I just posted a press release from the Guilford Department of Public Health.  A family found a bat in a family member’s bedroom.  The family called our animal control and the bat was captured.  Sent to Raleigh for testing, the bat was found to carry rabies.  This is considered a rabies exposure to the family member who sleeps in the bedroom.

Why?

Rabies virus can be fingerprinted genetically.  You can tell the type of animal from which the rabies virus came. So if a doctor diagnoses a human case of rabies, she can type the rabies virus back to the animal origin.  When the CDC looks at the animal origin of human rabies almost all of them have their origin in bats.

So the thought is that when you find a bat in your bedroom, the bat may be exhibiting abnormal behavior (a potential sign the bat is sick).  Furthermore, since a bat bite may be painless and so small it is almost invisible, a bat in a bedroom suggests that there is the potential for exposure to rabies.

So with nearly all the rabies in humans coming from bats and the setting of a bat in a bedroom suggesting exposure, those individuals sleeping in the bedroom may end up being one of the victims.

Of course not all incidences of finding a bat in the house leads to rabies exposure.  A telephone survey in Canada indicated that finding a bat in a house is very common.  Most people ignored the incidence to no ill effect. The Canadian scientist calculated that thousands of people would need to be given rabies prophylaxis to prevent one case of rabies…a very costly endeavor.  However, we in the US take a different viewpoint and attempt to prophylax all potential exposures.

So what is the best thing to do?

When you find a bat in your house, close the doors on the bat and call animal control. (336-641.5990; or call 911 after hours).  They can capture the bat and send it to Raleigh for testing.  If the bat is positive for rabies then post exposure rabies prophylaxis is in order.  If the bat is negative for rabies then there is no need to get the shots.

Find more information about rabies at the CDC website or our NC Department of Health and Human Services website and its state rabies manual.

Guilford County Department of Public Health is alerting residents that a bat located on Lowdermilk Street in southeast Greensboro tested positive for rabies on May 28, 2010. There was a human exposure involved with this incident.  This is the ninth confirmed case of animal rabies in Guilford County this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that any bat found in a residence where a young person or person with disability resides be captured and tested for rabies.

Bat bites are not dramatic and may not be appreciated when they occur or when the patient is examined. Some may recognize the bite but not comprehend its implications. Others, such as young persons or those with disabilities may be unable to provide an accurate history of a bite. It should be noted that most bats are not rabid and do serve an important ecological function.

Rabies is most common in the wildlife population of Guilford County.  The best way to protect yourself, your family and your pets is to make sure pets are vaccinated against the rabies virus.  North Carolina law states domestic pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) age 4 months and older should be vaccinated.  Barnyard animals (horses, goats and cows) should also be vaccinated.  Residents can get their pets vaccinated by their local veterinarian or at one of the following local low cost rabies vaccination clinics:

Saturday, July 10, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Summerfield Fire Dept

700 Summerfield Road

Summerfield

Saturday, August 28, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Gibsonville Fire Dept

6619 NC 61N

Gibsonville

Saturday, October 9, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Pleasant Garden Town Hall

4920 Alliance Church Rd

Pleasant Garden

The cost of the rabies vaccination at any of these clinics will be five dollars ($5.00).  The vaccine will be valid for one year.

Please contact Guilford County Animal Control at 641-5990 or the Guilford County Department of Public Health at 641-7777 for more information regarding rabies, rabies vaccinations or educational programs available.

I went to Pleasant Garden Community Center last night to hear the scientists from the NC Department of Health and Human Services and the federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry present their findings of toluene diisocyanate exposures in five communities. They didn’t find evidence of release of toluene into the environment by these companies.
The news report is here at www.digtriad.com. (I’m sitting in the audience in a bright blue coat.)
The details of the study can be read at the state’s website here.

I’m not bright enough to come up with a “Letterman Top Ten Reasons to Get the Influenza Vaccine in May/June of 2010″. And you might recognize that there are reasons not to get the vaccine.

Chief among the reasons NOT to get the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine now is that there isn’t any circulating influenza now. We humans have a tendency to think that whatever is going on now will be the way it will always be. In the middle of the influenza epidemic last fall it was hard to envision that there would be a time when influenza wasn’t around. But of course that is the nature of epidemics and we are now in that period when there isn’t any circulating influenza in Guilford County.

But just like the presence of influenza didn’t last…its absence won’t last either.

The chief reason to get the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus vaccine in the next few weeks is that there is every expectation that it will come back! And next season’s vaccine may not be distributed in time to catch the return.

Getting the vaccine now will provide protection when the virus recirculates. AND getting the vaccine now will provide a great immune boost when the seasonal vaccine is available.

We have to give up our vaccine at the end of June. It’s expiration date is then.

So please call us at 336-641-7777 and make an appointment to get the flu shield while you still can.

Guilford County Department of Public Health is alerting residents that a fox located in the Briarwood area, off Payne Court in High Point tested positive for rabies on May 14, 2010. There was a human exposure involved with this incident. This is the eighth confirmed case of animal rabies in Guilford County this year.

Rabies is most common in the wildlife population of Guilford County. The best way to protect yourself, your family and your pets is to make sure pets are vaccinated against the rabies virus. North Carolina law states domestic pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) age 4 months and older should be vaccinated. Barnyard animals (horses, goats and cows) should also be vaccinated. Pets that are pregnant should not be vaccinated. Residents can get their pets vaccinated by their local veterinarian or at one of the following local low cost rabies vaccination clinics:

Saturday, May 22, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Pet Supplies Plus
2924 High Point Road
Greensboro
The Feral Cat Assistance Program is sponsoring this clinic.

Saturday, July 10, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Summerfield Fire Dept
700 Summerfield Road
Summerfield

Saturday, August 28, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Gibsonville Fire Dept
6619 NC 61N
Gibsonville

Saturday, October 9, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Pleasant Garden Town Hall
4920 Alliance Church Rd
Pleasant Garden
The cost of the rabies vaccination at any of these clinics will be five dollars ($5.00). The vaccine will be valid for one year.

Please contact Guilford County Animal Control at 641-5990 or the Guilford County Department of Public Health at 641-7777 for more information regarding rabies, rabies vaccinations or educational programs available.

It may be nearing Memorial Day and the start of summer, but Guilford County Department of Public Health is still encouraging residents who have not gotten a flu shot this flu season to do so. The expiration date for the supply of vaccines is approaching soon.

“If you get the H1N1 flu shot now, your immune system will respond even more strongly to next season’s shot,” stated Ward Robinson, Medical Director for the Department of Public Health.

Guilford County as a whole has provided over 22,165 flu vaccinations (H1N1 and seasonal flu) since last fall, which is nearly six times the amount given the previous year.

It is estimated by the NC Immunization Branch that nearly 20% (actual 18.2% or 1.7 million) of North Carolinians have been vaccinated, and 20% have had the flu. Both groups now have some immunity. However, that leaves 60% of us with no protection against the flu viruses.

The H1N1 flu vaccine is available for persons 6 months of age and older. Seasonal flu vaccine is available for persons 4 years of age and older. Call 641-5563 for an appointment at the 1100 E. Wendover Avenue, Greensboro site or 845-7655 for the 501 E. Green, High Point location. There is no out of pocket cost for the vaccines but do please bring your insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare card at the time of your appointment, if you have one.

For more information about the flu or flu vaccines, visit www.guilfordhealth.org or www.cdc.gov/flu.

Do you know someone who has diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, fibromyalgia or any other chronic condition? If yes, Living Healthy might be “just what the doctor ordered.” Living Healthy is designed to help persons manage their chronic conditions and live a happier, healthier life.

By attending this FREE workshop, participants may learn how to:
• Manage their condition.
• Communicate effectively with their doctor.
• Fight fatigue.
• Build their confidence.
• Make daily tasks easier.
• Have fun sharing with a positive, supportive group.

Living Healthy consists of a 2.5 hour session once a week for six weeks. Participants must agree to attend all six Living Healthy sessions.

The next series is June 3-July 8 from 12:30pm-3:30pm at Chavis Life Long Learning Branch, Greensboro Library, 900 S. Benbow Rd, Greensboro.

Space is limited. Interested individuals should contact Sandy Ellington (6704 or selling@co.guilford.nc.us) or Connie Lawson (7722 or clawson@co.guilford.nc.us) soon to reserve a place.

Please share this information with persons whom you think would benefit from this new program!

The Feral Cat Assistance Program is hosting a low-cost animal rabies vaccination clinic on Saturday, May 22, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Pet Supplies Plus, 2924 High Point Road, Greensboro.

Dogs (on leashes) and cats (in carriers) are welcome. The one-year vaccination will cost $5.00.

NC law requires all domestic animals age 4 months and older to be vaccinated. Pregnant pets should not be vaccinated.

For more information, contact the Feral Cat Assistance Program at 378-0878.

Guilford County Department of Public Health is sponsoring a health screening event on Saturday, May 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Hidden Lakes Apartment Complex, 5500 Weslo Willow Drive in Greensboro. Confidential HIV screening will be available. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that individuals 13 to 65 years of age be tested for HIV annually.

The Department of Public Health will also offer syphilis screenings, condoms and other protective barriers like dental dams and female condoms, and refreshments.

Other local agencies will be on site and will be providing services.

The Center for Health and Vulnerable Populations from UNC Greensboro will offer HIV prevention education and cardiovascular risk assessment, which will include glucose and blood pressure screenings.

The General Medical Clinic will provide cholesterol screening and education.

Participants do not have to be fasting to receive the cholesterol or glucose screenings.

All services, screenings and refreshments will be provided at no charge. No appointment is needed. The event is open to the public.

The Department of Public Health along with other community-based organizations routinely offers free HIV and syphilis screenings throughout the county. Call the Department of Public Health at 641-7777 for testing sites or visit our website at www.guilfordhealth.org and click on HIV-STI-TB.

With National Women’s Health Week approaching (May 9-15), Guilford County Department of Public Health would like to remind residents of our services for women of all ages, backgrounds and financial status. A complete listing of services can be found by visiting our website at www.guilfordhealth.org or by calling us at 641-7777, but a few services are highlighted below:

Reproductive Health
We offer a full range of family planning services, including: birth control; physical examination; Pap smear; health education; short-term counseling; laboratory tests; pregnancy tests; male/female sterilization; adult immunizations; HIV testing and counseling; sexually transmitted infection testing and counseling; screening for high blood pressure, diabetes and anemia; and vaginitis and urinary tract infection screening and treatment. Any North Carolina resident may receive family planning services in our clinics. Costs are based on income and family size. All services provided are strictly confidential regardless of the age of the patient. Parental involvement is encouraged with minors, but not required. Free condoms are available in our clinic.

Maternity/prenatal care services include physical examination; laboratory tests; prepared childbirth classes; supportive counseling; nutrition counseling/assistance; breastfeeding education; home visits; Baby Love (Maternity Care Coordination); adult immunizations; HIV testing and counseling; sexually transmitted infection testing and counseling; and substance abuse counseling. Any female resident of North Carolina who has Medicaid or is eligible for Medicaid may apply for our maternity services. Medicaid must be obtained from county of residence. A woman not eligible for Medicaid may still receive maternity services on a sliding fee scale or may qualify for our special maternity care program. The Adopt-A-Mom Program is available to coordinate prenatal care for women who lack resources but do not qualify for Medicaid.

Our Baby Love Program, also known as Maternity Care Coordination, provides case management services to assist eligible pregnant women in finding services to meet their needs throughout pregnancy and at least two months after delivery. We also offer parenting and prepared childbirth classes, home visits during the pregnancy and within one week of delivery to assess mom and newborn, and referral to resources a mother and/or baby may need.
All parents of newborns in Guilford County may receive newborn home visits within three to five days of delivery by a registered nurse regardless of income or insurance status. Our nurses check on both mom and baby’s health, answer your questions and offer support, education and referrals. Incentive items are given at each visit.

General Health
· We provide immunizations for vaccine-preventable diseases. We have the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine and shingles vaccine. Charges for these immunizations vary. Most major insurances are accepted.
· We offer travel services for individual vacationers, business travelers, church groups and missionary teams. Services include immunizations, international certificate of vaccination, malaria prevention medication and travel consultation. Services are provided by our extensively trained and experienced nursing staff and include travel packets of reference information and the most current travel information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Most major insurances are accepted.
· Our Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) provides free screening and follow-up examinations for breast and cervical cancer to women who are age 50 and over. Services include blood pressure screening, cholesterol screening, mammogram, clinical breast exam and Pap smear. Women must be Guilford County residents age 50 or older, not enrolled in Medicare part B or Medicaid and meet income guidelines for the program.
· The Medication Assistance Program (MAP) provides medication reviews by a pharmacist who will check for medicines that should not be taken together, similar medicines, less expensive alternative medicines and more medicines than you may need. A prescription assistance coordinator will meet with you, help you decide which services are best and help you manage your drug costs. The services are free for residents with chronic diseases and who meet eligibility guidelines. MAP staff will also work with you to obtain medicines at no cost.
· Our Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program provides a nutritional assessment, personalized education and food vouchers to eligible participants, breastfeeding support and loaner breast pumps.
· Healthy teeth are an important part of healthy bodies. Our Dental Clinic staff provides exams, treatment, cleanings and emergency care. These services are for children and pregnant women who have Medicaid for Pregnant Women (MPW.)
· We have health education literature online at www.guilfordhealth.org (click on Health Info A-Z). We also have a speaker’s bureau if you are looking for a speaker for your women’s group (look under Education and Training).
· Incorporated into most of our programs is information about tobacco use cessation. All staff is knowledgeable in resources and information if you wish to stop smoking. One of the best resources is 1-800-QuitNow. We also offer QuitSmart® smoking cessation classes.

Interpreters are provided on-site for Spanish-speaking clients. Language Line services are available for other languages. Assistance is also provided for the deaf/ hard-of-hearing. There is no cost to the client for these services.

For more information on women’s health, visit the US Department of Health and Human Services’ website at http://www.womenshealth.gov/whw/.