Newsletters

IMMUNIZATION POLICY CHANGES

February 2012

The Department of State Health Services has developed policy changes to the Vaccines for Children childhood vaccine program in response to reduction in state and federal immunization funds, increased federal accountability for public funded vaccines, as well as increases in prices for some vaccines.  Due to the new law, it is illegal to give a federally funded vaccine to a child that is not qualified to receive the vaccine. 

Here is a brief explanation of the cost of mandatory vaccines for children ages – birth to 18 year of age.

• In 1985, there were 7 vaccines and the cost was $45.00
• In 1995, there were 10 vaccines and the cost was $155.00
• In 2001, there were 12 vaccines and the cost was $369.00
• In 2005, there were 15 vaccines and the cost was $630.00
• In 2010, there were 16 vaccines and the cost was $1,483.00

As of January 1, 2012, the following criteria has been made mandatory:

·         Children who have private insurance that covers vaccines will no longer be eligible for immunizations at the Milam County Health Department.  Children will have to be seen in a private medical doctor’s office or providers that carry private paid vaccines.

Children, birth through 18 years of age, who meet at least one of the following criteria, are eligible to receive vaccines at the Milam County Health Department.

·         A child who has Medicaid Coverage

·         A child who has No Insurance

·         American Indian or Alaskan Native

·         A child enrolled in CHIP Insurance

·         Underinsured

Due to the reduction in federal and state funds, the adults who are seen in our clinic are also going to be affected.  As of January 1, 2012, Adults who are not covered by insurance can only receive the following vaccines: Hepatitis B, Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR), Tetanus/Diphtheria/Acellular Pertussis (Tdap), and Tetanus/Diphtheria (Td).   The Milam County Health Department does have available Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Pneumonia for a fee.  If you have any questions regarding the new vaccine laws, please contact the Milam County Health Department at 254-697-7039.

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STOPPING THE FLU IS UP TO YOU!

November 2011

Flu season is here, believe it or not.  Flu is a contagious disease.  It is caused by the influenza virus, which can be spread by coughing, sneezing, or nasal secretions.  Anyone can get influenza, but rates of infection are highest among children.  Young children, people 65 and older, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions – such as heart, lung or kidney disease or a weakened immune system – can get much sicker.  All people 6 months of age and older should get flu vaccine. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from Atlanta, Georgia reported that the current flu season has low flu activity making this the perfect time to get vaccinated.  It takes about two weeks after vaccination for the body’s immune response to fully kick in.  It’s best to get vaccinated before activity begins so that you’ll be protected once flu season starts.  CDC routinely monitors influenza activity in the United States year-round with a system that determines when and where influenza activity is occurring, determines what influenza viruses are circulating and detects changes in influenza viruses.  The system also measures the burden of influenza disease in the United States, including tracking influenza related illness, hospitalizations and deaths.  CDC receives reports from international, state and local participants and within 48 hours compiles and analyzes that data to produce a report that provides comprehensive situational awareness regarding influenza activity in the United States.  

The Milam County Health Department receives reports of lab confirmed cases along with reports of flu like illnesses from the hospitals, doctor’s offices and schools in Milam County on a weekly basis.  This report is then sent to our Region office in Temple and then the information is submitted to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia.   Each week, the health department compiles an accurate number of illnesses and cases in Milam County.

More than 110 million doses of vaccine had been delivered in the United States as of the end of September, with manufacturers projecting total production of between 166 and 173 million doses.  This is the most flu vaccine ever produced for the United States market.   Stop the spread of flu by vaccination.  The Milam County Health Department in Cameron administers the flu vaccine on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8am to 5pm and in Rockdale on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 4:30pm.  The cost is $20.00 for the Adult vaccine and if you are on Medicare, the vaccine is free.  The Health Department is also offering the children’s flu vaccine for free.  So, let’s protect ourselves this year by getting our flu shot NOW!

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SHE’S ONE SMART MOM, SHE’S GOT Text4baby

October 2011

Technology has come a long way in our society today.  As I became aware of the following program that supports moms by providing accurate, text-length health information and resources in a format that is personal and timely, I thought it would be beneficial to share this information with our Moms and Moms-to-be.  Despite decades of public health outreach and education, more than 500,000 babies are born prematurely and an estimated 28,000 children die before their first birthday each year in the United States.  To help more pregnant women and new moms get information about caring for their health and giving their babies the best possible start in life, the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition launched text4baby, the first free health text messaging service in the U.S.   Over 85% of Americans own a cell phone and 72% of cell users send or receive text messages.  Text4baby was launched nationally on February 4, 2010.

Thanks to the support of CTIA – the Wireless Foundation and participating mobile operators, all messages you receive from text4baby are free!  Even individuals without a text messaging plan can get these messages for free.  If someone has limited texts per month, text4baby won’t take away from that limit.  As long as you have service with one of these carriers – such as AT & T, Assurance Wireless, Bluegrass Cellular, Boost Mobile, Cellular South, Cellcom, Centennial Cellular, Cincinnati Bell, Cricket, Metro PCS, N-Telos, Nex-Tech Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, U. S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Virgin Mobile USA – text4baby is free for you. 

Registration is easy and can be done online or from your cell phone.  Use your cell phone to text the word BABY or BEBE for Spanish t the number 511411.  You’ll be asked to enter your baby’s due date or your baby’s birthday and your zip code.  Once registered, you will start receiving free messages with tips for your pregnancy or caring for your baby.  These messages are timed to your due date or your baby’s birth date.  If you are pregnant and your due date changes, text UPDATE to 511411 to enter your new due date.  Once you have your baby, be sure to text in UPDATE with your baby’s birthday so you keep getting messages through baby’s first year.  You will receive approximately three messages per week.  Urgent alerts or breaking news might mean you see a few additional messages once in a while.  The text4baby messages are not personalized, but the information is relevant to where you are in your pregnancy or what your baby is going through at particular states of development.  Text4baby is a one-way educational program, so you can’t text questions or communicate back with the program.  However, if you have specific questions, you can call the phone numbers you find in the messages.  The messages will continue throughout your pregnancy and your baby’s first year. If you want to stop receiving messages from text4baby, text STOP to 511411. 

The text4baby service includes over 250 messages addressing topics such as:  Prenatal Care, Safe Sleep, Immunization, Breastfeeding, Diabetes, Nutrition, Oral health, Family Violence, Physical Activity, Safety, Injury Prevention, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Developmental Milestones, Labor & Delivery, Care Seat Safety and Exercise.

If you would like to register online or receive more information about this program, please go to www.text4baby.org

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World Rabies Day

 September 2011

Rabies has been on the rise this year.  Rabies cases usually occur in the spring because there are more opportunities for transmissions during the spring mating season.  Rabies does occur through the entire year in Texas in both wild and domestic animals.  Rabies in bats occurs mostly in the warmer months.  As of August 31, 2011, there have been 333 cases in the Central Texas area compared to 258 in 2010 for the same period of time.  Milam County has had 5 cases (4 skunks and 1 horse) of Rabies.  Every year 55,000 people will die from rabies throughout the world, almost one person every ten minutes. It is estimated that every year 30,000-40,000 US residents are potentially exposed to rabies requiring human rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. 

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a virus disease of the central nervous system (the brain and nerves).  It can be transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal, or through the saliva of a rabid animal being introduced into a fresh scratch or similar skin break, and rarely by other routes.  Saliva in contact with unbroken skin – or even on a scratch wound over 24 hours old, one where a scab has formed-usually will not require anti-rabies treatment.  You should definitely see a doctor if you think the animal could be rabid. 

Rabies – sometimes called “hydrophobia” has its roots in antiquity.  Centuries before the birth of Christ, it was recognized in both animals and man.  Cases were described with amazing clinical accuracy during the lifetime of Aristotle.  The name hydrophobia, meaning “fear of water” was given to it at that time because the ancient Greeks observed rabid animals’ aversion to water.  Actually, the truth is that they cannot drink because of throat paralysis.  It is this fact which produces the classic picture of a beast with foam-flecked jaws.  Saliva accumulates in the paralyzed throat and drools from the corners of the mouth, giving the impression of mad-dog foam.  Certainly it isn’t hard to understand why those ancient people were terror stricken by such a sight, and even thought the animal was demon-possessed.  Through the years, a wall of superstition was built.  The wall has never been completely torn down.  Even today, many people believe that the bite of a civet cat, a small spotted skunk, invariably leads to rabies.  Actually, while all skunks are susceptible to rabies, laboratory studies have proved it is wrong to assume all civet cats are rabid. 

All warm-blooded animals, including humans, are susceptible to rabies.  In Texas, skunks, bats, coyotes, raccoons and foxes are the most commonly infected animals.   Domestic dogs, cats, and livestock usually acquire rabies infections from wild animals; while the numbers of rabid domestic animals are fewer; their danger is greater because of their close association with humans. 

A person cannot tell if an animal has rabies by looking at it.  Sometimes rabid animals act friendly or tame.  They are no longer shy or afraid of people.  You may try to hand-feed or pet an animal that looks harmless and, in the process, expose yourself to rabies.  Rabid animals might also be having a hard time walking, flying, eating, or drinking.  Animals that are usually active at night, such as bats, skunks, and raccoons may be seen during the daytime if they are rabid.  If you see an animal acting strangely, do not touch it.  Call for help.  Avoid contact with wild animals.  Do not try to hand-feed them.  Do not try to keep wild animals as pets.  Do not touch sick, injured, or dead animals.    Have your pets vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian.  Restrain them and do not allow them to roam.   

Signs of rabies include:

• Animals that have a change in behavior
• Wild animals which seem to be friendly or tame.
• Wild animals – coyotes, foxes, bats, skunks, and raccoons – which you do not usually see in the daytime.
• Animals that have a hard time walking, eating, or drinking
• Excitement or meanness in animals
• Animals that bite or scratch at an old wound until it bleeds.

If a bite occurs, the following precautions should be taken:

• Identify the animal.  Most animals that have bitten a person must either be quarantined and observed for signs of rabies or tested for rabies.  If the animal is to be tested, a qualified person, such as a Veterinarian should separate the animal head from the body and submit the head (or whole body of a bat or rodent) for laboratory testing.
• Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, plus an antiseptic if available, as a first aid procedure.
• Consult a physician as soon as possible to determine whether post-exposure treatment is needed.

What is Quarantine?

Quarantine means placing the animal in a facility that provides:

• Absolute security (no escape possible)
• No contact with other animals or people except for contact necessary for its care
• Observation twice daily by a qualified person

Quarantine facilities include:

• Facilities licensed by the Texas Department of State Health Services
• Veterinary Clinic operated by a veterinarian
• Home confinement if approved the Local Rabies Control Authority

There is much information regarding rabies, but the last item that is very important is the Texas State Law regarding Rabies vaccination.  Texas state law requires pet owners to vaccinate their dogs and cats against rabies by 4 months of age.  Based on the type of vaccine used, plus requirements established in state law and local ordinance, the veterinarian responsible for administering the vaccine will determine a vaccination schedule for each animal.  Therefore, if you have not vaccinated your animals, please do so immediately.  Please join us in promoting rabies prevention awareness and education in Milam County, therefore if you have any questions concerning Rabies, please do not hesitate to contact the Milam County Health Department at 254-697-7039. 

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MEASLES - LOCAL AND WORLDWIDE

 June 2011

During the last few months, there has been much information about measles outbreaks on a worldwide scale.  Therefore, I would like to inform our community regarding measles. 

First, here is a brief history of measles.  One of the earliest written descriptions of measles as a disease was provided by an Arab physician in the 9^th century who described differences between measles and smallpox in his medical notes.  A Scottish physician, Francis Home, demonstrated in 1757 that measles was caused by an infectious agent present in the blood of patients.  In 1954 the virus that causes measles was isolated in Boston, Massachusetts, by John F. Enders and Thomas C. Peebles.  Before measles vaccine, nearly all children got measles by the time they were 15 years of age.  Each year in the United States about 450-500 people died because of measles, 48,000 were hospitalized, 7,000 had seizures, and about 1,000 suffered permanent brain damage or deafness.  Today there are only about 50 cases a year reported in the United States, and most of these originate outside the country. 

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus.  The disease of measles and the virus that causes it share the same name.  The disease is also called rubeola.  Measles virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and lungs.  Measles causes fever, runny nose, cough and a rash all over the body.  About one out of 10 children with measles also gets an ear infection, and up to one out of 20 gets pneumonia.  For every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die.   The number of measles cases has been increasing in the United States and cannot compare to the numbers that have been lower in the past.   

During the months of January thru May, 2011, there have been a total of 118 cases of measles reported in the United States this year and the annual average is about 50.  Texas has had 6 of these cases, but none has been reported for Milam County.  105 of these cases were associated with importation from other countries, which includes 34 among U. S. residents traveling abroad and 12 among foreign visitors.  All 105 people were unvaccinated and these are some of the reasons: claimed a religious or personal exemption, missed opportunities for vaccination, and declined vaccination because of philosophical objections to vaccination.  Centers for Disease Control are recommending children as young as 6 months of age receive an MMR vaccine if they are traveling abroad.   Measles outbreaks in the European region are large and spreading between countries and to other parts of the world.  So far this year, 24 of 53 countries in the European region have reported measles cases, with the largest outbreak occurring in France, which reported 3,749 cases in January and February.  

Children and adults who remain unvaccinated and develop measles also put others in their community at risk.  For infants too young for routine vaccination (age < 12 months) and persons with medical conditions that contraindicate measles immunization, the risk for measles complications is particularly high.  These persons depend on high MMR vaccination coverage among those around them to protect them from exposure.   

MMR vaccine is safe and highly effective in preventing measles and its complications.  MMR vaccine is recommended routinely for all children at age 12-15 months, with a second dose at age 4-6 years.  For adults with no evidence of immunity to measles, one dose of MMR vaccine is recommended unless the adult is in a high-risk group in which two doses are recommended.    Measles vaccination is very important, especially if you are traveling, so please check your immunization record.  If you have any questions regarding this vaccination, please contact the Milam County Health Department at 254-697-7039.

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HEPATITIS AWARENESS MONTH

 May 2011

May is Hepatitis B Awareness month and May 19^th is World Hepatitis Day.   What is Hepatitis?  “Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver.  Toxins, certain drugs, some diseases, heavy alcohol use, and bacterial and viral infections can all cause hepatitis.  Hepatitis is also the name of a family of viral infections that affect the liver; the most common types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. 

Differences between Hepatitis A, B & C…Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C are diseases caused by three different viruses.  Although each can cause similar symptoms, they have different modes of transmission and can affect the liver differently.  Hepatitis A appears only as an acute or newly occurring infection and does not become chronic.  People with Hepatitis A usually improve without treatment.  Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C can also begin as acute infections, but in some people, the virus remains in the body, resulting in chronic disease and long-term liver problems.  There are vaccines to prevent Hepatitis A and B; however, there is not one for Hepatitis C.  If a person has had one type of viral hepatitis in the past, it is still possible to get the other types. 

Hepatitis A is found in the stool of person with hepatitis A.  It is usually spread by close personal contact and sometimes by eating food or drinking water containing the hepatitis A virus.  Hepatitis A can cause mild “flu-like” illness, jaundice(yellow skin or eyes) and severe stomach pains and diarrhea.  Sometimes, people die as a result of Hepatitis A (about 3-5 deaths per 1,000 cases). 

Hepatitis B is usually spread when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected with the Hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected.  This can happen through sexual contact with an infected person or sharing  razors, toothbrushes ,needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment and also direct contact with blood or open sores.   Hepatitis B can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby at birth.  In the United States, an estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million persons have chronic Hepatitis B virus infection and about 350 million people globally and this disease contributes to an estimated 620,000 deaths worldwide each year.   

Hepatitis C (HCV) is transmitted when the infected blood of one person gets into the blood stream of another person. Prior to 1992, persons receiving blood transfusions or other blood products were at risk. New screening tests have been used in the United States since 1992 to screen blood. The majority of HCV is currently transmitted through the sharing of needles and needle sharing equipment (works). Health care workers who have been stuck by a needle or cut with other contaminated instruments may be at risk, although the risk is fairly low. Studies show the transmission of HCV through sexual intercourse is possible, but less common than direct exposure to HCV infected blood. The virus can also be passed to a baby during pregnancy or delivery.

The Incubation period is two to twenty five weeks although the average is six to nine weeks.

Most people who are infected with the hepatitis C virus do not have symptoms and lead normal lives. If symptoms are present they are generally mild flu-like symptoms, dark urine, light stools, jaundice, fatigue, and fever.

If you would like to know more information about the Hepatitis viruses, please contact the Milam County Health Department at 254-697-7039. 

Public Health Preparedness:  SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Sexually transmitted diseases or STD's cases are still on the rise in the United States. Even with the discovery of HIV/ AIDS many people still have unprotected sex. Currently 1 in 5 people has an STD, with 1 in 4 people having had an STD during his or her lifetime. Many STD's have mild symptoms while most people positive for STD's have had no symptoms at all. Bacterial STD's like gonorrhea, syphilis and Chlamydia cause mild burning and itching during urination, discharge, small sores or blisters and /or flu-like symptoms. Bacterial STD's may be treated with antibiotics. Viral STD's, such as HIV, Hepatitis C and Herpes are caused by viruses and have no cure, while HPV and Hepatitis B are preventable with vaccines. Symptoms of viral STD's are less obvious and do not show up until months after having sex. Symptoms include warts, blisters, flu-like symptoms, tiredness and jaundice. If STD's are left untreated, you may pass the disease to your child during childbirth or may be unable to become pregnant. These diseases may also cause blindness, heart problems or even death. If you believe you were exposed to an STD visit your doctor or the health department.  Visit www.milamhealth.com for information on free testing and treatment or call the Milam County Health Department at 254-697-7039.