The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety communication warning about the use of Magellan Diagnostics’ LeadCare® analyzers (LeadCare, LeadCare II, LeadCare Ultra and LeadCare Plus) with venous blood samples because they might result in falsely low test results. FDA is now advising that Magellan Diagnostics’ LeadCare® analyzers should no longer be used with venous blood samples. The safety alert does not apply to capillary blood lead test results collected by fingerstick or heelstick. The purpose of this Health Advisory is to notify state and local health departments, healthcare providers, and laboratories about CDC’s re-testing guidance in light of the safety alert.
Mosquito-Borne Disease Season
Mosquito-borne diseases occur annually in West Virginia beginning in early spring and peaking in August and September, coinciding with mosquito activity. Arboviral infections, particularly La Crosse encephalitis (LAC) and West Nile virus (WNV), are endemic mosquito-borne diseases identified in West Virginia. In 2016, eight LAC cases and one WNV case were reported in West Virginia. Persons with severe arboviral infections will often have symptoms of encephalitis. Please be vigilant in identifying such cases, and ensure that all hospitalized patients with encephalitis undergo appropriate arboviral disease testing during mosquito season.
Prolonged IgM Antibody Response in People Infected with Zika Virus: Implications for Interpreting Serologic Testing Results for Pregnant Women
In July 2016, CDC issued Interim Guidance for Health Care Providers Caring for Pregnant Women with Possible Zika Virus Exposure – United States, July 2016 (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6529e1.htm) that includes Zika virus immunoglobulin M (IgM) testing of pregnant women. However, some flavivirus infections can result in prolonged IgM responses (>12 weeks) that make it difficult to determine the timing of infection, especially in testing of asymptomatic people. Emerging epidemiologic and laboratory data indicate that Zika virus IgM can persist beyond 12 weeks in a subset of infected people. Therefore, detection of IgM may not always indicate a recent infection. Although IgM persistence could affect IgM test interpretation for all infected people, it would have the greatest effect on clinical management of pregnant women with a history of living in or traveling to areas with Zika virus transmission. Pregnant women who test positive for IgM antibody may have been infected with Zika virus and developed an IgM response before conception.
Tickborne Disease Season
Tickborne diseases occur annually in West Virginia with most cases developing symptoms between April and September. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tickborne disease in West Virginia. In 2016, West Virginia recorded 368 Lyme disease cases, the most ever in a single year. Counties in the northwestern and southwestern parts of the state have had increasing case counts in recent years. In 2016, 43 counties reported at least one confirmed or probable Lyme disease case. Based on new national reporting standards, West Virginia is considered a high incidence Lyme disease state.
CDC Recommendations for Diagnosing and Managing Shigella Strains with Possible Reduced Susceptibility to Ciprofloxacin
This Health Advisory describes the identification of emerging Shigella strains with elevated minimum inhibitory concentration values for ciprofloxacin and outlines new recommendations for clinical diagnosis, management, and reporting, as well as new recommendations for laboratories and public health officials. Current interpretive criteria provided by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) categorize these strains as susceptible to ciprofloxacin, which is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic and a key agent in the management of Shigella infections.
Increased Screening Recommendations for HIV Outbreak Detection Among Persons Who Inject Drugs
The epidemic of non-prescription opioid addiction has led to an increase in injection drug use, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in West Virginia. Though West Virginia is a low incidence state for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, several counties have been deemed at high-risk for an HIV outbreak similar to the one in Scott County, Indiana in 2015 predominantly among people who inject drugs (PWID). In order to detect an outbreak of HIV among PWID, increased screening is necessary.
HPV vaccinations prevent cancer. Majority of state youth unvaccinated.
“HPV can cause cancer in men and women that can be prevented by a vaccination,” according to Dr. Michael Brumage, health officer for the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department and the Putnam County Health Department. Statistics from the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show in 2015 in the 13-17 age range about 40 percent of West Virginia girls and about 27 percent of boys were vaccinated.
Threat Preparedness Training and Exercise
Kanawha-Charleston Health Department will be participating in a full-scale, Medical Countermeasures Exercise (MCM) on April 20, 2017. The purpose of this exercise is to test our plan and capabilities for dispensing medication to the public during a large-scale medical emergency. A Mass Antibiotic Dispensing Training will take place prior to the exercise on April 6, 2017.
Internship Opportunity
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department is currently looking for talented undergraduate and graduate students interested in an exciting public health internship experience. Applications are now being accepted for the summer internship program.
KCHD Receives Accreditation by PHAB
Kanawha-Charleston Health Department has received accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). KCHD is the first local health department in West Virginia to receive accreditation by PHAB and among the first 200 health departments of roughly 2,800 local, state, territorial and tribal health departments in the United States to receive such recognition.
Harm Reduction Clinic
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department has now extended their Harm Reduction Clinic Hours to Every Wednesday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Please see the front desk with any question and/or to make an appointment.
Adolescents Need Vaccines
If your child is uninsured or underinsured they may qualify for the Vaccines for Children program that provides free vaccines to children age 18 and under without any out-of-pocket expense to the parent. Children enrolled with Medicaid or WVCHIP also receive state-supplied vaccines at no cost to the parent.
Health Inspection Reports
Every week our sanitarians go on location to inspect businesses to ensure they are meeting health standards of West Virginia for Housing, Water, Food, Sewage, and Clean Indoor Air Regulation of Kanawha County.
Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health Meeting – November 17, 2016
Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health meeting starts at 4:30 pm and is open to public.
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