Category: Public Health

Rabies in Idaho: Leave bats alone!

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(Note: A Closer Look At Your Health airs most Tuesdays at 6:50 a.m. on KBOI News Radio 670. This is an edited transcript of the segment from June 28. Since then, another bat has tested positive for rabies, bringing the grand total to two so far this summer.) 

Rabid bats are found every year in Idaho, mostly between May and November. We’ve had one report of a rabid bat this year; it was found in Meridian. There likely will be more, so it’s a good idea to remind your kids that if they see a bat they should leave it alone and tell an adult.

Why is it important for children to leave bats alone?

Rabies infection is 100-percent fatal for people and animals who do not get timely medical attention. A couple of people in the United States die each year from it, usually because they’ve been bitten or scratched by bat and didn’t seek medical attention right away. The bite of a bat can be so small that people don’t realize the risk associated with it. Continue reading “Rabies in Idaho: Leave bats alone!” →

Tips for staying healthy at the fair this summer

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(Note: A Closer Look At Your Health airs at 6:50 a.m. most Tuesdays on KBOI News Radio 670. This is an edited transcript of segment that aired this morning, July 5.) 

Idaho fairs and festivals are starting across the state, which is exciting because they offer some of the best fun of the summer! But they also offer up some health challenges, which we hope you’ll keep in mind when you and your family head off to the fairgrounds. So today we’re going to talk about some things you can do to stay safe and healthy, especially when you’re visiting the animal exhibits or munching on the food.

Let’s start with animal exhibits. What should we know about those?

It’s important to keep in mind that seemingly healthy animals can sometimes carry germs that might make us sick. Small children should be supervised at all times in animal exhibits. They shouldn’t be allowed to put their hands or objects (such as pacifiers) in their mouths after interacting with the animals and before washing up. Simply washing hands as well as anything else that falls on the ground after being in the animal barns or the petting zoo will go a long way toward protecting yourself and your family from diseases spread by animals. You should also be aware that even animals at the fair can bite, kick, and scratch, so approach them with care to avoid getting hurt.  Continue reading “Tips for staying healthy at the fair this summer” →

Your child broke a glow stick? Call the Idaho Poison Center

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Most parents recognize the fact that fireworks and small children just don’t mix.  Glow sticks and glow jewelry are a safer alternative to bottle rockets and sparklers that can cause serious burns.  But these brightly colored glow products are soft and pliable and easily broken open, especially by children.

A child with a glowing mouth can cause some anxious moments for parents, but it’s typically not worth a trip to the emergency room. Even so, parents should call the Idaho Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 to be sure. Continue reading “Your child broke a glow stick? Call the Idaho Poison Center” →

West Nile virus discovered in Southwest Idaho

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Mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus (WNV) have been detected this week in Canyon and Payette counties, prompting public health officials to remind people to take precautions to fight the bite. The positive mosquitoes are the first detected in the state this year.

“West Nile Virus can cause serious illness so it is very important that people take precautions to avoid bites and mosquito-proof their homes,” says Dr. Leslie Tengelsen, from the Idaho Division of Public Health. “With our recent warm weather we could see an increase in mosquito activity over the holiday, so we urge people to be careful.” Continue reading “West Nile virus discovered in Southwest Idaho” →

Refugees with active TB were not contagious

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A recent news story reports that Idaho has resettled seven refugees with active tuberculosis (TB) between 2011 and 2015. While that is accurate, it’s important to note that those refugees were not infectious and could not spread the tuberculosis infection to other people.

They all had abnormal chest X-rays, which is typically how they are screened for TB in other countries, but they tested negative for contagious disease in three separate sputum cultures after they arrived in Idaho. Even so, they all received immediate treatment and were monitored by public health officials to make sure any TB would be killed that their lungs might harbor.  Continue reading “Refugees with active TB were not contagious” →

Safety first for the Fourth!

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The Fourth of July is just around the corner, so it’sFireworks high time to refresh our knowledge of the precautions we should take if we’re lighting off fireworks. We’d really like for all Idahoans to make it through the weekend without causing any fires, injuries, or burning your neighborhood down.

Aren’t many fireworks illegal?

Yes, they are… Before you buy any fireworks, you should check with your city for a list of those that are legal. Generally, any firework that leaves the ground or explodes is probably going to be illegal because they are dangerous. If you’re lighting fireworks, point them away from homes, and keep them away from brush, leaves and flammable substances.  Continue reading “Safety first for the Fourth!” →

Department of Health Idaho Clerical Association scrapbook is a ‘historical gem’

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DHW employee Courtney Meek, left, works with archivist Layce Johnson to scan in the scrapbook in May at the Idaho State Archives.
DHW employee Courtney Meek, left, works with archivist Layce Johnson to scan in the scrapbook in May at the Idaho State Archives.

A dusty old scrapbook long forgotten on a top shelf in an office supply closet at the State Health Lab is now carefully preserved and held at the Idaho State Archives (ISA), a division of the Idaho State Historical Society.

Courtney Meek, a business operations specialist at the Bureau of Laboratories, found the scrapbook twice – once when she was cleaning out some shelves after a new sprinkler system was installed, and then a second time seven years later when she cleaned out a cabinet in anticipation of a move into a different office and a new job.

The second time she found it, she realized what a historical gem she had. Someone had carefully cut and glued newsletters, photos, newspaper articles, and other staffing tidbits and memorabilia about the Department of Health Idaho Clerical Association for three years in the late 1960s. It is DHW’s own little version of “Mad Men.” Continue reading “Department of Health Idaho Clerical Association scrapbook is a ‘historical gem’” →

Idaho WIC makes annual adjustment to income guidelines

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Idaho’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will implement new income guidelines effective July 1, 2016, that raise household income eligibility limits to help offset cost of living increases. This is an annual adjustment.

To be eligible for the WIC program, an individual must be a pregnant or breastfeeding woman, a woman who has recently been pregnant, or an infant or child younger than 5 years old. In addition, the individual must live in Idaho, have a special need that can be helped by WIC foods and nutrition counseling, and have a low-to-moderate income.  Continue reading “Idaho WIC makes annual adjustment to income guidelines” →

First rabid bat of the summer reported in Meridian

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A bat found in Meridian has tested positive for rabies, Central District Health Department (CDHD) has reported this afternoon. The bat was found in the back yard of a central Meridian home and is the first of the year to test positive for rabies in Idaho.

There is no known exposure to people or pets.

Each year, rabid bats are discovered throughout the state. Public health officials want to remind people to take precautions around bats and make sure that their dogs, cats and horses are up-to-date on their rabies vaccines. Ten bats tested positive for rabies last year in Idaho, with two of the reports occurring in Ada County.

“Bats are the main source of rabies exposures in Idaho, and every year we receive reports of rabid bats,” said Sarah Correll, epidemiologist with the Central District Health Department. “We encourage parents to talk to their children about the importance of not touching bats or other wild animals, because doing so can have serious medical consequences.”  Continue reading “First rabid bat of the summer reported in Meridian” →

A second cat in Elmore County has likely died from plague

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Preliminary laboratory tests indicate a second cat from Elmore County likely died of plague. This is the second cat death within the last week thought to be connected to the bacterial infection, though the cats were owned by separate families.

The most recent cat lived both indoors and outdoors and had contact with ground squirrels before becoming ill. Family members and other household pets are being monitored to ensure the cat did not spread the infection. Final lab results will be available next week. Read the full release here.