Grundy County Health Department
1716 Lincoln / Trenton, MO 64683
PH: 660.359.4196 FAX: 660.359.5470
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Grundy County Health Department 1716 Lincoln / Trenton, MO 64683 PH: 660.359.4196 FAX: 660.359.5470
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Public Health PostJanuary - March 2007
Contents Community Guide for Pandemic Influenza
Many smokers believe that the damage smoking causes has already been done and that it is pointless to quit. But this is not true. Regardless of your age or smoking history, there are advantages to quitting smoking. Benefits apply whether you are healthy or you already have smoking-related diseases.
Over Time The Benefits Keep Increasing
Quitting Helps Stop The Damaging Effects Of Tobacco On Your Appearance
Kicking the tobacco habit offers benefits that you'll notice immediately and some that will develop gradually over time. These rewards can improve your day-to-day life immensely— food tastes better, your sense of smell returns to normal, ordinary activities no longer leave you out of breath. You will be more successful in your attempt to quit if you get support. Missourians can call the Missouri Tobacco Quitline at 1/800-784-8669 or 1/800-QUIT-NOW. You may also call the American Cancer Society at 1/800-ACS-2345.
From the American Cancer Society
Gardasil—Can Prevent Certain Types of Cervical Cancer The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2006, over 9,710 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3,700 will die from this disease. A new vaccine can prevent cervical cancer by protecting women against human papillomavirus (HPV), the major cause of cervical cancer in women. Gardasil, a vaccine developed by Merck, is highly effective in preventing HPV infection, the major cause of cervical cancer in women. The vaccine protects against four types of HPV, including two that cause about 70% of cervical cancer. HPV (human papillomavirus) is a virus that is common in the United States and around the world and can cause cancer and genital warts. HPV is spread through sexual contact. There are about 100 types of HPV. HPV is the major cause cervical cancer in women and is also associated with several other types of cancer in both men and women. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. At least 50 percent of sexually active people will get HPV at some time in their lives. Every year in the U.S., about 6.2 million people get HPV. HPV is most common in young women and men who are in their late teens and early 20's. The vaccination will not eliminate the need for cervical cancer screenings. Women that do not get all required doses of the vaccine on the recommended schedule or women that have already acquired a vaccine HPV type will not get the full benefit from the vaccine and must continue to be screened. The vaccine will NOT provide protection against all types of HPV that cause cervical cancer, so women will still be at risk for some cancers. Women must continue to be screened regularly for cervical cancer. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended the HPV vaccine be routinely given to girls when they are 11-12 years old. The ACIP recommendation also allows for vaccination of girls beginning at nine years old as well as vaccination of girls and women 13-26 years old. The vaccine should be administered before onset of sexual activity (i.e., before women are exposed to the viruses), but females who are sexually active should still be vaccinated. Gardasil is a recombinant vaccine (contains no live virus) that is given as three injections over a six-month period.
Zostavax—Shingles Vaccine for Older Adults Shingles is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After an attack of chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in certain nerve tissue. As people age, it is possible for the virus to reappear in the form of shingles, which is estimated to affect 2 in every 10 people in their lifetime. Shingles is characterized by clusters of blisters, which develop on one side of the body and can cause severe pain that may last for weeks, months or years after the virus reappears. Other symptoms of shingles can include fever, headache, chills and upset stomach. Very rarely, a shingles infection can lead to pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation (encephalitis) or death. For about 1 person in 5, severe pain can continue even after the rash clears up. Because shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, only someone who has had a case of chickenpox – or gotten chickenpox vaccine – can get shingles. You can't catch shingles from another person with shingles. However, a person who has never had chickenpox (or chickenpox vaccine) could get chickenpox from someone with shingles. This is not very common. Shingles is far more common in people 60 and older than in younger people. It is also more common in people whose immune systems are weakened because of a disease such as cancer, or drugs such as steroids or chemotherapy. At least 500,000 people a year in the United States get shingles. A vaccine for shingles, call Zostavax, was licensed in 2006. In clinical trials, the vaccine prevented shingles in about half of people 60 years of age and older. It can also reduce the pain associated with shingles. A single dose is indicated for people over age 60. For more information about the new vaccines, visit the National Immunization Program website at www.cdc.gov/nip. Both vaccines will be available at the Grundy County Health Department, for more information call 359-4196.
From the Centers for Disease Control
During the winter months, people are at greater risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. You can't see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous. However, if appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result. Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances. Even more die from CO produced by idling cars. Prevention is the key to avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning:
From the EPA
Community Guide for Pandemic Influenza By now you probably have heard about pandemic influenza, also known as pandemic flu. You may be frightened by what you have heard and read. You may not think that it is a big deal, or you might not know what to think. You should know that experts believe that another influenza (flu) pandemic will strike sometime in the future. If this happens, millions of people around the world could get sick with, and even die from, a new kind of flu virus. It could affect you, your family, and your community. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has developed a Community Guide to help educate and prepare you and all Missourians for pandemic flu. This guide will help you LEARN more about influenza, PLAN how to respond to the next major flu pandemic, and find the best ways to PROTECT yourself against this serious health threat. During the 20th century, there were three serious influenza pandemics, killing millions of people.
Because flu pandemics tend to occur in cycles, and because there has not been a major flu pandemic in many years, experts believe that we are due for one. To get your copy of the Community Guide to Pandemic Flu, stop by the Grundy County Health Department today. We urge you to read this Guide, put what you learn into action, and take an active role in getting ready. The more prepared we are now, the more lives can be saved in the future. The best way to prepare is to learn, plan, and protect.
From the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Public Health Makes Life Better. The Grundy County Health Department has been reminding our residents of this for years. Life is better when we Prevent, Promote, Protect. The National Association of City and County Health Officials has adopted a new logo to identify local public health agencies and the essential functions they perform. The national identity for local public health comprises words and a symbol that will immediately and consistently identify the people and the work of local health departments throughout the United States. It will be used side by side with the local health department identity, visibly assuring communities that public health is working for their health and safety. The symbol of a three pointed shield and stylized plus illustrates a universal recognition associated with health, with protection and with growth. The three point symmetry reinforces the three core functions of public health that are conveyed in the words. The words are a simple, elegant statement about what public health does-and what public health achieves. Prevent. Promote. Protect. is a phrase that embraces everything that Public Health accomplishes and communicates it in a simple way that differentiates Public Health as both a sentinel and responder. The national identity for local public health was created under the auspices of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, a nonprofit membership organization representing local health departments throughout the United States. The identity was designed to broaden public awareness of the work of local health departments and how it benefits individuals and communities. Over time, the logo will give public health agencies universal recognition, as another organization, like police, fire, and EMS, that protect and respond. When you see this symbol you can be assured that your local public health department is working hard to Prevent, Promote, Protect—making life better for all.
From www.naacho.org
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Grundy County Health Department is an Equal Opportunity
Provider.
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