A New Avian Flu - H7N9

Reports are beginning to surface regarding a new Avian Flu virus in China.  Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) have begun monitoring the situation.

Click here for the latest information from the CDC

Click here for the latest information from the WHO

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West Nile Virus monitoring is victim of state budget cuts:

Funding for testing mosquitoes for the presence of West Nile Virus has been removed from the state budget.  As a result ECHD will not be collecting mosquitoes and having them tested as we have done in the past. West Nile Virus is now considered to be endemic in Ohio. Some degree of the virus will be present each year similar to other mosquito borne illnesses such as St. Louis or Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

Residents are advised to take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.  Those precautions include: wearing long sleeves and long pants as much as possible, using repellants containing DEET per label instructions, and limiting time outdoors around dusk.  The collection of dead birds for testing has also ended.  Residents finding a dead bird are instructed to simply scoop it up with a shovel and place in the trash for disposal.

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National Women's Health Week:

National Women's Health Week is May 12 to May 18.  The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) is reminding women with a history of gestational diabetes (GDM) about their risk for developing type II diabetes.  Women with a history of GDM have a 35 to 60% chance of developing diabetes in the next 10 to 20 years.  Click here for more information.

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May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month:

National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month is a good time to focus on making sure teens in your family and community are healthy, informed and aware.

Children born to teen moms are more vulnerable to being born prematurely and having lower birth weights, both factors in infant mortality.  Click here for more information.

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May is UV Awareness Month:

Prevent Blindness Ohio has declared May to be UV Awareness Month to educate the public on the dangers of UV and how to protect your eyes.  When going outside, adults and children should always wear proper UV rated sunglasses and preferably a hat or cap that shields the face around the eyes.

Proper sunglasses:

reduce glare

filter out 99-100% of UV rays

protect the eyes

are comfortable to wear

do not distort colors

Click here for more information from Prevent Blindness Ohio

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Public Health Futures Report:

The Legislative Committee on Public Health Futures has completed its report to the Governor.  The report includes recommendations for legislative and fiscal policies that can be considered for inclusion in the SFY 2014-2015 operating budget bill.  Click here to read the report.

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Lorain County Health Assessment:

ECHD along with the Lorain County General Health District, Lorain City Health District, the Public Services Institute at LCCC, the Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio and several other agencies conducted a health assessment for Lorain County in late 2011. The assessment was conducted to identify issues affecting the health of all Lorain County residents.  Information from the report will be used in strategic planning to create a Community Health Improvement Plan.  This plan will help shape the programs of the future.

Click here for access to the assessment report.  Information specific to Elyria can be found on page 113 of the complete report.  Feedback to the report is welcomed.