Measles Update
From January 1 to April 26, 2019, 704 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 22 states. This is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1994 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000.
Measles is a very contagious respiratory disease. Ninety percent of people that have close contact with an infected person will get measles if they are not vaccinated. Measles is considered the most serious of all childhood rash/fever illnesses. Symptoms may include high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes and rash. Measles can have serious complications such as ear infections, pneumonia, swelling of the brain and miscarriage in pregnant women.
As you may be aware, there have been a high number of measles cases and exposures in New Jersey. Follow this link to Measles Frequently Asked Questions to learn more. Also, please refer to the New Jersey Department of Health’s Measles Exposure Guidance Document.
Remember, the best defense against Measles is to be vaccinated. We urge you to speak with your physician regarding age appropriate vaccination for you and your family. Contact us if you have any questions or are having difficulty finding immunizations.
Free Rabies Clinics
The Monmouth County Health Department (MCHD) offers free rabies clinics in convenient locations. New clinics are added on a regular basis, so visit our Calendar of Events often!
Thursday Millstone 6 – 7 p.m.
June 13 Public Works Garage, 899 Perrineville Road
With the onset of warmer weather and increased outdoor activity, Rabies Awareness is important. Rabies is an infectious disease caused by the rabies virus. Animals infected with rabies can display strange behavior such as aggression, and signs of neurologic impairment including vocalization, circling, and paralysis.
People who are bitten by, or have had contact with saliva from an animal should seek medical care and notify the local health department having jurisdiction where the animal is located. The MCHD can be also contacted through your police department in the event of an emergency. Health Department staff will consult with the people bitten or exposed to rabies and will make recommendations regarding rabies prophylaxis to their health care provider. We may also arrange for testing or confinement of biting animals.
Frequently asked questions
What you should know about bats
Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program
The MCHD will begin its weekly beach water quality sampling program the week of May 13. Over 45 guarded beaches in the County's coastal region will be monitored to assure safe levels of Enterococcus bacteria in coastal waters. Other potential hazards, such as medical waste and algae blooms, will also be surveyed to assure public safety.
Preventing Mosquito and Tick bites
This year, take a stance and Fight the Bite! There are two different, but equally important, steps to help prevent you from getting bitten by mosquitoes.
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Eliminate any standing water on your property. Mosquitoes use standing water to develop from the egg stage to the adult stage. Read the list of potential habitats for mosquito larvae.
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Use insect repellents when outdoors. Whenever outdoors, use a mosquito repellent on exposed skin having one of the following active ingredients: picaridin, DEET, IR-3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Always follow product label directions.
- CDC Tips To Avoid Bug Bites
If you have a mosquito problem, submit a request for service to the Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division at 732-542-3639 or online.
May is Tick Awareness Month
Increased outdoor activity due to longer daylight hours, participation in outdoor activities and youth sports all increase our potential exposure to ticks and tick-borne illness. MCHD encourages all our residents to Have Fun but Be Safe.
Ticks are generally found near the ground, in brushy or wooded areas. They cannot fly or jump. Instead, they climb tall grasses or shrubs and wait for a potential host to brush against them. When this happens, they climb onto the host and seek a site for attachment.
Visit the Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division’s Tick Borne Diseases in NJ page for more information.
Medical Reserve Corps wants YOU!
The Medical Reserve Corps is seeking additional volunteers for our response team. The MCHD is looking for nurses, physicians, physician assistants, crisis counselors and translators to build a wide-range support team. General volunteers for support services are also needed. Volunteers must be 18 years old, live or work in Monmouth County and be a U.S. citizen.
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Preventing lead exposure from paint, drinking water and other sources continues to be a priority of the MCHD Childhood Lead Program. MCHD consults and coordinates with other health departments in several jurisdictions, assisting in lead cases, identifying possible alternative sources of lead and testing consumer goods. Additionally, all children under the age of six should receive a blood lead screening as part of their pediatric care. We can assist you in obtaining a blood lead screening for your children.
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The Monmouth County Hazardous Materials Response Team responded to over 120 incidents in 2018. |
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