WILKESBORO – Wilkes County Health Department is investigating a case of hepatitis A in an employee of a local food establishment.  County health officials are advising people who may have consumed food or drinks from Dixie Donuts at 2830 West NC Highway 268 in Wilkesboro during the times when this employee was working to contact Wilkes County Health Department for a vaccine or shot that could prevent them from getting sick.

The infected person worked at Dixie Donuts during the following dates and times: May 8th and 9th from 7:00AM–1:00PM and May 10th and 12th from 2:00PM–8:00PM. Pre-booked orders or previous day orders that were picked up on these dates are not included. Patrons who consumed food or drinks served at Dixie Doughnuts at other dates and times are not at risk of hepatitis A and do not need to receive hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin.  Wilkes County Health Department will provide a walk-in clinic for the vaccine on May 18^th from 2-6 pm and May 19^th from 9-12 noon.

Those potentially exposed could experience symptoms as early as May 22 and as late as June 23. Those who have had a hepatitis A infection or hepatitis A vaccine are protected from the virus and do not need to take additional actions.

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus.  Hepatitis vaccine is very effective in reducing the risk of disease when administered within 14 days of the last day of exposure.

Hepatitis A is usually spread by eating or drinking items that have been contaminated with the virus or by close personal contact with an infected person.  Symptoms appear two weeks to two months after exposure and commonly include fever, a feeling of being unwell, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal discomfort; urine may become darker in color and jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) may appear. Some individuals, especially children, may not develop jaundice, and may have an illness so mild that it can go unnoticed. However, even mildly ill persons can still be highly infectious. There is no specific treatment once a person has hepatitis A.  Most people recover without complications after several weeks, but illness can sometimes be severe. Anyone who experiences these symptoms should see their doctor.

You can protect yourself against hepatitis A by getting a hepatitis A vaccine. Vaccination is recommended for all children, for travelers to certain countries, and for people at high risk for infection Careful hand washing is also important for preventing spread of hepatitis A and should include vigorous washing of hands with soap and running water for minimum of 20 seconds. All surfaces should be washed including the back of the hands, wrists, between fingers and under fingernails. This is especially important after using the washroom and before handling food.  Anyone who may have been exposed is strongly encouraged to follow this practice to reduce the risk of spreading illness to others.

For more information, please call Wilkes County Health Department at (336) 651-7573.  For general information, please click here. 

May 13-June 17, 2012

“Mr. and Mrs. Jones called their minister to say they did not have any food to eat.  When their minister visited with some groceries, Mr. Jones said that they had no money for food because his daughter took most of his social security check every month.  She said she needed the money for her car payment.”

Types of Abuse:

• Physical
• Emotional/Psychological
• Neglect
• Sexual
• Financial/Exploitation

 Warning Signs of Abuse:

• Withdrawal
• Increased Anxiety/Nervousness
• Changes in Behavior and/or Appetite

Approximately 1 in 10 older adults experience abuse, neglect, or exploitation

• 90% of financial exploiters are family members

Report Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation:

Contact Wilkes County Adult Protective Services: (336) 651-7400

Questions or Concerns Regarding Abuse in Long Term Care Contact:

Julie Wiggins, Ombudsman (828) 265-5434

For more information about Elder Abuse please click here.

The Wilkes County Health Department will be offering a free Tdap Clinic this Saturday, April 21^st from 9:00am-12:00pm. Walk-ins are welcome, and no appointment is needed.

Individuals who can currently receive free Tdap are listed below:

1. Close contacts of infants under 12 months of age (including parents, siblings, grandparents, and household contacts);
2. Any women who may become pregnant
3. Pregnant women (Third trimester only)
4. Child Care Providers
5. Health-care personnel who have the potential for exposure to patients;
6. Anyone with a pre-existing, chronic, respiratory disease and their close contacts; and
7. Any child 18 and under with incomplete protection from pertussis.

Children in our state are required by North Carolina law to receive 5 doses of the DTaP vaccine before entering kindergarten.  However, it is not uncommon for whooping cough to develop as children age and their immunity to the disease wanes.  For that reason, school entry requirements were changed to address the increase in whooping cough cases seen in our state.  These rule changes went into effect beginning with the 2008-09 school year.

The new rule states that a booster dose of Tdap vaccine is required for the following individuals:

1. All students attending public school who are entering the 6th grade on or after August 1, 2008.
2. All students not attending public schools (i.e., private, home-school, non-traditional schools) who are 12 years of age on or after August 1, 2008, if five years or more have passed since the last dose of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid.
3. Individuals enrolling in college or university for the first time on or after July 1, 2008, if a tetanus/diphtheria toxoid or tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis vaccine has not been administered within the past 10 years.

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a respiratory illness that is very contagious and is spread by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others.   If infected, symptoms usually develop within 7-10 days after being exposed, but sometimes it takes as long as 6 weeks.  The symptoms usually start with cold-like symptoms and usually include:  runny nose, low-grade fever, and a mild occasional cough.  After 1-2 weeks, severe coughing can begin.  Children suffering from pertussis often develop coughing fits, especially at night, giving a high pitched “whoop” sound.  The “whoop” is a sign that the person is struggling to breathe between coughs.  It is a serious disease for infants less than one year of age, and for children with a decreased immune system.

Fortunately, a vaccine is available to prevent whooping cough.  The vaccine is contained in two different combination products both of which protect against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough). DTaP is the vaccine product that is given to infants and children up to 7 years of age. Tdap is the vaccine product given to adolescents and adults.

In addition to the clinic on Saturday April 21, 2012 the Wilkes County Health Department is also providing another Tdap clinic on Saturday May 12, 2012 at the March of Dimes Walk for Babies walk. If you would like more information about the free Tdap Clinic, or would like to schedule an appointment to receive the Tdap vaccine, please call the Wilkes County Health Department at 651-7450.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The County Health Rankings rank the overall health of nearly every county in all 50 states, using a standard way to measure how healthy people are and how long they live. This year’s Rankings include several new measures, such as how many fast food restaurants are in a county and levels of physical inactivity among residents. Graphs illustrating premature death trends over 10 years are new as well.

“After three years, we know that people across the nation want to know how the health of their county compares to others in their state. This annual check-up helps bring county leaders together to see where they need to improve,” said Patrick Remington, M.D., M.P.H., associate dean for public health at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “It’s really exciting to see that by this point, the Rankings are a call to action to take steps to improve the health of communities.”

The Rankings, available at www.countyhealthrankings.org, includes a snapshot of each county in State with a color-coded map comparing each county’s overall health ranking. Researchers used five measures to assess the level of overall health or “health outcomes” for State by county: the rate of people dying before age 75, the percent of people who report being in fair or poor health, the numbers of days people report being in poor physical and poor mental health, and the rate of low-birthweight infants.

The Rankings also consider factors that affect people’s health within four categories: health behavior, clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment. Among the many health factors they look at: rates of adult smoking, adult obesity, excessive drinking among adults, and teenage births; the number of uninsured under age 65, availability of primary care physicians, and preventable hospital stays; rates of high school graduation, adults who have attended some college, children in poverty; community safety; limited access to healthy foods; rates of physical inactivity; and air pollution levels.

“The County Health Rankings show us that much of what influences our health happens outside of the doctor’s office. In fact, where we live, learn, work and play has a big role in determining how healthy we are and how long we live,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., president and CEO of RWJF. “The good news is that businesses, health care providers, government, consumers and community leaders are already joining forces in communities across the nation to change some of the gaps that the Rankings highlight.”

The County Health Rankings illustrate what we know when it comes to what’s making people sick or healthy. New this year, the County Health Roadmaps help counties to mobilize and take action to create healthier places. Taken together, the Rankings & Roadmaps help create a healthier nation, county by county. To learn what other communities are doing to improve the health of their residents and how your county can develop plans to address health challenges, visit www.countyhealthrankings.org/roadmaps.

Specific to Wilkes County

Note: Any particular county’s health outcomes (or health factors) could stay exactly the same but its rank could change if, or when, other counties improve or decline. Counties in the “middle” are more likely to see bigger changes in their ranks than counties at the top or the bottom.

• In 2011 Wilkes County’s Health Outcomes ranking was 69 compared to 77 in 2012.  The 2011 ranking for Health Factors was 68 and 64 in 2011.
• In 2012 Wilkes County was worse than the state average on the following:

1. Premature death
2. Number of adults reporting poor or fair health, number of reported physically unhealthy days, and number of reported mentally unhealthy days
3. Percent of adults who smoke
4. Adult obesity
5. Physical inactivity
6. Motor vehicle crash death rate
7. Teen birth rate
8. Number of uninsured
9. Need for primary care providers
10. Preventable hospital stays
11. College attendance
12. Unemployment rate
13. Children in poverty
14. Access to recreational facilities

• In 2011 Wilkes County was better than the state average on:

1. Low birth weight
2. Excessive drinking
3. Diabetic Screening
4. Mammography screening
5. High School Graduation
6. Children in single parent households
7. Violent Crime Rate
8. Sexually Transmitted Infections
9. Air pollution (particulate matter days)
10. Air pollution (ozone days)
11. Limited access to healthy foods
12. Number of fast food restaurants

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For 40 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.

About the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute

The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute is the focal point within the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health for translating public health and health policy research into practice. The Institute strives to:

•Address a broad range of real-world problems of topical importance to government, business, providers and the public;

•Promote partnerships of inquiry between researchers and users of research, breaking down barriers between the academic community and public and private sector policy makers;

•Advance the development of interdisciplinary research, along the spectrum from public health to health care;

•Provide continuing education for practitioners and opportunities for applied learning for graduate and medical students; and

•Make useful contributions to public health and health policy decisions that improve the health of the public.

For more information, visit, http://uwphi.pophealth.wisc.edu/.