 Friday, July 28, 2023
Fogging operations to be conducted in Iroquois area after mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus
 The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) has found mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus in surveillance traps in the Iroquois area. To help prevent infection and reduce the mosquito population, mosquito fogging will take place this week in the 40214 ZIP code.
So far this year, no confirmed human cases of West Nile have been reported in Jefferson County.
In most instances, people infected with West Nile virus either show no symptoms or relatively mild symptoms. However, less than 1% of infected people develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis. Serious illness can occur in people of any age. However, people over 60 years of age are at the greatest risk for severe disease. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and people who have received organ transplants are at greater risk for serious illness.
Avoid mosquito bites
- Use insect repellents when you go outdoors. Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection. To optimize safety and effectiveness, repellents should be used according to the label instructions. More information about insect repellents can be found here.
- When weather permits, wear long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with a repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent will give you extra protection. Don't apply repellents containing permethrin directly to your skin. Do not spray repellents on the skin under your clothing.
- Take extra care during peak mosquito biting hours of early morning and dusk. Be sure to use repellent and wear protective clothing from dusk to dawn or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.
Prevent mosquito breeding grounds
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitos outside.
- Help reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires and draining birdbaths on a regular basis.
To check if your area will be fogged, visit the department’s website or call the mosquito hotline, 502-574-6641. To make a complaint about mosquitos in your neighborhood, call Metro311 by dialing 311 or 502-574-5000.
You can watch an update about the positive case on our YouTube channel.
Tips help you to put food safety on the menu
 When dining out, choose an eatery that keeps food safety as its main dish. Feast your eyes on these tips to protect yourself from food poisoning while eating out.
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Check inspection scores. Check a restaurant’s score at our health department’s website, or look for it when you get to the restaurant.
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Look for certificates that show kitchen managers have completed food safety training. Proper food safety training can help improve practices that reduce the chance of spreading foodborne germs and illnesses.
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Look for safe food-handling practices. Sick food workers can spread their illness to customers. If you can see food being prepared, check to make sure workers are using gloves or utensils to handle foods that will not be cooked further, such as deli meats and salad greens.
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Order food that’s properly cooked. Certain foods need to be cooked to a safe internal temperature. This includes meat; seafood; chicken, turkey, or other poultry; and eggs. If a restaurant serves you undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs, send it back to be cooked until it is safe to eat.
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Avoid lukewarm food. Cold food should be served cold, and hot food should be served hot. If you’re selecting food from a buffet or salad bar, make sure the hot food is steaming and the cold food is chilled. Germs that cause food poisoning grow quickly when food is in the danger zone, between 40°F and 140°F.
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Refrigerate your leftovers quickly. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of when the food was prepared (or an hour if the food is exposed to temperatures above 90°F, like a hot car or picnic). Eat leftovers within three to four days. Throw them out after that time.
If you think you have food poisoning, file an online foodborne illness report or call us at 502-574-6650.
World Hepatitis Day: Knowledge is key to prevention
Today is World Hepatitis Day, and from 2017-2022, Louisville experienced an outbreak of hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease, usually spread from person-to-person through the fecal-oral route or by consuming contaminated food or water. Hep A is highly contagious and hard to contain once an outbreak starts. Fortunately, two preventative measures can protect against the virus.
Symptoms of hepatitis A can include fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools, joint pain, and jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and eyes. Children under the age of 6 usually show no symptoms, which makes childcare environments prime locations for the virus to spread. For adults, symptoms can range from mild illness that lasts a few weeks to severe illness that can last for months. However, there are things you can do to help protect against the virus.
The first is vaccination. The CDC recommends children receive their first vaccine at 12 months and a second dose at 23 months for lasting protection. For adults who have never been vaccinated, the CDC recommends a combination of hepatitis A and B vaccines in a three-dose series.
The second thing you can do to prevent hepatitis A is practice good hand hygiene. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water after using the bathroom and before handling food.
Adult and child hepatitis A vaccines are available at our clinics. Check with your insurance provider for details on how they cover vaccines or visit our Immunizations website to see if you or your child are eligible for a free vaccine. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 502-574-5380.
Be sure to attend health fair on Sunday
 The Here Comes the Homework Health Fair sponsored by Passport by Molina Healthcare, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, July 30 at the Family Life Center, 1508 W. Kentucky St. There will be free food, games, kids' activities, school giveaways (while supplies last), local vendors, free health screenings, Kare Mobile Dental Unit and more.
For more information, contact Diane.BeattyCorsey@molinahealthcare.com.
Join our team to make a difference in public health
 Are you interested in improving the health and wellness of all residents of our city? If the answer is yes, we invite you to be a part of a dedicated team. Please apply today.
For more information, please email LMPHWCareers@louisvilleky.gov.
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