worked together on its wording during staff meetings. Board Member Cady/Chairperson Faughender moved/seconded that the mission statement and values (Exhibit A) be approved as presented. Motion carried. C: yes; F: yes; H: absent, MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH August 31, 1995 - Page 4 of 4 CONDOM PILOT PROGRAM Chairperson Faughender asked for an update on the condom pilot program. Ms. LaMusga responded that the machines have been received. Volunteers would be going to at least one establishment this weekend to install the machines, and they should be in use within the next few weeks. Chairperson Faughender noted that their review period may have to be delayed because it was scheduled for the end of the year. ADJOURNMENT Board Member Cady/Chairperson Faughender moved/seconded that the Board of Health meeting be adjourned at 11:10 a.m. Motion carried. C: Yes; F: yes; H: absent. MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH M. L. Faughend Chairperson (absent) William O. Hunter, Board Member Mary J C, , Board a her Respectfully Submitted, Lorraine Coots