About the Guardian
The Guardian of Public Health is a monthly newsletter from the Bureau of EMS, Trauma, and Preparedness (BETP) within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The Guardian aims to provide its readers with relevant content on topics that affect the public health of citizens and communities in Michigan. For questions or comments please contact Kerry Chamberlain at chamberlaink2@michigan.gov.
Southeast Michigan
Intentional Food Contamination Event
Joyce Lai - Region 2 South Epidemiologist - Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
In late April, 2016, a local facility contacted law
enforcement and FBI about a potential intentional contamination of food
products. The reported contamination
event occurred April 24, 2016 in an Ann Arbor retail store and video footage
showed an individual spraying an unknown substance on the salad bar and hot
food bar area.
After the facility discarded potentially contaminated
food items and cleaned the area, the establishment contacted law
enforcement. On April 26, 2016 the
Washtenaw County Public Health Department was notified of the event and further
communications with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
(MDHHS) Communicable Disease Division were made the following day. A sample of discarded food was sent to the MDHHS
Bureau of Laboratories to test for bioagents that may be used in an
intentional/bioterrorism event. A
similar sample was sent to the FBI Laboratory for additional testing.
Read More>>
Michigan Medical Reserve Corps
(MRC) Units Receive Challenge Award
Virginia Zimmerman - Michigan Volunteer Registry and Medical Reserve Corp Coordinator
Four Michigan MRC units each recently applied
for and received a $15,000 National Association of County and City Health
Officials (NACCHO) Challenge Award. The Challenge Awards aim to focus on
innovation in areas that are aligned with national health initiatives that are
also significant at the local level. Community resilience, chronic disease
prevention, partners for empowered communities, and mental and emotional
wellbeing are four focus areas of which projects must align.
Read More>>
Return To Top
Genetically Modified (GM) Mosquito Use to Reduce
Mosquito-Transmitted Disease in the US: A Community Opinion Survey
Researchers in PLoS Currents Outbreaks surveyed residents of
Key West, Florida regarding the use of genetically modified (GM)
mosquitos. The survey had 18 questions
and was administered between July 20th, and November 1, 2015 to 456
total households. The data showed, over
half the respondents opposed the use of GM mosquitos in a mosquito control program. Many were worried about how the GM mosquitos
would affect the local ecosystem.
Further the researchers found lower worry about mosquito-borne diseases
correlated with opposing the use of GM mosquitos. They suggest these findings could be used to
improve the dialogue on mosquito-borne diseases.
Read More>>
Return To Top |
