Latest news with #AshtabulaCountyHealthDepartment
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Canadian wildfire smoke causing haze in county
Ashtabula County skies have seen hazy conditions, as smoke from the ongoing Canadian wildfires has blown across the midwest. Ashtabula County Health Department Director of Environmental Health Randall Barnes said the pollution is moderately bad right now. 'Thankfully, it's not really bad here right now,' he said. Barnes said the smoke had mainly caused increases in particle air pollution. Barnes recommended seniors, children, people with asthma, or lung and heart conditions, and other people particularly sensitive to particle pollution limit their time outside, he said. 'Consider taking it a little bit easier,' he said. N-95 masks would also be helpful when going outside, filtering out particle pollution, Barnes said. Barnes said people should make sure they have proper air filters installed, and that more technologically sophisticated air filters would also help. Barnes encouraged outdoor workers to take breaks when possible to avoid too much exposure, he said. AirNow recommends people stay safe when doing outdoor actives so they limit their exposure. According to the Environmental Protection Agency's website, particle pollution can affect the health of a person's lungs or heart, and cause premature death, aggravated asthma, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, decreased lung function and coughing. Barnes said county residents can learn more about current air quality on where people can enter their zip code and see current air quality, alongside forecasts for the next day. 'I would like to encourage people to be aware,' he said. AirNow, as of Thursday, lists particle pollution for the Ashtabula area as having a moderate amount of particle pollution. Barnes said the last time wildfire smoke drifted over the region in 2023 certainly seemed worse. According to the American Lung Association's 2025 State of the Air Report, the 2023 Canadian Wildfires 'drove levels of ozone and particle pollution in dozens of central and eastern states higher than they have been in many years.'
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
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Two Jefferson Area elementary schools closed due to rash outbreak
JEFFERSON, Ohio (WJW) — A rash outbreak has forced two elementary schools in the Jefferson Area Local School District to close for cleaning. Both Jefferson Elementary and Rock Creek Elementary were shut down Friday after multiple students reportedly developed a viral and contagious rash. The closures come as Ashtabula County continues to deal with public health concerns, including a recent measles outbreak that infected 16 people earlier this month, according to the Ohio Department of Health. 7 dogs 'sedated, euthanized on scene' after 4-year-old girl dies from attack: PD 'There are still a lot of unknowns,' said Heidi Hale, a mother of two elementary students. 'I didn't really know what was going on. It was pretty much word of mouth on Facebook about the rash. The only thing the school posted was that they were closed so they could properly disinfect.' In a statement, Superintendent John Montanaro said the district decided to close the schools as a precaution due to uncertainty surrounding the cause of the rash. 'The closure will provide time to thoroughly disinfect and sanitize all school buildings and buses and implement additional safety precautions to help prevent further spread,' Montanaro said via email. The Ashtabula County Health Department was notified immediately and is working with the school district to mitigate any potential spread. In a statement, the health department said: 'We strongly encourage any parent who has an ill child to take them to see a doctor for an official diagnosis and treatment. At this time, the county is seeing increased activity in some local schools of parvovirus (Fifth disease), but without a diagnosis, the Ashtabula County Health Department can't definitively say that this is what the Jefferson staff are seeing.' According to the Cleveland Clinic, Fifth disease — also known as 'slapped cheek' — is caused by parvovirus B19 and is characterized by a bright red facial rash. It mainly affects children but can also occur in adults. The illness typically resolves on its own within several days but is highly contagious and can spread through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing or close conversation. Sobriety checkpoints this weekend in Northeast Ohio Hale said the sudden closure is concerning, and her daughter is dealing with a light, dry skin rash on her leg. 'Very worried, very scary,' she said. 'My son has already been in and out of the hospital due to other reasons. The last thing I want is for a kid to be sick and in the hospital — not even just mine, anybody's. So as a mom, it's a very big concern. There are some serious illnesses going around out there.' The rash outbreak follows a measles outbreak in the county this month and a scarlet fever outbreak that led to the temporary closure of Kingsville Elementary just over a month ago. Health officials said they will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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
22-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ashtabula County resident tests positive for measles
An Ashtabula County resident tested positive for measles this week, according to Thursday press releases from the Ashtabula County Health Department and Ohio Department of Health. Ashtabula County Health Commissioner Jay Becker said the county resident who tested positive is an adult. The ACHD release said the case completed its isolation period, and both departments are following up on other potential exposures. The infected person's family has been isolated and is being monitored for symptoms, Becker said. He said this is the only positive case they have right now. 'We're hoping that other cases are contained,' Becker said. The ACHD found out about the positive test soon before the releases went out, Becker said. This is the first measles case in Ohio this year, according to the ODH. 'Ohio had 90 cases of measles in 2022, when an outbreak centered in central Ohio totaled 85 cases,' the ODH release states. 'The state had one measles case in 2023 and seven in 2024.' The individual who became infected was unvaccinated, and had contact with a person who traveled internationally, according to ODH. 'Measles' prevalence has been increasing recently internationally, and there are ongoing outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico,' according to the OHD. Measles is extremely contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing, according to the ACHD release. 'Individuals can spread it to others, even before they have symptoms,' the ACHD said. The virus can live up to two hours in the air, and symptoms can manifest between seven to 21 days after exposure. About one in five people who get measles will he hospitalized, according to the ACHD release. 'Symptoms of measles can include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a rash beginning 3-5 days after other symptoms occur,' the ACHD release states. Complications of measles include pneumonia, dehydration, brain swelling, diarrhea and ear infections. Complications are common for children under five, adults above 20, pregnant women and immunocompromised people, and can lead to death, according to ODH. Becker said being vaccinated against the disease is a priority. 'Everyone needs to take an inventory case of their vaccinations,' he said. Becker said children between five and 15 are very susceptible to the disease. Parents should check their children's vaccination status, he said. The measles vaccine is safe and very effective against the disease, according to the ODH release. 'Two doses of MMR is 97% effective against measles,' the ODH release said. 'If you are up to date on measles vaccine, the risk of getting sick is very low.'
