Krista Postai, President and CEO of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, asked fortscott.biz to dispell some confusion.
“There has been some confusion in Ft. Scott about immunizations (at CHC/SEK),” she said. “In the past, we understood that Mercy (Hospital) usually required a well-child visit or a physical (exam) before administering immunizations.”
” While it’s a great idea to get your child’s immunizations as part of their regular check-up, that’s not always possible so it’s CHC/SEK’s policy to provide shots on a walk-in basis at all of our clinics anytime we are open.”
No appointment is necessary for the immunizations.
Shots can be administered at the center no matter if the primary care physician is affiliated with CHC/SEK.
“We also do immunizations for anyone regardless of who their primary care provider is, so you don’t have to be one of our patients to get you or your child vaccinated,” she said. ” We do ask that you bring your child’s immunization record.”
The facility is located at 403 Woodland Hills Blvd., at the site of the former Mercy Hospital.
Lavetta Simmons presents information about Care To Share at the Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition on Aug. 9 at the First Baptist Church.
The Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition meets monthly, except July, to allow agencies that help families to network and share what they are all about.
The coalition’s next meeting is Sept. 4 at noon at the First Baptist Church.
The Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition met Aug. 7 with Board President Billie Jo Drake leading the meeting.
The mission of the Bourbon County Coalition Board is to provide children with an environment of security, permanence, and a sense of belonging and being loved. To support the mission, grants are applied for annually. Last year the board received a $1,000 grant from the T. B. Baker Foundation and $2,000 from the Southeast Kansas Community Foundation, Billie Jo Drake, president of the board, said at the opening of the meeting.
“We have also received funds from United Way, Key Charitable Trust, Mercy auxiliary, civic organizations and individuals,” Drake said.
The two projects the board focuses on are 1) rent and utility assistance, vetted through another helping agency, The Beacon and 2) pool passes in the summer for area low-income children.
This month, the local helping organization, Care To Share, took its’ turn telling what services they provide the community.
Lavetta Simmons, who along with Joy O’Neal and Teresa Davenport, helped found the ministry in 2007.
Lavetta Simmons
“I lost my Mom and Dad to cancer,” Simmons said. “Through that experience, I want to reach out to others.”
“Some people have no family,” she said. “Some have no insurance.”
The number-one expense is gasoline for traveling to treatments, Simmons said.
Last year Care To Share helped people 788 times and gave out $68,874 to assist the cancer patients.
Not only gas for medical appointments but assistance with wigs after hair loss, bras after mastectomies and many other personal needs.
Also housecleaning, respite care, mowing of lawns, meal coordination, providing Ensure (a nutritional drink), and “Sunshine” calls to patients.
Care To Share’s mission is to provide friendship and support through emotional and financial assistance to individuals who are cancer survivors and their caregivers of Southeast Kansas.
For more information contact Simmons at 620-224-8070, Dona Bauer at 620-224-7075 or Teresa Davenport at 620-362-3042.
The organization has fundraisers throughout the year to support the mission.
In addition, “so many people, businesses, organizations and churches give,” she said.
The ministry is also funded by T.B. Baker Foundation, Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, United Way and memorials.
The Care To Share Board is comprised of Dona Bauer, Donna Beerbower, Kathy Clark, Teresa Davenport, Denny Heidrick, Carol Hill, Nancy Hofer, Randy Holt, Richard Long, Dr. Boban Mathew, Sidney Maycumber, Simmons, and Jerry Witt.
Larry Davenport serves as financial advisor to the organization.
From left: Rebecca Johnson, BSN, RN, the administrator of SEKMCHD; Alice Maffett, Registered Nurse in Bourbon County and Kristi George, the administrative assistant. They stand in front of the new public health department facility at 6th and Horton.
The local public health department moved from behind the Bourbon County Courthouse to a more spacious building and reopened on July 29 to offer health services to the community.
The new space for Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department is located between 6th and Horton and 6th and Lowman Streets at 524 S. Lowman.
The Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department is located between 6th and Lowman Streets and 6th and Horton Streets.
In former years the building has been Mercy Home Health, Curves-a woman’s fitness center, then Cornerstone Bible Church.
The location on two main streets in Fort Scott will be an advantage.
“We hope this location makes people more aware of the health department,” Alice Maffett, health department nurse, said.
Now the employees can serve the community in a larger and more visible building with services such as physicals, immunizations, pregnancy tests, family planning, Kan Be Healthy Screenings, blood pressure and blood glucose checks, hearing and vision screenings, SRS referrals, Sexually Transmitted Disease testing and treatment, and lab/blood draws.
The Public Health Department, located at 6th and Horton Street, Fort Scott.
Rebecca Johnson, BSN, RN is the administrator of SEKMCHD and her primary office will be in Fort Scott. Maffett is the Registered Nurse in Bourbon County and Kristi George is the administrative assistant.
A physical exam and current immunizations are required for entrance into kindergarten.
New this year in immunizations, is the state-required meningitis shots for 7th and 11th-grade students, Maffett said, which the department offers.
The WIC program will be utilizing the building and also available are breastfeeding classes.
The health department board is working to build community partnerships.
“It is a great building and we are looking for other community groups or agencies to utilize our conference room.
The conference room is approximately 25 feet by 16 feet and has an adjacent kitchenette for use, she said.
Dave and Jan Elliott will be offering Love and Logic Parenting classes in the future.
The health department board is also interested in exploring the option of telemedicine in the future, Johnson, said.
Another possibility in the future is to hire a Nurse Practitioner, Maffett said.
The hours of operation: Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information: 620.223.4464. The fax number is 620.223.1686. or www.sekmchd.com
Governor Kelly Proclaims August “Breastfeeding Awareness Month”
In support of World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month
TOPEKA – At an official signing ceremony, Governor Laura Kelly proclaimed August “Breastfeeding Awareness Month” in Kansas. This proclamation recognizes the importance of breastfeeding for the health and wellbeing of Kansans.
“We are extremely pleased with Governor Kelly’s proclamation which highlights the importance of breastfeeding support for families in Kansas. This proclamation supports their decision and provides a foundation to build support for the policy and practice changes needed to build a landscape of breastfeeding support in our state.” said Brenda Bandy, Executive Director of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition (KBC).
“Kansas recognizes breastfeeding as a public health responsibility and priority,” said KDHE Secretary Lee Norman, MD. “Strides in improved breastfeeding rates have been possible through strong statewide partnerships and community collaboration. We will continue to promote and support breastfeeding as a way protect and improve the health of mothers and infants.”
More than 90 percent of families in Kansas choose to breastfeed. Yet despite its importance, only 31 percent of Kansas’ infants are exclusively breastfed during the critical first six months of life. Increased investment in breastfeeding could results in saving an estimated 22 women’s lives each year due to breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. Investing in breastfeeding could save the lives of seven children, due mostly to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). And finally, investing in breastfeeding would save Kansas more than $27 million in medical costs each year. [1]
Today’s proclamation stresses the role of every Kansan to make breastfeeding easier in our state. The Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition has suggested actions various groups and individuals can take to support breastfeeding in the “State of Breastfeeding in Kansas” available at http://ksbreastfeeding.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/stateofBFinKS.pdf.
Study area identified and drinking water testing opportunities available
More than 15 years ago data was collected by the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) on the declining quality of groundwater in the Arkansas River region due to naturally occurring sources. The Kansas Water Office along with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Kansas Department of Agriculture will be working with KGS and Groundwater Management District No. 3 in a two-year study to collect current, updated data in the areas adjacent to the river and surface irrigation canals in Hamilton, Kearny, Finney, Gray, and Ford counties in response to a legislative resolution passed this past 2019 session, Senate Resolution No. 1729.
In an effort to help update data, a study area has been identified and the state of Kansas is providing the opportunity for domestic well owners in those areas who use their well(s) for drinking water purposes to have their water tested for free. Test results will be provided back to the well owner and used in the broader study to determine overall regional groundwater quality. Please note, water from public water supply systems is routinely tested and meets all safe drinking water standards, and therefore is not included in this study.
The state is working with the five listed county health departments and conservation districts have water sampling kits available to private well owners. This will be a phased approach starting with Hamilton County, followed by Kearny, Finney, Gray and Ford. Those who use their well(s) for drinking water purposes are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to help update the water quality data in this study area. Participation in this study is voluntary.
Sample kits will be available beginning in Hamilton County on August 19 with the other counties to follow.
Elderly and disabled people without access to air conditioning or other means of staying cool during hot and humid weather can receive fans by appointment beginning Monday, June 29th at the local Salvation Army Extension Unit at Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries Center/Bourbon County Senior Center, 26 N Main.
The fans are intended for elderly, disabled, and those who do not have a fan or air conditioning in their home and cannot afford to purchase one. To help the most people, each household is eligible for one fan. Applicants will need to provide ID and proof of address. Applications will be accepted until all fans are distributed.
Westar’s local gift of fans is part of a large contribution distributed throughout the communities it serves.
For further information, contact Allen Schellack at Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries, 620-223-2212.
—
Allen Schellack
Allen Schellack is the Compassionate Care Pastor for Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.
He is also Director of Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries Outreach Center,
The Bourbon County Coordinator for CarePortal and Treasurer, Fort Scott Ministerial Alliance.
He can be reached at PO Box 774 or 26 N. Main,Fort Scott, KS 66701.
A drug testing policy was approved at the recent USD 234 Board of Education meeting which is to start the 2019-2020 school year. August 22 is the first full day of classes.
August 1 is enrollment for the district, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The drug testing policy is needed, authorities said.
“It is needed because our survey results and in-house discipline demonstrate that we have a higher rate of drug use than the state average in many areas,” Amber Toth, principal at Fort Scott High School said. “We are creating an environment of non-usage and an out for students who are pressured into using. We are also attempting to get help for students who have a problem. The drug use rate has a direct correlation to student depression, anxiety and suicide. It is a small part of creating a culture of safety.”
Superintendent Ted Hessong sent fortscott.biz the following update to the policy, which was put in the story and the other unapproved policy deleted.
There were a few changes made to the policy before final approval by the BOE, he said.
“The main change was increasing the number of high school students being tested monthly from 10 to twenty,” Hessong noted. “Also, we have not designated a testing agency. We did not want to have one in place until the policy was approved.”
The updated, approved drug testing policy of USD234 is from Hessong:
USD 234 Student Random Drug Testing Policy
Testing Eligibility
Random Drug Testing will be an opt-out process. All students will be eligible for testing unless they opt-out within 10 days of the start of the school year. Transfer students will have 10 days to opt-out after enrollment.
Any student who opts out will not be able to attend any function on school property outside of the regular school hours or belong to any club, sport, activity, or organization. This includes games, dances, plays, or assemblies. They will be allowed on school property during regular school hours only. Students who opt-out will not be able to park a vehicle on school property.
Notification
The school shall provide a drug policy education session for students within one week of the policy implementation. The session will include a detailed explanation of the “USD 234 Student Drug Testing Policy.” In addition, it is recommended that each coach/sponsor conduct a player and parent meeting that will include information about the impact of the drug testing policy on participants. Parental attendance is strongly encouraged at each session.
Self Reporting
A student or parent/guardian may self-report drug usage when chosen for the random pool. The student may avoid eligibility consequences of the first violation by self reporting as specified below. Self-reporting may only be used prior to a first violation. Once a student has self-reported, he/she will still be tested. A subsequent positive test result will count as a second positive test.
In order to avoid the eligibility consequences when reporting prior to a first violation, students must complete an assessment from a certified addiction counselor at the family’s expense, which may be of their choice, or they may utilize the counseling addiction program assessment provider recommended by USD 234. Students should also enroll in counseling about their drug use, at the parent’s expense. This counseling can be with a provider of the parent’s choosing.
Testing Procedures USD 234 will test 20 random students per month for HS students and 10 random students per month for MS students using a 10 panel urine test.
If a student is selected and refuses to test, it is treated as a positive test, and the policy goes into effect.
If a student tests positive, he/she may be subjected to future tests, at the discretion of the building principal for a period of up to 12 months. They are required to participate in three follow-up drug tests that will be scheduled in 90-100 day increments or upon return to school in the fall if the 90-100 day window expires during the summer break.
If the test is positive, the parent/guardian may request a second test, at their own expense, with an approved drug testing facility. The test must be completed within 24 hours of the original and the original test will stand if the testing window is closed for the particular substance.
Consequences
1st Offense: The student shall be suspended from participation in all extracurricular and/or co-curricular activities including all performances and competitions for a period of three weeks (20 school days and must include 3 competition dates). Students in co-curricular activities will be provided an alternative assignment. Students must still attend practice. During this time it is recommended that the parent/guardian obtains a substance abuse evaluation and education/counseling for the student. If the student and/or parent/guardian can provide proof of a drug and alcohol assessment from a school-approved substance abuse counselor and attends consistent appointments with a mental health professional, the suspension will be reduced to ten (10) school days.
2nd Offense: The student shall be suspended from participation in all extracurricular and/or co-curricular activities, including all performances and competitions, for a period of eighteen school weeks (90 school days). Students in co-curricular activities will be provided an alternative assignment. During this time it is recommended that the parent/guardian obtains a substance abuse evaluation and education/counseling for the student. If the student and/or parent/guardian can provide proof of a drug and alcohol assessment from a school-approved substance abuse counselor and attends consistent appointments with a mental health professional, the suspension will be reduced to ten school weeks (50 school days).
3rd Offense: The student shall be suspended from participation in all extracurricular and/or co-curricular activities, including all performances and competitions, for thirty-six school weeks (180 school days). Students in cocurricular activities will be provided an alternative assignment.
Larned State Hospital to Host Annual Mental Health Conference in August
LARNED – Larned State Hospital (LSH) will host “Frontiers in Mental Health,” its 16th annual mental health conference August 5-8, 2019, in the State Theatre, 617 Broadway, Larned, KS, Superintendent Lesia Dipman announced today. The conference will kick off August 5 with a 5K run at 5:30 p.m. on the LSH campus. Medals will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in five age divisions.
“This annual conference has become one of the premier behavioral health events in Kansas. We conduct this conference annually to aid the professional development of those working in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, nursing, social work and corrections, but it is open to anyone with an interest in mental health,” Superintendent Dipman said.
Rich in history, LSH is the largest psychiatric facility in the state serving the western two-thirds of Kansas with more than 990 staff and the capacity to treat more than 450 patients. The hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) and certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) is responsible for administrative oversight of the hospital.
“Larned State Hospital has again put together an exceptional lineup of speakers and important topics to enrich the knowledge and treatment skills of attendees and help them better care for the people we serve,” KDADS Secretary Laura Howard said.
“Palliative Care: Core Principles and Practical Applications”
Featured speakers at the 2019 conference will be:
Dr. David Barnum, Ph.D.
Dr. Barnum, Diplomate of the National Board of Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists, completed his doctoral training in clinical psychology with a specialization in health psychology at The University of Kansas. After his internship at Temple University Health Sciences, he began a 20-year career in community mental health, with particular emphasis in establishing and expanding clinical training programs as a means for developing professional staff in rural and under-served areas.
Currently, he is the Clinical Director and Director of Clinical Training at Larned State Hospital as well as a co-owner of The Family Therapy Institute Midwest. He has served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Kansas and Benedictine College. Dr. Barnum has been an ambassador for the National Health Service Corps, is a past-president of the Kansas Psychological Association and served on the Continuing Education Committee of the American Psychological Association. He is a frequent presenter at local, national and international conferences on topics including diagnosis, ethics, risk management, clinical training and supervision, family psychology, autism spectrum disorders, treating family injustice, elements of effective psychological treatment and Ericksonian approaches to treatment, among others. He has published work in the treatment of children affected by abuse and foster care health psychology. He is currently co-chair of the Hospital Ethics Committee at Larned State Hospital.
Teresa Strausz Teresa Strausz is passionate about the human experience in organizations and learning. She has been supporting staff, students and adult learners throughout her career by providing education, supervision, training and dynamic learning opportunities in a variety of formats.
Teresa earned a Master’s degree in Social Work in 1996 from the University of Kansas and a Master’s degree in Organization Development in 2012 from Friends University. Teresa serves as a founding member of the Trauma-Informed Systems of Care team, social work field instructor, leadership coach, facilitator and consultant.
Leo Hermann, Ph.D. Dr. Leo Herrman received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from FHSU. He completed his Doctorate of Philosophy in Developmental and Child Psychology at the University of Kansas. He currently is the Associate Professor/Director of Psychological Screening Clinic at FHSU. He has an extensive background in administration and clinical supervision having served as Administrative Program Director for Kansas’ Violent Sexual Predator Treatment Program, Superintendent of Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility, Program Director and Acting Superintendent of the Youth Center at Topeka as well a chief psychologist there. His clinical experience includes work as a psychologist sex offender treatment programs, youth centers, substance abuse treatment programs and mental health centers.
He is a licensed clinical psychotherapist and a certified substance abuse counselor. His teaching experience includes Fort Hays State University and the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authorities’ Training Academy.
Dr. Herrman has written many articles and is known for his scholarly presentations to professional organizations. His research interest lies in the area of forensic psychology and suicide prevention programing, particularly in youth.
Brooke Mann, M.S. Brooke Mann is a lecturer and the Director of the Clinical Psychology Graduate Program at Fort Hays State University (FHSU). She earned her B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in Clinical Psychology from FHSU and is finishing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University – Commerce. Her experiences include psychotherapy in in-patient and out-patient facilities, psychometric assessment, coordinating graduate clinical practice, supervising graduate students, and community outreach. Her current research interests are in reducing stigma of mental illness, and diagnosis assessment of ADHD.
Karin Porter-Williamson, M.D.
Dr. Porter-Williamson is an Associate Professor and Division Director of Palliative Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She is also the Medical Director for Palliative Care Services at the University of Kansas Health System and is the Medical Director for the KS-MO TPOPP Coalition. Dr. Porter-Williamson grew up in Topeka, Kan., attended Washburn Rural High School, then KU for her undergraduate degree in Biology, French and Psychology. She completed medical school and an internal medicine residency training at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2002, and then completed fellowship training in Hospice and Palliative medicine in 2003 at San Diego Hospice. After training she returned to the University of Kansas and has been on faculty there for the past 16 years.
Dr. Porter-Williamson’s academic interests include building systems for patient-centered, goal concordant plans of care, to improve the value of medical care for patients and families facing serious illness, and to integrate the principles of palliative medicine as the standard of care for all seriously ill patients and families. Dr. Porter-Williamson’s educational focus is on the training of medical professionals and inter-professional teams across the continuum of care to understand these principles and integrate them into their practice, with specific attention to communication skills necessary for goals of care discussions and serious illness care planning.
National Public Radio Journalist Sarah Jane Tribble has been writing stories of the Mercy Hospital-Fort Scott’s closing in December 2018.
To her NPR Facebook group, she shared this link on the Concordia, KS hospital’s story in dealing with their old hospital.
“Building a new hospital to replace an old one? It’s happening in Kansas,” Tribble wrote in the introduction to the featured link. “The original hospital opened 1951 with 150 beds. The new hospital will be a single story with 14 beds.”
The Mercy Health Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organizaiton, has been working to distribute the assets of the foundation to the community, since the closure of Mercy Hospital-Fort Scott in December 2018.
The following responses are from an interview with the foundation board president, Jared Leek, regarding those distributions.
“Following large contributions to secure Community Health Center-Southeast Kansas($300,000) and Ascension Via Christi Emergency Department ($200,000), the purchase of two transport ambulances, the remodel of the (Bourbon) County’s Ambulance Barn and donations to specific program areas, the remaining Mercy Health Foundation assets will be transferred to the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas,” Leek said.
A motion was made at the May 24, 2019 foundation board meeting to transfer the remaining balance of unrestricted funds to the community foundation as un-endowed funds.
Funds will be used to support healthcare needs in the community, Leek noted.
“The account with the Community Foundation has been set up and funds should be transferred from the Mercy Health Foundation to the Community Foundation in the near future,” Leek said.
Will the Mercy Foundation be dissolved?
“The Fort Scott Mercy Health Foundation will not be fully dissolving at this time, but the board has been reduced down to three members. These three members will be responsible for fulfilling the duties assigned to them until the board can fully dissolve. The Foundation is the beneficiary of a few annuities and charitable trusts established years ago, and the smaller board has been directed to transfer the funds to the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation once these items mature.”
The current officers of the Mercy Foundation Board are Leek, president; Bryan Holt, treasurer; and Darcy Smith, secretary.
These three will form the managing board under the umbrella of the Community Foundation Board to manage these funds.
Other members of the foundation board at the hospital’s closing were Jolynne Mitchell, Colleen Quick, Alysia Johnson, Becky Tourtillott, Mark McCoy, Chris Petty, and Bill Michaud. Leek, Holt and Smith remain members.
Corporate Members from Mercy with no voting rights were Jim Barber and Reta Baker.
Recently, the Gordon Parks Museum received the Parks art collection which was donated to Mercy by Parks in 2002.
” The Fort Scott Mercy Health Foundation was honored to donate our collection of Gordon Parks’ photographs and poems gifted to the foundation. We hope that the members of the community and tourists will continue to enjoy these works of art for many years to come at the Gordon Parks Museum Foundation.”
The Gordon Parks Museum is located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.
“Thetransfer of the artwork to the Gordon Parks Museum Foundation stipulates the collection must remain in Bourbon County and be made available to loan out to organizations in Bourbon County based on approval of the Executive Director.”
Bourbon County also received a donation from the Mercy Health Foundation?
“Bourbon County Commission and Mercy Hospital reached an agreement to transfer/donate/sell the ambulance barn located east of the hospital. The foundation was not included in this discussion, because the property was not owned by the foundation. The foundation did agree to assist the Bourbon County Commission with the remodel of the ambulance barn; the board approved a $26,000 donation to update the ambulance barn.”
Bourbon County Ambulance Service has a station at 405 Woodland Hills, northeast of the Community Health Center building that was donated by Mercy. Also donated were two emergency transport vehicles.
The newly remodeled emergency medical services facility that was donated to Bourbon County EMS by Mercy Hospital, located northeast of Community Health Center at 405 Woodland Hills.
” The $7,527 in the restricted ambulance fund (remaining after the purchase of two new transport ambulances; gifted to Bourbon County) will be moved to the general fund to assist with this funding.” Taken from Mercy Health Foundation Minutes, February 25, 2019.
Leek provided the following as the purpose of the Mercy HealthFoundation taken from the Mercy Foundation articles:
“To receive gifts and grants of unrestricted funds, and to use the unrestricted funds in a manner that is recommended by the Member (Mercy Hospital); provided that such use and distributions are for the Corporation’s (board of the Mercy foundation) proper purposes and activities that qualify as exempt under Code Section 501(c)(3) and are proper under the provisions of this Article VI;
“To review and approve of the receipt and acceptance of gifts and grants of restricted funds, and if the restricted funds are approved for receipt and acceptance by the Corporation, to use the restricted funds for their intended purposes; provided that such use and distributions are for the Corporation’s proper purposes and activities that qualify as exempt under Code Section 501(c)(3) and are proper under the provisions of this Article VI;
“To fund health-related capital expenditures using the unrestricted funds as recommended by the Member;
“To coordinate the development of new health programs and services as recommended by the Member, which include funding the ongoing operation of such programs;
“To coordinate health-related educational programs as recommended by the Member;
“To coordinate and conduct health-related research as recommended by the Member.”
Red, Bite and Blue: KDHE Recommends Mosquito Bite Prevention Over Fourth of July Holiday
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recommends Kansans take preventive measures against mosquito bites over the Fourth of July holiday. Floods throughout the state have caused an increase in mosquito populations. Mosquito surveillance in Reno, Sedgwick and Shawnee counties has shown an increase Culex species mosquitoes which can transmit West Nile virus and other viruses that can affect humans. This species of mosquitoes is most active at dawn and dusk.
“West Nile virus can be spread to people through bites from infected mosquitoes, but it is not contagious from person to person,” said KDHE Secretary Lee Norman, MD. “Symptoms range from a slight headache and low-grade fever to swelling of the brain or brain tissue and, in rare cases, death.”
Since 2002 there have been 677 cases and 35 deaths in Kansans from West Nile virus. To date, there have been no cases of West Nile virus reported to KDHE in 2019. People who have had West Nile virus before are considered immune. Cases are most common from mid-July through late September.
KDHE has developed West Nile virus risk levels to help guide prevention efforts for both communities and individuals. These risk level reports will be posted weekly at; http://www.kdheks.gov/epi/arboviral_disease.htm. All six regions of Kansas are currently at moderate risk level.
KDHE recommends the following precautions to protect against West Nile virus:
When you are outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient on skin and clothing, including DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. Follow the directions on the package.
Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants at these times or consider staying indoors during these hours.
The elderly or immunocompromised should consider limiting their exposure outside during dusk and dawn when the Culex species mosquitos are most active.
Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren’t being used.
West Nile virus in horses can be fatal. The virus can cause inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Approximately 33 percent of horses infected with West Nile virus will die. A West Nile virus vaccine for horses is available and owners are encouraged to vaccinate or booster their animals.
KDHE maintains an Arboviral Disease Surveillance web page that is updated weekly: http://www.kdheks.gov/epi/arboviral_disease.htm. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides this web page with additional information about West Nile virus and preventing mosquito bites: http://www.cdc.gov/features/StopMosquitoes/. For questions about West Nile virus or other Arboviral diseases, contact the KDHE Epidemiology hotline at 877-427-7317.
