Latest news with #DepartmentofPublicHealthandHumanServices
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Overdoses spike in Montana, according to state health department
Test strips like these are used to detect the powerful opioid fentanyl in cocaine samples. (Lynn Arditi | The Public's Radio) Overdoses in Montana are seeing another spike, and most appear to involve fentanyl, according to the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. Health officials are reminding Montanans that help is available for recovery and treatment. In March, Montana saw 95 reports of suspected opioid overdoses, compared to an average of 69 a month in 2024, according to the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The last time the state saw that number of overdoses in a single month was August 2023, DPHHS said in the news release last week. 'This current overdose spike serves as a startling reminder of the deadly consequences that fentanyl and opioid overdoses have for our communities,' DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton said in a statement. The agency said data from March 1 to April 15 this year include seven fatal and 132 nonfatal overdoses, and April is on track to have higher-than-average suspected opioid overdoses. Reviews of case reports indicate most overdoses involved fentanyl, but confirmation through laboratory testing is not always available, DPHHS said. However, it said reviews also show other drug use, including methamphetamine and cocaine. The health department has focused on increasing access to recovery and treatment programs, it said in the news release. The help includes $400,000 for 'Wellness Kiosks' to be installed 'throughout the state' and dispense fentanyl testing strips and naloxone. Health Department spokesperson Jon Ebelt did not respond to questions about which communities would receive the kiosks or the timeline for implementation. An earlier news release from the Governor's Office in August 2024 said Montana would install 24 kiosks strategically placed at community-based programs such as drop-in centers. The Governor's Office said the initiative aims to combat 'an alarming rise' in fentanyl and opioid overdoses. It said prior to 2020, the state averaged about eight overdose deaths per year, but in 2023, it saw 123 fatal opioid overdoses in Montana, the highest since DPHHS started tracking in 2009. A recommendation from the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission said pilot programs showed promising results in other states including Nevada and Ohio. A research study published in the Annals of Medicine in 2022 said the Covid-19 pandemic worsened the 'overdose crisis' but naloxone dispensers in Clark County, Nevada, helped. It said forecasts projected 270 opioid-involved overdose fatalities in the 12 months right after dispensers were made available. But it said just 229 occurred, 'suggesting an aversion of 41 deaths.' 'Communities should consider implementing public health vending machines in efforts to prevent opioid-involved overdose fatalities,' said part of the study. In Montana, money for the kiosks is part of the $300 million the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission is directing to improve behavioral health and developmental disabilities services in the state. The Health Department said cases in the most recent spike do not appear to be concentrated in any particular county or region, but most are occurring on major transportation routes. The counties with 10 or more suspected overdoses include Cascade, Flathead, Missoula, Silver Bow and Yellowstone, the news release said. 'DPHHS wants to remind the public that when someone is experiencing an overdose, the timely administration of the emergency medication naloxone may successfully reverse their symptoms and save their life,' said Dr. Maggie Cook-Shimanek of the agency in a statement. Naloxone reversal may only be temporary, so emergency response should always be activated in instances of suspected opioid overdose, DPHHS said. It directed people here for more information. Signs of an overdose include: Loss of consciousness or falling asleep Small, constricted 'pinpoint pupils' Slow, shallow breathing Choking or gurgling sounds Limp body Pale, blue, or cold skin Slow to no heartbeat 'If you suspect someone is experiencing an opioid overdose, call 9-1-1 immediately and administer naloxone if it is available,' Dr. Cook-Shimanek said. DPHHS officials advise that, if you use opioids, make sure a trusted friend or family member is aware, ensure they know how to administer naloxone, and that you have naloxone on hand in the event there is an overdose. Source: DPHHS
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Montana reports first measles cases since 1990
Montana public health officials have found five cases of measles in Gallatin County, the first cases of the disease in the Treasure State in more than three decades. Gallatin County is home to the state's fourth most populated city — Bozeman — and is the second most populated county in the state. A handful of children and adults contracted the disease while traveling outside of Montana, according to the state's Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHH), leading to the state's first measles cases since 1990. All of them are isolating at home and are either unvaccinated or their measles vaccine status is unknown, according to officials. 'While it is unfortunate to have cases of measles after 35 years of disease inactivity in Montana, we have been working diligently with our local partners to prepare,' Maggie Cook-Shimanek, DPHHS's public health physician, said in a statement. 'We are confident that our public health and clinical partners will work together and address this situation as quickly as possible,' she added. State health officials identified two locations where residents could have potentially been exposed to the virus: North Coast Electric at 7401 Shedhorn Drive in Bozeman, 7:30-10:30 a.m., and Interwest Tire at 6460 Jackrabbit Lane in Belgrade, 12-4 p.m., on April 14. Measles is an extremely infectious disease that is airborne. The virus can remain in the air and on infected surfaces for up to two hours. One person infected with the virus can infect 9 out of 10 people around them if they are unvaccinated, according to the World Health Organization. A measles outbreak in West Texas was detected in late January and has since spread to neighboring states. More than 700 measles cases have been reported in the U.S. this year, with 561 confirmed cases of the virus in Texas alone, according to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About 70 percent of people who have been infected this year are children and teens, and 97 percent of people who have contracted the disease are unvaccinated, according to the CDC. Two children have died amid the outbreak this year, and a third death is currently under investigation. Rising measles cases have put pressure on the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a longtime critic of vaccines, to mitigate outbreaks of the virus. After backlash from public health experts over his initial response to the Texas outbreak, Kennedy has said the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the 'most effective way to prevent the spread' of the virus. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
18-04-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Montana reports first measles cases since 1990
Montana public health officials have found five cases of measles in Gallatin County, the first cases of the disease in the Treasure State in more than three decades. Gallatin County is home to the state's fourth most populated city — Bozeman — and is the second most populated county in the state. A handful of children and adults contracted the disease while traveling outside of Montana, according to the state's Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHH). All of the children and adults are isolating at home and are either unvaccinated or their measles vaccine status is unknown, according to officials. 'While it is unfortunate to have cases of measles after 35 years of disease inactivity in Montana, we have been working diligently with our local partners to prepare,' DPHHS Public Health Physicians Maggie Cook-Shimanek said in a statement. 'We are confident that our public health and clinical partners will work together and address this situation as quickly as possible,' she added. State health officials noted that there are two locations where residents could have potentially been exposed to the virus: North Coast Electric at 7401 Shedhorn Dr, in Bozeman, Mt., between 7:30-10:30 a.m., and Interwest Tire at 6460 Jackrabbit Lane in Belgrade, Mt., between noon and 4pm on April 14. Measles is an extremely infectious diseas e that is airborne. The virus can remain in the air and on infected surfaces for up to two hours. One person infected with the virus can infect nine out of 10 people around them if they are unvaccinated, according to the World Health Organization. A measles outbreak in West Texas was detected in late January and has since spread to neighboring states. Over 700 measles cases have been reported in the U.S. this year, with 561 confirmed cases of the virus in Texas alone, according to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About 70 percent of people who have been infected this year are children and teens, and 97 percent of those who have contracted the disease are unvaccinated, according to the CDC. Two children have died amid the outbreak this year and a third death is currently under investigation. Rising measles cases have put pressure on the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a longtime critic of vaccines, to mitigate outbreaks of the virus. After backlash from public health experts over his initial response to the Texas outbreak, Kennedy has said the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the 'most effective way to prevent the spread' of the virus.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Flathead County health experts prepare as measles spreads across U.S.
Mar. 5—Flathead County health officials and experts are preparing for measles as an outbreak spreads in Texas and cases of the virus pop up across the United States. "If you are unvaccinated and you live in the Flathead, well our herd in the Flathead is not immune," said Logan Health pediatrician Dr. Ken Graham last week, referencing herd immunity or when enough people are immune to a virus to make it difficult to spread. For measles, herd immunity is reached when roughly 94% of people are protected against the virus. About 86% of Montana's two-year-olds have at least one dose of MMR vaccine, which covers measles, mumps and rubella, according to the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. That is slightly lower than the national average of 90%. But the level of protection in Flathead County is unknown. That's because counties are no longer required to report vaccination rates after the passing of House Bill 334 in 2021. While county data is unavailable, Graham suggested that since the onset of Covid-19, vaccination rates have dropped across the board. Mistrust of vaccinations grew during the pandemic. On a national scale, vaccination coverage among kindergartners has decreased from 95.2% during the 2019 — 2020 school year to 92.7% in the 2023 — 2024 school year, leaving approximately 280,000 kindergartners at risk during the 2023 — 2024 school year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A longtime opponent of vaccines, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested Americans consider the measles vaccine after the outbreak in Texas turned deadly in recent weeks. In a March 2 opinion piece published on Fox News Digital, he recommended parents in particular consult with physicians about it. "The decision to vaccinate is a personal one," Kennedy wrote while highlighting good nutrition as "a best defense against most chronic and infectious illnesses." Aside from the Texas outbreak, measles cases have popped up in nine states: Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Rhode Island. Back in the Flathead Valley, health experts like Graham have sought to assure people of the vaccine's safety. "There's so much misinformation but what we do know is this is entirely safe, we know that with certainty. And it does not cause autism. We know that with certainty," Graham said. "If we don't get the message out, I'm really worried about Montana, especially as you get further north [in the state]." Graham said that vaccination rates are sometimes lower in rural communities, such as in Northwest Montana. County health officials said they would follow a standardized protocol to respond to an outbreak and adjust to circumstances on the ground. "We utilize the protocol as a guide, but our specific response will be altered slightly to best address an outbreak based on what disease is involved and other contributing factors," said Lisa Dennison, population health manager for Flathead County. The best thing you can do if you suspect you have measles is to quarantine and contact a physician, Graham said. Measles is most notably a childhood respiratory infection that spreads easily and prove fatal. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, red, watery eyes and a spreading rash. While death rates have been falling worldwide as more children receive the measles vaccine, the virus still kills more than 200,000 people a year, according to the Mayo Clinic. As a result of high vaccination rates in the past, measles hasn't been widespread in the U.S. in about two decades. Most outbreaks occurring now are in people who were unvaccinated. Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill hearing forces Montana state health department to the table
Kaiden Forman-WebsterICT + MTFP New legislation in the Montana state legislature is seeking to revive a key position in the Department of Public Health and Human Services. State Sen. Susan Webber, Blackfeet, last week brought a bill that would create a tribal relations management team, effectively reviving the tribal relations manager position and ensuring that role cannot be absorbed by the American Indian Health Director. With a particular carve out that directly addresses the position and the Director of American Indian Health may collaborate together but the position will need to be held by separate individuals. Webber said this addition is to ensure that the Department does not just create the Tribal Relations Manager Team to have two positions in name, but only one individual to handle the requirements of both. The relations position will focus on consultation between the tribes and state regarding health related issues while the AIHD will be focused on administrative issues. Webber took a different approach to the bill's hearing by introducing it and immediately following it up by requesting the committee table her bill. The reasoning for this abnormal move by Webber to table her own bill during the hearing was that she had accomplished the goal she set out to achieve. Bringing this bill forward was a way to force the Department of Public Health and Human Services to come to the table and address the call for communication and the tribal relations position to be created again. Had the department been in communication from the beginning, 'I would have never brought this bill if that was the case. I got their attention, and now that I know that they are responding through their department policy, that is a win as well. and even though this is not enshrined in code [the tribal relations position]. The point is that it is going to be working.' During her hearing, Webber took it as a chance to voice her frustration with the lack of communication with DPHHS. 'I initiated contact with the department in regard to the position for a month and never got a response,' Webber said. After the Medicaid hearing Webber assumed that this lack of communication would change but it did not. It was at the request of tribal governments that Webber brought this bill forward. Earlier this session, a committee hearing took place to provide an opportunity for tribal voices to speak their opinions and concerns regarding Medicaid and Medicaid Expansion. During this meeting, the Tribal Manager Position that previously existed within the Department of Public Health and Human Services was terminated after Lesa Evers retired in 2021 and became a focal point of conversation and put into question why this position no longer spoke out against this decision taken by the Department of Public Health and Human Services, stating that consultation between tribes and state fell drastically upon the elimination of this position. 'So I'm back, the tribes and I never got a response and the lack of response was a concern. Previously through this position we had very strong communication, this no longer exists. The tribes' healthcare is in the hands of this department and because of this we have a real stake in this department,' Webber said. 'Now that I got the bill and now that it's being heard, they [the DPHHS] finally speak up about the progress they are going to make. I hope this keeps their feet to the fire.' Both Webber and Montana tribes reached out to the DPHHS to discuss the position but never received a response 'I wanted them at the table and this is how I did it. I expect changes and table the bill.' said Webber. 'Answering the communications would have gone a long way.' A possible concern would be what if this move fails and the DPHHS still refuses to create this position within the department and maintain open communication. When asked about this possibility Webber was confident that 'they will do it' There is still no confirmation that the department has taken any concrete actions to remedy the situation but that may change with the upcoming Montana American Indian Caucus meeting. 'We'll see what comes next week, we're going to have the DPHHS. Brereton said he was not going to go,' said Webber. The caucus meets every Wednesday to discuss pertinent issues and future endeavors. In next week's meeting Webber believes the caucus and the department will be able to address the position and its duties going forward. The tribal relations manager was responsible for communicating between the Department of Health and Human Services and tribal governments across the state. Evers served in the position for 11 years, kept in close contact with tribal leaders and community members to ensure tribes were included in important health care decisions. The state health department, however, quietly eliminated Evers' position last year when she retired. Duties of the tribal relations manager were instead absorbed by the DPHHS director of American Indian health. When asked about the decision, a spokesperson from DPHHS in January told Montana Free Press the tribal relations manager duties 'were not eliminated.' 'Rather, these tasks were incorporated into the duties of the [Office of American Indian Health] director to reduce confusion and create a strong, uniform structure for serving tribal populations,' they wrote in an email. Tribal leaders, however, criticized the decision to combine the roles, saying they weren't consulted in the matter. Communication between the state agency and tribal governments, they said, is especially vital considering Native Americans face persistent health disparities. From 2018 to 2022, Native Americans, on average, died 17 years sooner than their white counterparts in Montana, according to DPHHS data. The DPHHS is vital to Indigenous health, Webber in an interview with MTFP and ICT and stressed her disapproval with the Department Director Brereton lack of urgency in this matter. Proponents of the bill included Keaton Sunchild, speaking on behalf of Western Native Voice. He attested to the unusual nature of the hearing, while also taking it as a chance to voice his concern. 'Just keeping in mind, going forward, into the second half of the session, that this shouldn't have gotten to this point,' Sunchild said. 'We're hoping that the government-to-government consultation, that that will continue to happen going forward, so that we don't have to do this again.' This story is co-published by Montana Free Press and ICT, a news partnership that covers the Montana American Indian Caucus during the state's 2025 legislative session
