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In this issue:
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It’s been almost a year since Oregon reported its first case of mpox (monkeypox). That number has since risen to 279. But new cases have been trickling in slowly, and initial fears shared by health experts about potential spread and illness have shifted to cautious optimism.
“Due to the work of the queer and transgender community, local public health partners and health care providers throughout Oregon, the mpox outbreak has been relatively contained in Oregon,” said Dr. Tim Menza, OHA senior health advisor and OHA’s Office of Recovery and Resilience. “We now have the necessary tools to prevent a resurgence.”
With annual Pride celebrations just around the corner, and new clusters of mpox cases emerging elsewhere, OHA is partnering with community-based organizations and local public health departments to hold mpox vaccination clinics across the state, which will be free and open to all. Check out OHA’s mpox webpage for details on upcoming vaccination clinics.
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The federal COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends today, May 11. As a result, a number of nationwide and Oregon-specific policies put in place to help the country weather the pandemic will change or end. Some policies will stay in place, however, until further notice.
Highlights of these changes include:
- Workers and volunteers in Oregon health care settings will no longer be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, effective May 11.
- Effective Saturday, June 17, teachers, school staff and volunteers in Oregon’s private and public education settings will no longer be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Oregon is lifting the five-day isolation recommendation for people with COVID-19, including in K-12 schools.
“These changes are an acknowledgement of the progress we’ve made over the last three-plus years,” said Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA. “However, we know COVID-19 will remain a part of our lives for years to come, so we need to continue taking steps that prevent its spread, such as staying up to date with vaccinations.”
For more details, watch OHA’s press conference, and check out this fact sheet.
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Tuesday, May 9, was the second annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day. Fentanyl is a dangerous synthetic opioid, causing overdose deaths that have dramatically increased in Oregon since 2019. It is now the primary driver of Oregon’s overdose crisis, contributing to an average of two deaths every day in the state. Across the United States, more than 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
Key points to remember:
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Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
- Unless a pharmacist directly hands you a prescription pill, assume it is counterfeit and contains fentanyl, even if handed to you by a friend.
- Test your drugs with fentanyl test strips before you use them. Fentanyl test strips can often be accessed at local harm reduction sites.
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Never use drugs alone and always have naloxone on hand and visible. Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication (i.e. Narcan), is available in many pharmacies for purchase. It is also possible to get naloxone from community-based distribution programs, local public health groups or local health departments, free of charge. Learn more about administering naloxone and other opiate overdose first aid here.
- An overdose is always a medical emergency; call 911 immediately. Oregon’s Good Samaritan Law protects the caller and the person who has overdosed against possession and paraphernalia charges and parole/probation violations.
Visit OHA’s Fentanyl Facts webpage to learn more about fentanyl and how to stay safe.
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Health notes |
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If you’re planning to cool off this weekend, be aware that higher temperatures can create the potential for toxic algae blooms in Oregon’s lakes, rivers and reservoirs. Temperatures across Oregon are expected to exceed 90 degrees in some parts of the state over the coming week.
Cyanobacteria are beneficial bacteria found in all fresh water worldwide. But in the right conditions—warm weather, sunlight, water temperature, nutrients and water chemistry—the bacteria can multiply into blooms. While many blooms are harmless, some can produce cyanotoxins that make people and animals sick.
Symptoms of cyanotoxin exposure include:
- Diarrhea
- Cramps
- Vomiting
- Numbness
- Dizziness and fainting
Exposure to cyanotoxins occurs when water is swallowed while swimming, or when people breathe in water droplets during high-speed activities such as water-skiing or wakeboarding. Children and pets are particularly sensitive to illness because of their size and activity levels. Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water, licking their fur or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore.
It's best to stay out of water that looks foamy, scummy, thick like pea-green or blue-green paint, or where brownish-red mats are present. See some photos here.
To learn if an advisory has been issued or lifted for a specific Oregon water body, visit the Harmful Algae Bloom website or call the Oregon Public Health Division toll-free information line at 877-290-6767.
The heat is coming! Check your local forecast and be aware of daily high temperatures in your area. Over the next week or so, many locations in Oregon will see highs in the 90s.
Oregon’s summers are often beautiful, but the severity of heat waves has been getting worse in recent years, a trend that is expected to worsen in the future. Such waves can seriously affect the health of the elderly, those who live or work outdoors, have low incomes, are infants and children, or who have a chronic medical condition.
- Regardless of your level of activity, drink plenty of fluids, even if you are not thirsty and especially when working outside. Avoid alcohol or liquids containing large amounts of sugar, as they can make your body lose water.
- Learn how to prevent, recognize, and treat heat-related illnesses.
- Air conditioners can help you stay cool, but not everyone has one. Visiting friends with an air conditioner or going to free cooling centers in your community can help you stay cool.
- More extreme heat resources can be found at 211.org.
Learn more about extreme heat and tips on how to stay cool by checking out OHA’s Extreme Heat webpage. We also list up-to-date heat advisories throughout Oregon.
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OHA answers your questions |
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Dr. Paul Cieslak, OHA senior health advisor and medical director, Communicable Diseases and Immunizations Program, and Dr. Dean Sidelinger, OHA state health officer and state epidemiologist, answered today’s questions.
Q: Is COVID like the flu in that the strain currently predominant in the Southern Hemisphere will be the predominant strain in the U.S. in the fall/winter? I ask as I visited Dunedin, New Zealand, in April for a month and came down with COVID. Will the strain of COVID I had offer me protection now in Jackson County? – Ana, Ashland
A: “We don’t really know yet whether COVID-19 will eventually strike in a seasonal pattern similar to that of influenza. To date, we’ve seen surges in all seasons – for example, Delta peaked in late summer of 2021. Moreover, the SARS-CoV-2 variants that cause waves of COVID-19 have spread across the globe more rapidly than influenza viruses seem to have spread. XBB variants have predominated in New Zealand recently, as they have in the U.S.; so your recent infection in Dunedin is likely to give you significant protection at least against severe disease in Oregon for the time being.”
Q: My wife wants to volunteer for an outdoor field trip for our son’s class, however she is unable to because she did not receive the vaccine. Will schools always require COVID-19 vaccines for volunteers? Thanks. – Michael, Hillsboro.
A: “As of Saturday, June 17, Oregon will no longer require workers and volunteers in public and private education settings to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The vaccination requirement is being lifted because of current levels of immunity in Oregon due to vaccination and recovery from recent infection. Also, the requirement focused only on the primary series and did not include recommended boosters. Being up to date with recommended vaccinations and boosters against COVID-19 is one of the most effective ways to reduce the potential for severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While rates of COVID-19 have declined in Oregon, the disease continues to circulate. OHA recommends that all individuals stay up to date with all vaccinations, including COVID-19 boosters. People in Oregon must continue to work together to protect all members of our communities.”
If you have questions about health topics in Oregon, submit your question here. While we are unable to answer every question, we try to address questions that may be of interest to a broader audience. Please understand we are unable to provide specific medical advice for personal medical conditions.
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If you need mental health support for any reason, help is out there.
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