Latest news with #MelissaMagstadt
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Mobile clinics aim to boost rural health care measles vaccinations amid outbreak
The "Wellness on Wheels" program launched in spring of 2024. (Courtesy of South Dakota Department of Health) The South Dakota Department of Health plans to send its fledgling mobile clinics to underserved and undervaccinated areas of the state in response to the nationwide measles outbreak making its way to the state. Last year, South Dakota reported its first measles case in nine years. The state Department of Health recently reported the state's first case this year in Meade County in western South Dakota. Last week, on Friday, a second case was reported in Rapid City. People who visited Sam's Club in that city on June 1, or Dakota Premier Medical Center the following day were urged by the department to monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through the air. Those who lack immunity from vaccination or past infection are highly likely to catch it from an infected person. As surrounding states report more cases, Health Department Secretary Melissa Magstadt said the state's 'Wellness on Wheels' clinics can help encourage vaccinations. 'I question it myself': South Dakota vaccination rates fall amid mistrust and misinformation The fleet boasts five vehicles equipped to provide immunizations, test for sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, as well as provide screenings, prenatal care and other support. The effort fills in gaps to public health care access across the state, especially in rural and tribal communities, Magstadt said. 'It's about how we can actively use these tools to reach underserved populations,' Magstadt said. 'It's not something I would have thought about looking to leverage for something like measles vaccinations before.' The department hasn't decided where to send their fleet. Counties with the fewest kindergarteners vaccinated per capita for measles, mumps and rubella include Faulk, Jones and Hutchinson, state data shows. South Dakota counties that share tribal land and rural counties in south-central areas of the state rank the worst for clinical care use and access in the state, according to the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute's 2023 report. Federal COVID relief funds paid for Wellness on Wheels. 'Because of the pandemic, public health infrastructure was found to be wanting,' Magstadt said. That infrastructure missed 'critical pieces' that hadn't been invested in, she said, such as health care access in rural areas. More than a hundred rural hospitals in the U.S. have closed in the last decade. The program, launched in April of last year, cost about $800,000 in federal funding. The state's public health COVID funding was also used to support a community health worker program, update emergency medical service equipment and telemedicine access, analyze the state of emergency medical services in South Dakota, and build a Public Health Lab and department training center. Magstadt said staff working with the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program requested the mobile units. WIC is a federal-state program that provides healthy food, nutrition education and health care referrals to low-income women and their young children. So far, Wellness on Wheels staff have mainly driven to events. Magstadt said the department has focused on increasing awareness of the program and building trust in communities and among tribal leaders. She plans to have staff drive the buses to rural communities more regularly to increase exposure and encourage use. 'Being consistently at a facility or place every other week will help people find it,' Magstadt said. 'We talk about the importance of STI testing, for example, but if you don't know where to get tested then that's another barrier.' Magstadt plans to have the department park one of the vehicles at a homeless shelter in Rapid City this summer as well to encourage underserved urban communities to seek services. 'We like people to be connected to primary care services, but there are unique situations where it's harder to get to health care facilities,' Magstadt said. She compared the mobile clinics as a return to home visits by doctors. That practice largely ceased in the 1960s due to cost efficiencies. 'It's a part of this menu of health care access and options no longer requiring people to come to a clinic or health care system,' Magstadt said, 'but health care being taken to patients and families who need it.' Mobile health care clinics are available in every state. They range from public entities like South Dakota's Wellness on Wheels, to specialized, private care. Other mobile clinics operating in South Dakota, according to Mobile Health Map, include: Delta Dental Mobile Program Horizon Health on Wheels Midwest Street Medicine Mobile Women's Health Unit VA Mobile Counseling Program
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mercury pollution lands two more South Dakota lakes on fish consumption advisory list
Walleye are found in South Dakota's large streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs. (Courtesy of SD GF&P) State officials have added two more South Dakota lakes to the fish consumption advisory list after testing found elevated mercury levels in large walleye. The state announced Monday that Dry Lake #1 in Clark County and Lake Henry in Kingsbury County have been added to the list. For Dry Lake #1, health officials recommend limiting consumption of walleye over 21 inches in length. At Lake Henry, the advisory applies to walleye over 24 inches. Walleye in South Dakota can grow to more than 30 inches. The guidance is based on mercury concentrations detected in fish tissue samples collected through the state's annual monitoring program. 'Our commitment to public health and safety drives the annual fish sampling program,' said Department of Health Secretary Melissa Magstadt in a news release. Mercury, a toxic heavy metal, ends up in fish across the United States largely due to atmospheric deposition. Coal-fired power plants release mercury into the air before it settles into lakes and rivers. Bacteria convert it into methylmercury and fish absorb it. Fish consumption advisories are not enforceable bans but are issued to help people make informed choices to reduce health risks. 'We encourage everyone to check the DOH website for the latest advisories and take necessary precautions when enjoying locally caught fish,' Magstadt said. In addition to Dry Lake #1 and Lake Henry, these lakes are on the state's fish consumption advisory list: Bitter Lake: Limit consumption of northern pike (over 30″) and any size walleye, particularly for children under age 7 and women who are pregnant, might become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Coal Springs Reservoir: Limit consumption of northern pike (over 25″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Cottonwood Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 21″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Dry Lake Number 2: Limit consumption of walleye (over 22″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Elm Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 25″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Hazeldon Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 21″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Horseshoe Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 18″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Kiesz Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 16″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Lake Hurley: Limit consumption of Largemouth Bass (over 18″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Lake Isabel: Limit consumption of northern pike (over 25″) and Largemouth Bass (over 17″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Lake Minnewasta: Limit consumption of walleye (over 18″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Lardy Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 18″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Little Moreau Lake: Limit consumption of northern pike (over 26″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Long Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 17″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Lynn Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 25″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Middle Lynn Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 18″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. New Wall Lake: Limit consumption of black and white crappie (over 13″) and Largemouth Bass (over 16″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Newell Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 18″) and northern pike (over 18″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. North Buffalo Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 21″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. North Island Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 18″) and Smallmouth Bass (over 19″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Opitz Lake: Limit consumption of northern pike (over 26″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Pickerel Lake: Limit consumption of white bass (over 16'), particularly for children under age 7 and women who are pregnant, might become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Pudwell Dam: Limit consumption of walleye (over 18″) and Black Crappie (over 12″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Reid Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 23″) and northern pike (over 32″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Roosevelt Lake: Limit consumption of largemouth bass (over 18″) and northern pike (over 24″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Scott Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 25″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. South Buffalo Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 21″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Swan Lake: Limit consumption of walleye (over 21″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Twin Lakes (Minnehaha County): Limit consumption of any size walleye, particularly for children under age 7 and women who are pregnant, might become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Walleye tested above recommended limits for mercury. Twin Lakes (Brookings/Kingsbury counties): Limit consumption of walleye (over 18″) and northern pike (over 19″). These tested above recommended limits for mercury. Source: South Dakota Department of Health
