Latest news with #ACHD
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Allegheny County Health Department treating stormwater catch basins for mosquitoes
The Allegheny County Health Department has begun treating stormwater catch basins in Pittsburgh and the boroughs of Bellevue, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Mount Oliver, and Wilkinsburg for mosquitoes. "Catch basins are favorable breeding habitats for mosquitoes in urban environments," said ACHD Housing and Community Environment Vector Control Specialist Nick Baldauf. "The mosquitoes that breed in catch basins have the potential for spreading disease, such as West Nile Virus, to residents." The treatments will take place from May 19-23 and June 2-6 between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., but may be postponed due to heavy rains. The health department will treat approximately 14,000 catch basins throughout these areas because of a history of West Nile activity in previous years. The product being used, Altosid XR, is non-toxic to people, pets, plants, and other aquatic life, per a press release from the health department. Small blocks of the product will be deposited in the catch basins, and treated basins will be marked with bright green paint. The larvicide will help limit the number of adult mosquitoes that potentially transmit diseases to people and pets. "Residents can greatly reduce the mosquito population by eliminating and treating potential breeding sites on their properties," said Baldauf. "Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a half inch of stagnant water, so be sure to pay close attention to potential breeding sites like water in tires, tarps, unused swimming pools, corrugated piping, buckets, and clogged gutters." To report potential mosquito breeding sites, contact the Health Department's Housing and Community Environment Program by calling 412-350-4046 or through its website.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health department offering free water tests and sewer evaluations
The Ashtabula County Health Department is providing free water tests and sewer system evaluations for county residents. ACHD Director of Environmental Health Randall Barnes said the free tests and evaluations are being funded by a $50,000 clean water grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. County residents get roughly $200 worth of free services from the health department, Barnes said. Sewage inspections usually cost $150, and water tests normally cost $50, he said. To apply for the free test and evaluation, county residents can call 440-576-6010 and dial 3, or they can go to the health department's website, go to the environmental tab and click on Clean Water Ashtabula County. Barnes encouraged county residents to sign up. 'It's a great opportunity to get a free water test and sewage evaluation,' he said. Barnes said people should consider applying if their property contains sandy or gravelly soil, which contaminated water can permeate more easily. 'I encourage people to take advantage,' he said. 'There's no strings attached.' Barnes said around 60 people have signed up so far, and the health department has identified around 12 sewage issues, from broken pumps to sewage backing up into houses. The health department has sent out around 14,500 flyers about the program across the county promoting the program, he said. The free water test will look for contaminants like coliform bacteria, including e coli. Roughly half of Ashtabula County homes rely on wells, Barnes said. 'These hand-dug wells are susceptible to contamination,' he said. The sewer system evaluation will look for both major and minor issues in sewer systems. If major issues are found with a septic system, Barnes said the health department will send an inspection form to the county Department of Planning and Community Development. Barnes said the inspection form can allow residents to qualify for grant-funded assistance from the Department of Planning and Community Development to deal with failing septic systems. 'People will not be required to replace their sewage system because of this evaluation,' he said. Barnes said help from the department is first come, first serve because they have limited grant funding. Barnes said having a well-maintained sewage system is important for keeping the surrounding environment clean. 'Your sewage system is an investment, as well,' he said. Barnes compared not cleaning and taking care of your sewer system to not changing the oil on your car, saying a major sewage issue could bring down its worth. Barnes said taking care of your sewer system saves money in the long term.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Three more measles cases confirmed in county
The Ashtabula County Health Department has confirmed three more measles cases, bringing the total for the county this year to 14. The ACHD had been monitoring a household for more cases after confirming an eleventh measles case toward the end of last week. Ashtabula County Health Commissioner Jay Becker said the eleventh case was an unvaccinated adult who traveled internationally. The ADHD was monitoring people in the the eleventh case's household to determine whether others had the disease, Becker said. 'These suspect cases are now confirmed,' he said. Becker said the three new cases were unvaccinated children. The health department is monitoring another adult in the house to see if they develop symptoms, he said. All five members of the household are isolating so they do not infect anyone else. Becker said the ACHD is not aware of any other suspect cases in the county at this time. No school districts are being affected by the measles outbreak. The health department will update its numbers with any new cases if it gets them, Becker said. The ACHD and the Ohio Department of Health confirmed the first case of the year in the state March 20, and later announced an outbreak for the country after confirming nine more cases March 25. The original ten cases have completed their isolation period and are no longer infectious, Becker said. The four newer cases are not connected to the previous ten, Becker said. 'We know how to stop this,' he said. 'It's getting a vaccine.' Becker said all 14 cases in the county this year were in unvaccinated individuals. 'That should really be the story here,' he said. The best way to fight measles is to get the MMR vaccine, Becker said. 'With something as serious as this, the vaccine is the best and only defense,' he said. Becker encouraged people who are not sure of their vaccination status to get vaccinated, he said. 'I don't know how to stress this enough,' he said. The ACHD offers walk-in vaccine clinics 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday at its office, at 12 West Jefferson St. in Jefferson. Alongside the in-office clinics, the health department has a regular set of community neighborhood mobile clinics scheduled. People can go to the ACHD's website, to see a list of clinics. The department also schedules clinics for the Amish community.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Another county measles case confirmed
An eleventh Ashtabula County measles case was recently confirmed by the county health department. ACHD Health Commissioner Jay Becker said the case was an adult who should be completing their isolation period soon. 'We have not heard of any others,' he said. Becker said the department is monitoring suspected cases related to the eleventh confirmed case. 'We continue to monitor the person's household,' he said. Becker said all members of the household are isolating. The department should know of any more cases from the household in the next few days, he said. The ACHD and the Ohio Department of Health announced the first measles case in the county March 20. Both agencies announced there was an outbreak in the county March 25, after nine more cases were confirmed. The cases were in people who were unvaccinated. One person was hospitalized for measles. The first case in the county was someone who was exposed to another person who traveled internationally. Becker said the eleventh case was an unvaccinated person who traveled internationally and was infected outside the United States. 'There is no link to the other 10 [cases],' he said. The health department has been offering regular vaccine clinics. 'There's a lot of clinics we put together,' Becker said. The ACHD offers walk-in vaccine clinics 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday at its office, at 12 West Jefferson St. in Jefferson. 'Vaccination is the way to [go], moving forward,' Becker said. People can go to the ACHD's website, go to the nursing department and click on immunizations to see a list of clinics. Alongside the in-office clinics, the health department has a regular set of community neighborhood mobile clinics scheduled. The department also schedules clinics for the Amish community. 'We want to get you vaccinated,' he said. Becker said he is not optimistic about the future of measles, while monitoring its national progress. 'I really don't see this measles going away,' he said. Becker encouraged people to get vaccinated. 'It would be best, if you have any questions about your vaccine status, [to] get a vaccine,' he said.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ohio county confirms its first measles case
A case of measles has been identified in Allen County, according to the Allen County Health Department. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The individual with measles is under the age of 18 and unvaccinated, the health department says. TRENDING STORIES: Organ donation safe, secure health workers say after rare rabies death Ohio lacrosse team escapes bus fire while returning from spring break Gov. DeWine signs bill banning DEI initiatives at public colleges into law People who have been in contact with the individual have been notified by public health officials and informed of symptoms and quarantine procedures. 'The safest way to protect children from measles is to make sure they are vaccinated,' said Brandon Fischer, Health Commissioner, Allen County Public Health. Ohio's first case of measles was announced on March 20 in Ashtabula County. This led to the identification of ten other cases in Ashtabula County, nine of which had been in contact with the reported first case, according to the Ohio Department of Health. ACHD is reminding the community that measles is highly contagious. Nine out of 10 unvaccinated children who are exposed to measles will become infected, ACHD says. The measles virus can live in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the room, according to ACHD. Symptoms may not occur for up to 21 days after exposure. Measles symptoms can include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a rash that appears 3-5 days after other symptoms occur, ACHD says. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
