May 1, 2008
Contact:  Martha Jones or Cyndi Huscroft, at 475-5003.

World Asthma Day

The Dare County Asthma Coalition, with the Dare County Department of Public Health wants the community to know that Tuesday, May 6th is World Asthma Day, a worldwide effort to raise awareness and improve healthcare for people who suffer with asthma. 

This year the theme is “You Can Control Your Asthma” in order to increase awareness of the need for better treatment and control of asthma. 

To provide information and support the Dare County Asthma Coalition along with the Dare County Department of Public Health are presenting a class entitled “Living with Asthma” for adults and children with asthma.  The class will be held on Tuesday, May 20^th from 5:30 PM until 7:00 PM at the County Library in Kill Devil Hills. Refreshments will be provided.  The class is free, but registration is required by May 15, 2008.  To register contact Martha Jones, at 441-8888 Ext. 2206.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, asthma is one of the most common and costly diseases in the U.S.  Approximately 20 million people have been diagnosed with asthma in this country.  It is the most chronic condition among children, affecting more than one in 20.  Every day in the U.S., an estimated 30,000 people have an asthma attack, 5,000 visit the emergency room, 1,000 are admitted to the hospital, 12 die, and 40,000 adults and children miss school or work due to asthma.  The annual cost of asthma is an estimated 18 billion dollars.

You can reduce asthma triggers in your home by:

• Keeping pets out of the home, or at least out of the bedroom.
• Avoiding remodeling or working in a dusty environment.
• Using man-made fibers rather than feathers, blinds instead of curtains, and wood floors rather than carpet.
• Not allowing smoking inside.
• Removing mold and reducing moisture in the home.
• Eliminating mites and keeping your home as free of dust as possible.
• Utilizing air-conditioning, especially during times of heavy pollen and humidity; and keeping windows and doors closed.
• Talking to your healthcare professional about other ways to help reduce your asthma triggers. 

The Dare County Asthma Coalition is coordinated by the Dare County Department of Public Health. The Coalition was formed in February 2002 in an effort to comprehensively address asthma in Dare County from a community health perspective.

For more information about how you can become an active participant in the Dare County Asthma Coalition or to learn more about the “Living With Asthma” class scheduled for May 20th, contact Martha Jones or Cyndi Huscroft of the Dare County Department of Public Health, at 475-5003. 

###

Rabies Advisory

The Dare County Department of Public Health announced today that a raccoon has tested positive for rabies.  The raccoon was sent for testing after contact and exposure to a domestic animal in Manns Harbor.  The last confirmed case of rabies in an animal in Dare County was in 2005. 

The majority of rabies cases occur in wild mammals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.  Domestic animals account for less than 10% of all reported rabies cases.  The viral disease is transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal.  Public Health efforts to detect and control the spread of rabies have proven to be successful.  As a direct result of these efforts, human death from rabies is rare. 

“The purpose of this rabies advisory is to inform the public so they can protect themselves and their pets from rabies.  Following a few public health guidelines will keep all Dare County residents and their domestic animals free of rabies.  It is vital for pet owners to keep their dogs and cats properly immunized for rabies, and that it is now more important than ever to be cautious when dealing with stray animals. Citizens should not do anything that would encourage strays to be in their neighborhood such as feeding them because of the increased risk. ” said Anne Thomas, Health Director.

The Dare County Department of Public Health offers these guidelines to prevent and control the spread of rabies:

Anytime you are bitten by a wild or domestic animal, you should seek medical attention immediately. 

Prevent exposure to rabies by avoiding direct contact with unfamiliar animals:

• Enjoy wild animals (raccoons, skunks, foxes) from afar. Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
• Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. "Love your own, leave other animals alone" is a good principle for children to learn.
• Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and pets.

Be a responsible pet owner:

• Keep vaccinations up-to-date for all dogs, cats and ferrets. This requirement is important not only to keep your pets from getting rabies, but also to provide a barrier of protection to you, in case your animal is bitten by a rabid wild animal.
• Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.
• Call animal control to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.
• Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.

Rabies is a dangerous disease which infects only mammals and is spread by infected animals through bites or scratches.  Though it is mainly carried by wild animals, any pets which are not vaccinated are at great risk should they come in contact with an infected animal.  Rabies attacks the central nervous system and, left untreated, it is fatal.  Since wild animals are the most common carriers, it is very important that parents teach their children to avoid any contact with wild animals or domestic animals which are acting strangely.  Rabies is most often carried by raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes, but stray dogs and cats can be a problem once it enters the domestic population.

 Another important safety factor is knowing the signs of an animal which has contracted rabies.  Any change in the expected behavior of an animal is the most consistent sign of rabies.   There are two common forms of rabies.  “Dumb rabies” may be indicated by an animal which becomes shy or hides, or becomes more easily approached than expected.  This may be followed by sluggishness, confusion and depression.  “Furious rabies” may be present in an animal which has become excitable, irritable and aggressive.  At times it may seem calm and confused, then it will suddenly attack for no reason.  It might lose all caution for natural enemies, something which is common in wild animals.  A wild animal would normally avoid contact with humans but often becomes more aggressive and may approach humans if they are infected.  Young children need to understand this and not think a wild animal which approaches them is friendly and can be petted.

Other signs of rabies may include daytime activity in animals normally active at night, staggering, weakness and paralysis, a change in the sound of an animal’s voice, an inability to eat or drink, drooling or convulsions and frothing at the mouth.

April 10, 2008
Contact:  Kimberly Cholewinski, 475-5079

Community Partners Plan Child Abuse Prevention Month Activities

The Dare County Department of Public Health, Dare County Social Services and the Children and Youth Partnership for Dare County remind our community that April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.  “When Families are Fine, Communities Shine” is the theme for this year’s prevention activities and awareness campaign.

To kick off the month’s activities the Dare County Commissioners were presented with a Child Abuse Prevention Proclamation signed by directors from the Children and Youth Partnership for Dare, Dare County Department of Public Health and Dare County Social Services. Public service announcements will be provided with child abuse prevention tips and facts to increase community awareness. The Dare County Department of Public Health’s school nurses will sponsor a poster/poem/photography contest in the schools and everyone is asked to wear a blue ribbon during the month of April to show support for child abuse prevention.

Anne Thomas, Health Director, stresses “It is extremely important that we educate our community and raise awareness to break the cycle of violence against children.” Adults are the best advocates for the safety and protection of children. If you are concerned about a child’s welfare, these are definitions of what child abuse can consist of:

       Neglect is failure to provide for a child's basic needs.

       Physical abuse is physical injury as a result of hitting, kicking, shaking, burning, or otherwise
harming a child.

       Sexual abuse is any situation where a child is used for sexual gratification.

       Emotional abuse is any pattern of behavior that impairs a child's emotional development or sense of self-worth, including constant criticism, threats, and rejection.

Everyone can help prevent child abuse by being a child advocate and supporting families in need of help.  To report suspected child abuse please contact Dare County Social Services at 475-5500. 

For more information, contact Kimberly Cholewinski, Health Education Supervisor with the Dare County Department of Public Heath at 475-5079. 

April 2, 2008
Contact: Kimberly Cholewinski, 475-5081

New Immunization Requirements for Kindergarten, 6th Grade, and College Students

Anne Thomas, Health Director, Dare County Department of Public Health reminds parents that effective January 1, 2008, the administrative rule, 10A NCAC 41A.0401, was changed, adding requirements for a booster dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) vaccine and a second dose of mumps vaccine. These rule changes will go into affect beginning with the 2008-09 school year.

The new rule states that a booster dose of Tdap vaccine is required for the following individuals:

• All students attending public school who are entering the 6th grade on or after August 1, 2008, if five years or more have passed since the last dose of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid.

• All students not attending public schools (i.e., private, home-school, non-traditional schools) who are 12 years of age on or after August 1, 2008, if five years or more have passed since the last dose of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid.

• Individuals enrolling in college or university for the first time on or after July 1, 2008, if a tetanus/diphtheria toxoid or tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis vaccine has not been administered within the past 10 years.

This rule change also impacts mumps vaccination. Individuals are now required to receive a second dose of mumps vaccine before enrolling in school, college or university for the first time.

“Since these vaccinations are required, children will be able to receive the booster dose of Tdap and second dose of mumps for free,” said Thomas. “Parents simply need to set up an appointment with their child’s physician or the Dare County Department of Public Health to receive the immunization prior to school entry. The vaccine will be provided at no charge; however, the physician may charge a small fee to administer it.”

Parents must show proof of their child’s vaccination in the form of a copy of the Certificate of Immunization. This certificate should be presented to the child’s school to show proof of vaccination for Tdap or mumps. Parents have up to 30 calendar days from the first day of attendance to present the required up-to-date immunization record for the child. If the child’s immunizations are not up-to-date, the required immunizations must be obtained or the process of obtaining immunizations must have begun within the same 30 day period.

At the end of the 30 calendar day period, any child without a Certificate of Immunization showing that the child has received the required vaccines shall be suspended from school until he/she provides a Certificate of Immunization as required by law or shows that he/she has begun the immunization process.

These rule changes were designed to help reduce the incidence of whooping cough and mumps disease among North Carolinians. Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection. Most children are fully protected against it prior to entering kindergarten, but immunity to whooping cough wanes after about 10 years.

For more information about the immunization rule changes visit www.immunizenc.com or contact Cathi Ostrander, RN, Clinic Supervisor, Dare County Department of Public Health at (252)475-5025.