Measles outbreak linked to Disneyland prompts Alabama doctors to urge more immunizations

MOBILE, Alabama -- As word spreads about the recent measles outbreak linked to Disneyland in California, the Alabama Department of Public Health and its partners are reminding parents of the vital importance of vaccinating children according to the immunization schedule of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. While no patients in Alabama have contracted measles linked to the Disneyland outbreak so far, the outbreak has led to at least 67 cases, many in children who did not have the recommended vaccination against the virus.

Before 2013 approximately 60 people in the United States were reported as having measles each year; however, this number more than tripled to around 189 people infected with the disease in 2013 and 644 cases reported nationally for 2014. The total number of measles infections last year was at a 20-year high.

Measles can stay airborne or live on surfaces for up to two hours. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough and a rash all over the body. Those infected can transmit the virus for about five days before the typical rash appears. Symptoms occur within one to two weeks after exposure. Measles is so contagious that any child who is exposed to it and is not immune will probably get the disease.
Dr. Michael Ramsey, president of the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said, “The pediatricians of this state are concerned about the risk of a measles outbreak and support public health in emphasizing the need for children to be up to date on all vaccines.”

Alabama state law requires children to be up to date on their vaccinations prior to attending school, and adolescents and college students must also be up to date on their MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) immunizations.

“People who get measles disease put others who are not vaccinated at risk" Dr. Karen Landers, pediatrician and medical consultant for the Alabama Department of Public Health Immunization Division, said. “Fortunately, we in Alabama currently have a high rate of vaccination. However, we will see a measles outbreak in this state if children are not vaccinated."

The 2013-14 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention immunization survey found more than 92 percent of Alabama’s kindergartners had received the MMR vaccination. Religious exemptions were filed for 447 kindergarten students and 70 others had medical exemptions from vaccinations.

Common complications of measles are ear infections and less often pneumonia. Rarer complications are inflammation of the brain and death. Routine MMR vaccination is recommended for all children, with the first dose given at age 12-15 months, and a second dose at age 4-6 years. Unless they have other evidence of immunity, adults born after 1956 should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine. Two appropriately spaced doses of MMR vaccine are recommended for health care personnel, college students and international travelers.

In addition, communities with pockets of unvaccinated people are vulnerable to measles outbreaks. At least 95 percent of people in a community need to be immunized to achieve herd immunity that not only protects the people who received the vaccine, but also children too young to be vaccinated and those who do not respond to the vaccine.

Dr. Landers said parents who fear side effects of vaccinations should know that highly contagious measles is a serious disease with life-threatening complications, and concerns about links between vaccines and autism are baseless. “I can say as a scientist and as a pediatrician that the measles vaccine does not cause autism.”

Where possible, persons suspected of having measles should be promptly screened before entering medical waiting rooms and appropriately isolated, or have their office appointments scheduled at the end of the day to prevent exposure of other patients. For more information, contact your local health department or visit http://www.adph.org/immunization /.

Source: Alabama Department of Public Health
                                                                                                               

Obamacare update: National health insurance open enrollment deadline is Feb. 15, 2015

MOBILE, Ala. -- There's still time to sign up for health insurance this year through the federal marketplace if you missed the Jan. 15 deadline to enroll. That’s because Feb. 15, 2015, is the final deadline for most people to sign up for a plan for insurance through the marketplace if you need coverage by March 15 of this year.

And, if you miss the Feb. 15 deadline, some residents may still qualify for special enrollment.  For help with the enrollment process, visit the Mobile County Health Department’s Family Health offices at 251 N. Bayou Street, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. National health insurance open enrollment continues until Feb. 15

On Saturdays through Feb. 7, certified application assistants are also available between 8 a.m. and noon to help with enrollment at the North Bayou Street location in downtown Mobile. Certified application assistants at all other Family Health sites also can assist with enrollment. Other outlying clinics close at 6 p.m., except for the Citronelle Health Center, which closes at 4:30 p.m.

Tips for health insurance coverage: Participants selecting a new plan are asked to review their current application; make sure information, including income level, is up-to-date; compare the plan with others; choose a plan that fits their needs and budget; then enroll between Nov. 15, 2014, and Feb. 15, 2015. Those who don’t have health coverage during 2015 may have to pay a fee when they file income tax returns.

Where to get more details: For more info, call 251-445-8632. The MCHD.org and FamilyHealthAlabama.org websites, as well as Family Health and MCHD’s Facebook and Twitter pages, will also include enrollment updates as they become available.

More than 6,000 gallons of wastewater flowed into Mobile, Ala., waterways Jan. 23, 2015

Mobile, Ala. -- The Mobile Area Water & Sewer System (MAWSS) reported several sanitary sewer overflows resulting from heavy rains on Jan. 23. The National Weather Service reported up to 3 inches of rain fell during that time period. Six overflows abated late Friday, after the rain stopped, according to a spokeswoman for the utility.  Estimated totals are listed below.

• At 600 Bizzell Ave. at Pecan St., 60 gallons overflowed into Three Mile Creek;
• At 569 Bizzell Ave. at Pecan St., 120 gallons overflowed into Three Mile Creek;
• At Dog River Dr. W. at Bream Dr., 3,625 gallons overflowed into Dog River;
• At 2335 Dog River Dr. S., 1,950 gallons overflowed into Dog River;
• At Parkway Dr. at Peer Ct., 940 gallons overflowed into Dog River;
• At 208 Westwood St., 120 gallons overflowed into Eslava Creek;
• At 175 Westwood St., 120 gallons overflowed into Eslava Creek.

 Dr. Bernard Eichold, Health Officer for Mobile County, advises area residents to take precautions when using the water ways listed above for recreational purposes because of the more than 6,000 gallon overflow. All seafood harvested in this general area should be thoroughly cooked before eating. People should wash their hands before cleaning seafood and before preparing food in general.

About MCHD

Since 1816, the Mobile County Health Department and its staff have worked to promote, improve and protect the health of those who live and work in Mobile County.  For more than a decade, MCHD has been continuously accredited by the Joint Commission and was the first public health agency in Alabama with this designation. More than 40,000 patients visited the Mobile County Health Department’s 10 primary care sites, known as Family Health, in 2014.

Health officials: More than 9,000 gallons of wastewater overflowed into Gum Tree Branch

MOBILE, Ala. – After rains soaked portions of south Alabama on Friday, Prichard Water Company crews responded to a number of sanitary sewer overflows where more than 9,000 gallons of wastewater overflowed into Gum Tree Branch, officials with the water company reported to the Mobile County Health Department.

·         At 705 Sample Street, approximately 1,620 gallons of wastewater overflowed into Gum Tree Branch.

·         At 1,206 Craft Highway, an estimated 2,520 gallons of wastewater also overflowed into Gum Tree Branch between 2:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.

·         At 211 Patricia St., an estimated 2,340 gallons of wastewater overflowed into Gum Tree Branch.

·         At 830 Strauss St., an estimated 2,340 gallons of wastewater overflowed into Gum Tree Branch between 2:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Dr. Bernard Eichold, Health Officer for the Mobile County Health Department, advises area residents to take precautions when coming into contact with any standing water that may have accumulated as a result of these overflows. Those who have come into direct contact with untreated sewage are advised to wash their hands and clothing thoroughly.

Area residents also should take precautions if using Gum Tree Branch for recreational purposes. All seafood harvested in affected areas should be thoroughly cooked before consumption. People should wash their hands after cleaning any fish or other seafood and also before preparing food.

 

 

Portions of Mobile Bay to reopen for oyster harvesting beginning Jan. 23, 2015

MOBILE, Ala. -- After almost three weeks, portions of Areas I, II and III of Mobile Bay that were temporarily closed to the harvesting of oysters on Jan. 4 will reopen January 23, 2015, State Health Officer Dr. Donald E. Williamson said. This includes Portersville Bay, Grand Bay and Heron Bay.

 

The order will become effective at 6 a.m., Jan. 23, 2015.

All public oyster reefs are managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Marine Resources Division (MRD) for harvest. Catchers are reminded to check with MRD for information regarding areas open for harvest.

The Alabama Department of Public Health will continue to monitor bay waters and shellfish to ensure bacteriological safety.

For additional information concerning the opening, contact Greg Dunn, Alabama Department of Public Health, in Mobile at (251) 662-7511 or (334) 341-7062.
                       

Get the flu shot: Number of flu cases rising in Mobile County dramatically in 2015

MOBILE, Ala. – The number of flu cases reported in Mobile County continues to rise, with area hospitals and private physician offices seeing a spike in positive flu tests during the past two months.
Between Dec. 1, 2014, and Jan. 20, 2015, there have been 725 confirmed cases of the flu (through a positive flu test)  reported to the Mobile County Health Department from hospitals in Mobile County and from the health department’s Family Health clinics.


The true number of positive flu cases is likely much higher because the total mentioned above does not include private physician offices and urgent care centers. Influenza is not classified as a reportable disease, so health care providers are not required to report cases to the Mobile County Health Department.

Influenza is a serious illness that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes death.  It is especially dangerous for those at high risk, including the very young, the elderly and those with other chronic health conditions and compromised immune systems. While the 2014-15 influenza vaccine may not be as effective in preventing the flu as first hoped, local health care providers and their patients should continue vaccination efforts, health officials said.

Vaccination still offers some protection from the flu and may reduce chances for severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials said. Vaccination will offer protection against circulating influenza strains that are susceptible to the vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 200,000 Americans are hospitalized each year with the flu and that the numbers of deaths because of the flu have ranged from 3,000 to 49,000 annually, depending on the severity of the season.

Dr. Bernard Eichold, Health Officer for the Mobile County Health Department, advises people to take the following precautions to prevent the spread of colds and flu this season:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. No tissue? Cough and sneeze into your upper arm or sleeve.
• Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• If you are sick, stay home.
The Mobile County Health Department is offering the 2014-2015 seasonal flu vaccine to those age 6 months and older without an appointment Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Health Department’s Immunization Clinic, 251 N. Bayou St.

The shots also are available by appointment at MCHD’s outlying Family Health centers. Appointments can be made by calling 251-690-8889. The shots are $15 each, payable in the exact amount by cash or credit card, or by using Medicaid or Medicare Part B, or private insurance that covers the cost.

Grab your cane pole and kayak, Creek Fest is on

Register online for Scale Back Alabama: Weigh-ins begin Jan. 20 at MCHD

Mobile County Health Department and Family Health employees have just a few more days before registration closes for the free statewide weight-loss initiative Scale Back Alabama. Teams of two should register online this week at www.scalebackalabama.com. 

Weigh-in week is from January 19 through 23, 2015, at your primary work location.

A drawing will be held for cash prizes at the end of the program.If you have questions, please contact Margaret McCulloch at 251-690-8173 or mmcculloch@mchd.org

 

Once the registration is submitted, team members print the registration confirmation and take it with them to a local weigh-in site to do their initial weights. On-site registration will also be available for those who do not pre-register. Each week during the 10-week program, participants will receive health tips on eating less and moving more, along with information on great outdoor activities taking place across the state.

 

Since its beginning, the program has resulted in 1.1 million pounds lost in a state that ranks eighth in the nation in terms of adult obesity. Scale Back Alabama is sponsored by the Alabama Hospital Association, the Alabama Department of Public Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.

 

For more information, visit www.scalebackalabama.com .

 

It's official: CreekFest planned for May 9, 2015, at Tricentennial Park in Midtown Mobile

MOBILE, Ala.. -- The inaugural Creek Fest, a family-friendly celebration of the revival of Three-Mile Creek, is planned for Saturday, May 9, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lake Drive Tricentennial Park in Midtown Mobile.

The event will include a cane pole fishing tournament for ages 16 and under along with other fun activities. Opportunities for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to earn merit badges will be available. Live music, food trucks and kayak rentals will also be part of the half-day event as the natural beauty of one of Mobile’s historic waterways is showcased. Three Mile Creek was the city’s first source of drinking water.

The idea for the event came from Dr. Bernard Eichold, who in 2012 created the Mobile County Health Department's Public Health Advisory Board, known as Women Making a Difference (WMD).
Dr. Eichold, Mobile County's Health Officer, wanted to give everyone an opportunity to see why the waterway is something worth redeveloping.

In December, WMD applied for and received private grant funding of nearly $220,000 to make improvements to an area of Three Mile Creek in Midtown Mobile. The funding, $218,650, from the Sybil Smith Charitable Trust, will be used to create a kayak and canoe launch and to install sidewalks/walkways along a section of Three Mile Creek near Lake Drive Tricentennial Park off Stanton Road. The project should be completed by October 2015.

The goal of the public health advisory board is to bring attention and action to issues affecting the public’s health in Mobile County. Comprised of women from across the community -- including social service agencies, health and mental health systems, conservation, city, housing, workforce development, concerned residents and leadership -- the board is well-equipped to positively impact the health of the community.
 
Driven by data showing the high rates of obesity, depression and cardiovascular disease, the group decided to focus attention on the Three Mile Creek area as a recreational site for residents of Mobile.
More information about CreekFest will be announced soon.

Public health advisory: Shellfish growing waters closed in Mobile and Baldwin counties

The Alabama Department of Public Health closed all shellfish growing waters in Mobile and Baldwin counties.  Areas I, II, III, IV, V and VI are closed. This includes Cedar Point, Portersville Bay, Grand Bay, Heron Bay, Dauphin Island Bay and Bon Secour Bay.

The order by State Health Officer Dr. Donald Williamson closed harvesting as of 6 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2015. The order was issued as a result of possible bacteriological contamination of the oyster beds due to recent rainfall. Because local waters continued to rise by Jan. 8, 2015, the issue remains in effect until further notice.

The Alabama Department of Public Health will continue to monitor bay waters and the shellfish, health officials said.  Harvesting can be resumed as soon as areas meet acceptable bacteriological criteria. For more information concerning the closure, contact Greg Dunn, Alabama Department of Public Health, at 251-662-7511 or 334-341-7062.

Pick your Scale Back Alabama partners now: Jan. 19 is first day to weigh in for teams of 2 or more

       

MOBILE, Ala. -- The Mobile County Health Department is encouraging its staff – and all residents -- to take part in the Scale Back Alabama initiative this year. But agency leaders don’t want employees, or anyone else, to give up on a healthier lifestyle once the 10-week program ends.
At the conclusion of the statewide program this year, the Mobile County Health Department will continue its own version of the Scale Back program, including weigh-ins and monthly lunch-and-learn sessions led by members of the agency’s nutrition staff.

Scale Back Alabama is a free statewide weight-loss program designed to encourage state residents to get healthy. Scale Back Alabama is primarily operated with the help of local employers, hospitals and health departments. Each organization appoints one person to serve as a program coordinator, and individuals compete on teams of two to win a chance at cash prizes. Since the program began in 2007, residents have lost more than one million pounds.

Weigh-in week for Scale Back Alabama runs from Jan. 19-25. Weigh-out week is planned from April 6-12. Winners will be announced during a final event planned for April 24, 2015, organizers said.

With the idea that getting fit and staying healthy should be something people strive to do every day, Dr. Bernard Eichold worked with MCHD’s nutrition staff on positive ways to encourage the 500-employee agency to make better choices when it comes to food and exercise.

“We want to set a good example and keep scaling back all year,” Eichold said. “We know proper diet and exercise play a vital role in our health and quality of life. This new program will be a way to help keep staff members on track.”

To accomplish that goal, monthly lunch-and-learn programs will continue at the downtown public health location for employees provided by members of the nutrition staff. Scales will be accessible for weigh-ins and registered dietitians are available to staff members daily.

Scale Back Alabama, a free incentivized weight loss program for state residents, is introducing several changes for 2015, including changing the team size from four to two members. For more information, visit www.scalebackalabama.com. People should consult with their doctor or other health care provider before embarking on a weight-loss program.