Free Mammography Clinic @ Highland District Hospital

For the 2nd year in a row we are partnering with Highland District Hospital to present a FREE mammography clinic on September 16&17 for those with no or limited insurance or a high deductible. Must be 40 or over, not had a mammogram in the last year and have had no issues with either breast. Pre-registration for this event is required. For more information or to reserve your spot, call the health department at (937)393-1941 or email us info@highlandcountyhealth.org. We hope to hear from you soon! 

Nuisance Program Maps

DON’T BE A NUISANCE

by Katie Senter

Every week, Registered Sanitarians from the Highland County Health Department travel the county responding to public health nuisance complaints, usually dealing with trash that is not being cleaned up, or sewage coming from a failed septic system.   These nuisances can cause diseases, rodent problems, harbor mosquitoes that can harm the public, and impact the communities health in other ways as well. Enforcing our nuisance complaint laws is an important part of keeping our community a safe and healthy place to live.

The health department recently reviewed its files and data from recent nuisance complaints. An interactive map was developed from this information that allows the public to look at all the types and locations of nuisances in the county.  This map is available HERE . 

Over the past two years, the health department has investigated 82 nuisances in Highland County. Paint Township was responsible for 25% of these nuisances, followed by Liberty Township with 14%.  This number doesn’t include the nuisances that were investigated and were not found to be valid.  

The process for reporting these nuisances is simple. First a complaint from the community must be received in writing and signed by the person reporting the nuisance.  A sanitarian then drives out to check on the complaint and see if it is valid. If it is valid, the sanitarian notifies the property owner of the nuisance and gives them a timeframe for cleanup.  If the nuisance is not cleaned up by the deadline, the case is sent to the Highland County Prosecutor for civil prosecution. 

The health department’s nuisance program is an important part of the public health services that are provided to the community. One of the Health Department’s sanitarians, Kyle Arn, said “The Nuisance Program at the Highland County General Health District is a major program in the Environmental Health Division. It is important because it assists in getting trash, solid waste, tires, and sewage nuisances cleaned up and abated, which protects the health and safety of the citizens of Highland County, as well as the environment and property values.”  By analyzing our data from the past two years, the health department can better understand where sanitarians spend their time, and how the health department can more efficiently work promote, protect, and improve community and environmental health.  For more information about the health department’s nuisance program, how you can report a nuisance, or for other information, call (937) 393-1941 or visit www.highlandcountyhealth.org. 

PRESS RELEASE - Update on Pike County Outbreak

Update on Outbreak in Pike County

7/20/2016

The Highland County Health Department is working with the Pike County General Health District in its investigation into numerous reports of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea from individuals who recently visited Long’s Retreat Family Resort.  During this outbreak investigation, Highland County Health Department has identified 60 individuals with symptoms, and Pike County General Health District has identified approximately 140 individuals with symptoms. 

At this time, Pike County General Health District has received 10 lab results of individuals who tested positive for Shigella. The highest onset of those reporting symptoms occurred between July 10th and July 14th.  The source of the Shigella has not been determined, and additional samples are being tested to confirm that Shigella is responsible for this outbreak.

Shigellosis is a diarrheal disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. Shigella is spread easily from person to person, and can also be spread by contaminated food and water.  Most people who are infected with Shigella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps starting a day or two after they are exposed to the bacteria. Shigellosis usually resolves in 5 to 7 days. Some people who are infected may have no symptoms at all, but may still pass the Shigella bacteria to others.  Every year, there are about 500,000 cases of shigellosis in the United States.

The best way to prevent the further spread of Shigella is to wash your hands with soap and warm running water after using the restroom, before cooking and eating, or getting your hands dirty.  If you work in food service, childcare, healthcare, or other jobs where you come into close contact with food or people, you should not go to work if you are sick.  Shigella can continue to be spread for up to a month after symptoms disappear, so proper hand washing is important.  It is also important not to go swimming if you have diarrhea or have had diarrhea in the past two days.  Swimming while you have diarrhea can lead to the spread of Shigella and other illnesses. 

The Highland County Health Department is working with Pike County General Health District, other health departments, the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio EPA, Ohio Department of Agriculture, CDC, and Long’s Retreat Family Resort to respond to this outbreak.  More information will be provided as it becomes available. 

###

Online Survey for Longs Retreat - Only for Those with NO SYMPTOMS

Please complete this survey if you are a Highland County resident and were at Long's Retreat Family Resort after June 1, 2016, and you have NOT had any symptoms of illness.  Completing this survey, even if you have not been ill, helps the health department figure out how people are becoming sick.

Fill out one survey for each person that visited Long's Retreat Family Resort. 

If you HAVE had any symptoms, including fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, please contact our office at (937) 393-1941 to speak with a nurse.  

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HCHD071816

PRESS RELEASE - Illness Potentially Linked to Long's Retreat Family Resort

On Thursday, July 14, the Highland County Health Department became aware of reports of an unknown illness that has affected a large number of people who had recently visited Long’s Retreat Family Resort, located in Latham, Ohio in Pike County.  Symptoms of this illness include fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. 

The Highland County Health Department is working with Pike County General Health District, the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio EPA, Ohio Department of Agriculture, and Long’s Retreat Family Resort to identify what this illness is, who is potentially at risk, and how we can prevent any further spread of the illness.  At this point we do not know what the specific illness involved in the outbreak is, or how individuals are contracting the illness.  Pike County Health Department is working to test water from the lake, food sources, drinking water, and other areas to determine the source of the outbreak.  

We are encouraging Highland County residents who have visited Long’s Retreat Family Resort since June 1st, 2016, even if you have no symptoms, to contact the Highland County Health Department at (937) 393-1941 to complete an interview.  

If you have not had any symptoms, you can also complete an online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HCHD071816. 

More information will be provided as it becomes available.  With questions, contact the Highland County Health Department at (937) 393-1941.