Kent County Health Department August 2023 Newsletter

West Nile Virus found in mosquito "pool" in Kent County

During annual routine surveillance conducted by the Kent County Health Department (KCHD), West Nile Virus was detected in Kent County for the first time in 2023. This was not a human case.

The trap was located in the 49548 zip code near the border of Byron and Gaines Townships. The pool of tested mosquitoes were collected on July 26, 2023 and the KCHD received confirmation of the positive result from the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) on August 9, 2023.

"This is an important discovery because it tells us that the virus in now present in our community and it can spread to humans," said Paul Bellamy, Public Health Epidemiologist at KCHD. "Now, more than ever, it is time to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites as much as possible."

Most people who get the illness will never even know they have it but in rare cases the disease can progress to a severe illness that can affect the central nervous system. Unfortunately, there is no cure for West Nile Virus and it can be fatal. 

The best prevention is to avoid mosquito bites is by doing the following: 

• Wearing a mosquito repellant that contains 10 - 35% DEET.
• Wearing light colored clothing and staying indoors as much as possible, especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are the most active. 
• Removing anything that can hold standing water where mosquitoes can breed.
• Removing or frequently refreshing the water in bird baths, children's wading pools, and pet water bowls.

If you have symptoms that progress to high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, tremors, vision loss, numbness, or paralysis, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Every year the KCHD conducts a mosquito surveillance program that traps mosquitoes at various locations around the County. The traps are collected weekly and the mosquitoes are then pulverized and tested for the presence of West Nile Virus. Positive results are shared with appropriate municipal agencies who can then make informed decisions about a mosquito remediation plan.

Listen to this episode of the KCHD podcast "A Matter of Public Health" for more in-depth information about mosquitoes and ticks and what you can do to better protect yourself and your family. 

Lead Reducing Filters Fly at Kid's Day at The Zoo 

Great weather, a fantastic event, and a valuable public service opportunity all combined to make this year's Kid's Day at the Zoo a memorable one. More than twenty staff from the KCHD and MDHHS distributed 641 lead reducing water filters in a single day, shattering the previous one day mark of 200. 

The KCHD and MDHHS recently announced a new recommendation for all people to use a lead reducing filter if they live in homes that have - or do not know if their homes have -  lead or galvanized plumbing, a lead service line, or older faucets  and fittings made before 2014. Because lead can build in the bloodstream over time, eliminating as many sources of ingestion as possible is important. In support of the recommendation, the KCHD and MDHHS have been distributing filters to qualified residents. Learn more at gettingaheadoflead.com.

Kid's Day at the Zoo is an annual event presented by WGVU and John Ball Zoo. For one day, all admission prices are lowered to $5. For the past 25 years, thousands of people have flocked to the zoo to take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy a family outing that they might not otherwise be able to afford. To date, approximately 6,200 people have paid their admission to the zoo, about 1,200 more than last year.

This year there were special appearances by Cookie Monster, Daniel Tiger, and Molly of Denali. WGVU radio's Shelly Irwin Show was broadcast live from the event and interviewed KCHD's Steve Kelso about the health department's outreach efforts. You can hear that interview here.

The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Onsite Wastewater Program is kicking off SepticSmart Week with this 1-hour webinar, which will be recorded. While this event is targeted to homeowners served by a septic system, all interested persons are welcomed to attend. Webinar attendees will learn about:

• the basics of septic systems,
• tools on how to locate a septic system, and
• use, operation, and maintenance tips.

You’ll leave this webinar with access to educational materials and a boost in your ability to manage your septic system. Mark your calendar and register today!

The SepticSmart program is a nation-wide initiative to share information on the proper care and maintenance of septic systems and encourage public stewardship in caring for these systems. For more information, visit epa.gov/septic.

New COVID Variant EG.5
is on the Rise

There's a new coronavirus popping up on the radars of epidemiologists across the United States. It is called EG.5 and it may sound like the new kid on the block but you could consider it and more like a cousin of of the original Omicron strain. 

On August 9, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the EG-5 variant is now responsible for more new COVID cases than any other other variant but EG-5 has been in the US since at least April. Despite a slight uptick in COVID related hospitalizations recently, CDC officials say there is no evidence that EG-5 causes more severe illness or that it is more transmissible than the previous mutations of COVID. 

Health experts say that as long as the evidence shows the variant is no more virulent than previous genetic iterations, their guidance to the public remains unchanged. People who test positive should continue to isolate themselves for five days and they should wear a mask in public for five additional days after that.

A new booster vaccine is scheduled to arrive this Fall and health experts also advise keeping up to date on all booster vaccines. More information form the CDC can be found here.

Michigan Department of Public Health Celebrates 150th Year

The MDHHS is celebrating its 150th Anniversary this year. 

On July 30, 1873, Governor John Bagley signed a law creating the state Board of Health. It was that law that prescribed the original duties to local health departments, like KCHD. The goal was to address widespread issues to prolong and improve lives.

In those days, the most prevalent diseases were things many of us have never heard of today. Diphtheria, typhoid fever, polio and waterborne disease were killers. In 1921, Michigan had the highest death rate form diphtheria in the world. By 1940, the death rate had fallen dramatically thanks to the efforts of what we now call public health. 

Many notable advances have followed. In Kent County, three women, Grace Eldring, Pearl Kendrick and Loney Gordon worked tirelessly to develop a vaccine for pertussis or whooping cough in 1948. The vaccine is credited with saving millions of lives and the three are honored with a statue at the corner of Monroe and Michigan in downtown Grand Rapids. Much of the work the three did took place on land that is now occupied by the Kent County Health Department's main clinic on Fuller.

We invite you to celebrate  some of the advances in public health. MDHHS has put together a website that has archival material, timelines, and tools for your exploration.