Current Public Health Alerts
Public Health alerts are announcements released by local, state or federal public health authorities to inform the public and medical professionals about likely or imminent dangers to the health of the community. A health alert conveys the highest level of importance and warrants immediate action or attention.
Public Health Urges Pet Owners to Vaccinate Animals Against Rabies
The Humboldt-Del Norte Veterinary Medical Association is sponsoring low-cost canine rabies vaccination clinics throughout the county in May and June.
Dogs will be vaccinated for $6 per rabies vaccination. Other canine and feline vaccinations will be available. The cost of these vaccines will vary with each clinic. Dogs are required by state law to be vaccinated at 4 months, with a booster one year later, and then every three years thereafter. Cats aren’t required by law to be vaccinated. However, it is highly recommended as they frequently interact with wildlife.
Questions about rabies can be directed to Environmental Health at (707) 445-6215 or toll-free at (800) 963-9241.
For the entire Public Health media release, including a complete clinic schedule, click here.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2012 Rabies Vaccine Clinics Flyer.pdf | 136.45 KB |
Annual Quarantine of Sport-Harvested Mussels Begins May 1
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that the annual quarantine of all sport-harvested mussel species along the California coast begins May 1, 2012. The quarantine is intended to protect the public from paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and domoic acid poisoning (DAP). Both are linked to microscopic plankton that are concentrated shellfish-like mussels. The overwhelming majority of human cases of PSP illnesses occur between spring and fall.
For the entire CDPH news release, click here.
California Department of Public Health Says there is no Danger from Infected Dairy Cow
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has stated, following the USDA’s announcement of a detection of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a California dairy cow:
- there is no public health threat
- the food supply in California has not been affected
- BSE is not transmitted in milk
For the entire CDPH news release, click here.
Japan's Tsunami Ocean Debris Coming to the West Coast
Debris from the March 2011 Tsunami could begin to reach West Coast beaches early in 2013. People have many concerns about this debris. Consensus among scientists is that radioactive contamination is highly unlikely. Also, there will not be one giant mass of debris hitting our shores at once; rather debris have and will continue to disperse as they move with ocean currents and winds.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the federal lead on the tsunami debris. This link has extensive information and answers to frequently asked questions. http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/japanfaqs.html
The link below is a recent NOAA podcast discussing the debris. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/podcast/dec11/mw121511.mp3
For a printable version of frequently asked questions on the tsunami debris, click here.
Flu Vaccines Readily Available this Year
Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) are encouraging people of all ages to get their annual flu vaccine.
This year’s vaccine offers protection against three flu strains: H1N1, H3N2 and influenza B. These are the same three varieties covered by last year’s vaccine, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Even though this year’s vaccine is the same as last year’s, CDPH officials encourage people to get vaccinated every year. Health officials say the strength of the flu shot diminishes over time and it is important to have an annual vaccination for optimal protection.
For the entire DHHS news release, click here.
Bed Bug Information
Bed bugs can be annoying pests but they do not transmit disease. More people are expressing concern about bed bugs. The attached sheets describe these household pests and how to get rid of them. If you believe you have bed bugs in your private home, you are encouraged to contact a licensed pest control operator. If you come into contact with bedbugs outside of a private home, you are encouraged to contact the appropriate building inspector. Please see the attachment below for fact sheets and prevention information of bed bugs.
For more information, contact
| Attachment | Size |
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| Bedbug info.pdf | 162.71 KB |
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