Due to a recent death of a Harris County resident from rabies, the Health District has been receiving an increasing number of calls regarding bats and rabies.  In the month of June, the Health District administered rabies post-exposure prophylaxis to 2 Galveston County residents.  Prophylaxis was warranted after Health District staff investigated reports of residents being scratched or bitten by a bat.  Rabies post-exposure series consists of 2 different biologicals, human rabies immune globulin and the rabies vaccine. A series of 6 or more injections are given on day 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28. The biologicals are obtained by the patient taking a prescription to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS-Houston).  In turn, the biologicals are distributed to the patient once paperwork is completed and the payment ($1,147.00 to $2,327.00, based on patient’s weight) is received by DSHS staff. The biologicals are then transported by the patient back to the medical provider so that arrangements of administering the rabies series can be scheduled.  Guidelines for Human Rabies Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) can be found at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/rabies/information/treatment/people/chart/.

25 Years of AIDS has been the focus of a series of articles printed in the Galveston Daily News.  On June 10^th, an article about HIV/AIDS prevention highlighted and District’s community prevention programs at http://www.gchd.org/press/2006/06HIVPrevention.htm.

GAAA Medical Director. Dr. Russell Miller, was recognized for being named Medical Director of the Year by the Greater Houston EMS Council in May.  The press release is posted at http://www.gchd.org/press/2006/06DrMiller.htm.  

The Galveston Daily News contacted the District on  June 9^th about high bacteria levels detected in Coward’s Creek of Friendswood for which a no swim advisory was issued.  Ronnie Schultz was quoted in http://www.gchd.org/press/2006/06CreekCaution.htm.  On June 12th the Pearland Journal contacted Brian Rutherford about the creek.  Information was provided and the second story was published on June 14^th http://www.gchd.org/press/2006/06wasteKillsFish.htm.  

A decision by the Texas Department of State Health Services to move all administrative funds for HIV/AIDS Services to Houston was featured in a Galveston Daily News story published on June 12^th.  Possible effects of the decision have caused some concern in the community.  This story can be accessed at http://www.gchd.org/press/2006/06HIVAdminMoves.htm.  

·WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program:  Five Peer Counselors have been hired and are currently being oriented to the WIC Services.  These women have successfully breastfed their own babies and will be helping to promote breastfeeding among WIC participants.

STD/HIV Improvement Plan – In response to DSHS audit findings and designated Level I sanctions, the program manager is providing additional training and oversight of staff functions.  Reports are being made on a regular basis to DSHS and quality assurance checks have been implemented to assure compliance with state requirements.  The state’s position on the program’s progress and sanctioning status remains pending.

Building Community Supports for Diabetes Self-Management - Take Action diabetes education and Whisking Your Way to Health cooking classes are added to UTMB’s “Commit to Fit” employee health program.  A new volunteer “Health Coach,” a local pharmacist, has begun a set of Take Action classes in the waiting area of her pharmacy.  RWJ funding ends on October 31, 2006.  Alternative funding as been sought to continue the program.
 

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility – Household hazardous waste disposal is a major environmental issue in Galveston County due to the lack of any affordable disposal methods that also leads to an increase in illegal dumping. Common household wastes include paint, used motor oil, batteries, antifreeze, pesticides and herbicides, to name a few. A multi-agency Task Force, recently formed to discuss the possibility of constructing a permanent household hazardous waste collection facility for citizens of Galveston County and southern Harris County.  The committee expects to explore funding sources, location, etc.  The committee will be addressing the Galveston County Commissioner’s Court on July 19^th.

Proposed Updates to Food Safety Policy/Order – In May, the Board approved a public notice and reading of a proposed policy/order updating the current order establishing a food safety and inspection program.  The major revisions include annual review of fees in accordance with board bylaws, changes to procedures addressing food establishments operating without a valid/renewed permit; appeals process consistent with organizational structure; and process to execute statutory authority of CEO/health authority to immediately suspend permits when imminent pubic health threat are identified; clarified access to records in accordance with the Public Information Act; etc. A public hearing will occur at the June Board meeting.  If the policy development process proceeds, the proposal will be sent to member cities and the county for comment prior to final Board deliberation and approval.  Ronnie Schultz met with Board chair, John Zendt, to outline the content of the proposal.

Environmental Program Business – Kim Schoolcraft, Animal Services Manager, is finalizing plans with the Animal Alliance to transport adopted pets from the shelter to the low cost spay neuter clinic.  Every animal adopted after July 1, 2006 from the shelter will be spay/neutered prior to release.  The Environmental Programs are currently planning two summits, an animal services summit (July 21, 2006) and an environmental summit (tentatively August 17, 2006).   Key stakeholders including board and elected officials will be invited. Staff continues to work with our Public Health Planner on emergency related plans such as the Animal Evacuation and Recovery Plan and a Hazardous Materials Response Plan.  These plans once completed will be introduced to the Board. 

EMS Mainland Expansion - Current operations have resulted in fourteen vacancies that have not yet been filled.  These positions are mostly in the transfer operation.  In order to fill these positions, Human Resources has begun an advertising campaign that will target not only large cities in Texas, but a number of smaller cities where there are active EMS Training programs.  In addition, area EMS training programs have been contacted and given recruiting materials to give to recent graduates seeking employment opportunities. 

Jamaica Beach Telemedicine Pilot Program - The Jamaica Beach telemedicine project started on June 17, 2006 and will run each weekend through Labor Day.  This project makes available telemedicine resources to interested individuals for a fee of $50 per consultation.  In collaboration has agreed to provide the clerical support for the project which will be reimbursed upon completion.

Advanced Airway Training Program - GAAA Paramedics are participating in an advanced airway training course in conjunction with UTMB's Patient Simulation Program.  The program utilizes the state of the art clinical simulation laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.  During each training session, Paramedics and Intermediate EMT’s are given a “hands on” situation where they are required to provide actual treatment based on scenarios developed to simulate real life medical emergencies that are often encountered by EMS crews.  As the simulation proceeds, the treatment provided by participants is used to initiate changes in the simulated patient’s condition.  This opportunity is made as close to “real world situations” as possible by the use of cutting edge technology

Presentation -On June 1, 2006, the Health District presented an educational rabies session to the Senior Services Department at Kessler Convention Center.  There were over 55 participants at the session.  The presentation consisted of transmission, prevention and education of rabies and a question and answer session.

Meetings -On June 6, 2006, Dr. Dana Beckham represented the Health District at the Community Advisory Board Meeting held at the Open Gates.  The meeting informed the public of the progression of the Bio-Safety Laboratory Level 4 (BSL 4)construction.  In addition, questions were addressed regarding the safety of the community and personnel staffed to work in the lab.

Epidemiology Services attended the Regional Epidemiology/Bioterrorism Meeting on June 23, 2006.  The meeting is a forum for epidemiologist and public health preparedness staff to exchange information regarding epidemiology and bioterrorism activities.

Inquiries - For the months of May and June, the Health District has been receiving an increasing number of calls regarding dead birds, bats and mosquitoes.  The dead birds and bats inquiries are due to the heightened awareness of West Nile virus and the death of a young man from rabies in Harris County.  The mosquito calls resulted from a new hatch of mosquitoes after rain episodes in Galveston County.  All mosquito calls were directed to Galveston County Mosquito Control District.

Vital Statistics - June 9, 2006, Alma Garcia, Local Registrar, presented at the Regional Bureau of  Vital Statistics Conference.  Ms. Garcia presentation was received by 45 participants from throughout the state of Texas.  It covered the electronic registry of birth and death records.

Strategic National Stockpile Dispensing Exercise - On June 21^st, the Public Health Preparedness Program conducted a training exercise to prepare for mass vaccination/dispensing clinics.  Partner attendees represented UTMB, Mainland Medical Center, Galveston Independent School District, Medical Reserve Corps, Seaborne Challenge, US Congressman Ron Paul, Gleanings from the Harvest, and Adult Leisure Learning.  Volunteers pretended to be patients in the mass dispensing clinic.  Instead of antibiotics or antivirals, packets of pretzels, donated by Southwest Airlines, were “dispensed” to the volunteers.

Trainings/Meetings -Personal Protective Equipment Training on June 15^th by  Tommy Leigh, GAAA Training and Safety Officer; the role of the Texas City Fire Department to a Hazardous Materials incident at a Galveston County Emergency Response Collaborative(GCERC) meeting on June 8^th by Captain Joe Tumbleson of the Texas City Fire Department; several presentations to GCHD staff about hurricane preparations; and Jamaica Beach Hurricane Planning on June 17^th , where staff distributed information about Public Health Preparedness responsibilities and the Medical Reserve Corps.

Cities Readiness Initiatives (CRI) Meeting- On June 22^nd, Public Health Preparedness staff attended a meeting in Houston to discuss preparations to purchase a stockpile of antibiotics in the event of a bioterrorism event in the southeast Texas. The stockpile would be used to provide medications to first responders and their families prior to the arrival of Strategic National Stockpile assets that would be used to provide antibiotics to all other residents in the county. The money used to purchase the medications will come from a federal CRI grant that is being administered locally through Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services.

Animal Issues Committee - The Galveston County Animal Issues Committee met on June 16^th to review the newly developed Galveston County Animal Issues Committee Plan and to identify local and state resources in the event of a disaster. After making a number of revisions to the plan the group will meet again to finalize the plan and compile the information for the resource list.

Volunteers - During the month of June the volunteer office recruited 15 volunteers.  Three youth workers from the Work Source were placed in Vital Statistics, Immunizations and Medical Records. One PNP student and 1 PA student were also placed in addition to 10 EMS volunteers. On June 8 and 12 the Volunteer Coordinator gave a presentation on adult skin care to 36 seniors at the Wayne Johnson Senior Center. A presentation on the volunteer program was given to 35 seniors at the League City Senior Center. Two seniors were interested in becoming volunteers for the Public Health Preparedness Program

• TCEQ Biowatch contract for FY 2007 was signed on June 26, 2006 with a reduction in funding by $8,800 from the FY 06 budget of $84,800.
• Amendment to State Air Compliance contract for FY 07 was signed on June 23, 2006 with no change in funding from FY 06 of $160,568.
• Amendment to GLO (Beach Watch) Contract to add $2,750.00 for funding of staff to attend training and to cover the recent sharp rise in fuel costs.
• DSHS WIC Obesity Prevention Project approved in the amount of $8,218 starting June 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006.
• MOU with UTMB for an epidemiological study of GIS mapping was signed on June 20, 2006.
• TCEQ approved OSSF Order that the Board approved on December 21, 2005.
• DSHS Immunization notification was received on June 20, 2006 that the contract to deliver immunization services for FY 07, in the amount of $142,825 (no change from FY 06) will be mailed to the Health District. Funding remained the same as last year.
• HOGG Funding Extended– After a written request, the Health District was notified by the Foundation that they will approve extended grant funding to August 31, 2006.  These dollars support a case manager to assist patients with mental health and substance abuse conditions.
• TB RFP– signed on June 26^th to continue federal TB services with level funding of $44,718 for fiscal year 07.