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.
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.
Wet Weather Test Period Opens
The Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Health Division, announces the opening of the wet weather test period for the evaluation of proposed individual onsite sewage disposal systems. The effective opening date is Monday, Feb. 6, 2012. Under normal rainfall conditions, the test period will continue until April 1, 2012. The test period is subject to closure if adequate rainfall is not received for a significant period.
You can obtain additional information regarding wet weather testing procedures by calling the Environmental Health Division at (707) 445-6215 or (800) 963-9241.
For the entire Environmental Health news release, click here.
Sport-Harvested Mussels Quarantine Lifted for the North Coast
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today that the statewide annual quarantine on mussels taken by sport harvesters from California’s ocean waters ends at midnight on Monday, October 31, 2011.
Sampling of mussels has confirmed that shellfish-borne paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins and domoic acid are at safe or undetectable levels with the exception of the northern Channel Islands region.
For the entire CDPH news release, 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 |
|---|---|
| Bedbug info.pdf | 162.71 KB |
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