News | Western New York Public Health Alliance

National Public Health Week (April 5-11, 2021)

The Directors of the Western New York Public Health Alliance (WNYPHA) would like to thank all people working on public health. The last year has challenged our public health system as we have battled the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Public Health Commissioners, Directors and their teams have worked tirelessly over the last year, many of them working seven days a week to communicate information, coordinate the pandemic response and work with other county organizations and healthcare systems to support the health of all of our Western New York communities. This week is Public Health Week and we want to take the opportunity to publicly thank all employees and volunteers working in our Public Health Departments across the eight counties of Western New York.

The Western New York Public Health Alliance is an organization comprised of the Public Health Directors and Commissioners for the eight counties of Western New York. The Alliance works in collaboration with the New York State Public Health Association (https://www.nyspha.org/), the New York State Association of County Health Officials (https://www.nysacho.org/), and the national Public Health Association (https://apha.org/). The members of the WNYPHA work in all areas of public health, including assuring the safety of our water, food and environment, providing health services and information and through awareness raising campaigns.

For all the latest information on National Public Health Week, please click http://www.nphw.org/tools-and-tips/toolkit.

Western New York Public Health Alliance Press Release – The Importance of Vaccination

The Western New York Public Health Alliance (WNYPHA) is a not-for-profit organization comprised of the Public Health Directors and other community public health leaders from the eight counties of western New York. Their mission is to support collaboration across WNY to further public health initiatives and priorities. As part of their mission, WNYPHA wants to raise awareness about the importance of vaccines. Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. Health officials around the nation remind parents to protect their children’s health by immunizing them against vaccine-preventable childhood diseases.

Thanks to the development of safe and effective vaccines, immunization has been one of the most successful and safest public health measures available to populations worldwide, with an unparalleled record of disease reduction and prevention. Our nation’s scientifically-based vaccine safety system – which is managed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – carefully studies, evaluates and monitors vaccine safety and efficacy. Yet, despite the success and strong safety record of vaccines, vaccine hesitancy has been increasing. This threatens local public health by producing an environment where vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, mumps and pertussis (whooping cough) are on the rise.

“Before age two, all infants can and should be vaccinated against 14 preventable childhood diseases like whooping cough and measles,” said Christine Schuyler, Chautauqua County Public Health Director, the co-Chair of the WNYPHA. “Immunization is a shared responsibility and together, we can help protect our babies and the entire community by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases.”

All parents are encouraged to have their children immunized by their pediatrician or contact their local Health Department for information on how to receive vaccinations. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) and the Vaccine for Adults (VFA) programs provide vaccines to children and adults who are underinsured and may not be able to afford them.

“Maintaining high immunization rates by vaccinating on time, every time is the key to keeping dangerous diseases away from our communities,” said Schuyler.

To find out what vaccines your child needs and when, ask your healthcare provider, visit the New York State Department of Health website at www.health.ny.gov or call your local Health Department. Additional information is available online at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents or via phone at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).

Western New York Public Health Alliance Press Release – Zika Update

Protect Yourself Against Mosquito-Borne Diseases

The Western New York Public Health Alliance (WNYPHA) is urging residents and visitors to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites and protect themselves from potential exposure to the mosquito-borne diseases. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has a robust mosquito surveillance program which includes regularly testing mosquito pools in various areas of Western New York and across New York State.

“New York State is home to about 70 different types of mosquitoes and while most of them are not infected with disease-causing viruses, some are and serious viral diseases such as West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Zika Virus, are transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito,” said Christine Schuyler, co-chair of the WNYPHA and Public Health Director for Chautauqua County. “Different diseases are caused by different viruses and transmitted by different mosquito species and the key to safeguarding against these illnesses is to take basic precautions to avoid mosquito bites.”

People are urged to follow these precautions to defend against mosquito bites:

Use insect repellent properly. Those that contain DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus are most effective but should be used with care. Read the product label and use according to package instructions.
Limit outdoor activities in areas where mosquitoes are most active and between dusk and dawn which is the peak mosquito biting time.
If you have to be outside, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks as weather permits.
Repair or replace all window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
Reduce or eliminate all standing water.
Empty or dispose of pails, cans, flower pots, or similar water-holding containers.
Clear roof gutters, remove leaf debris from yards and gardens, and clean vegetation and debris from the edge of ponds.
Turn over wheelbarrows and wading pools when not in use.
Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs and drain pool covers.
Clean vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds
Change the water in birdbaths and horse troughs twice a week.
Dispose properly of old tires

The highest risk of contracting mosquito-borne illnesses runs from June through September with peak activity late July to August.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a rare illness in humans but often a deadly disease. It is transmitted by mosquitoes and can affect humans, birds, horses and other mammals. Most people bitten by an infected mosquito will not develop any signs; however, of those who do, symptoms usually appear four to ten days later. Signs of EEE infection begin with a sudden headache, high fever, chills and vomiting. The illness may then progress into disorientation, seizures, coma or inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). It causes death in most cases; however, some people will survive the infection and have mild to severe brain damage for life. There is no specific treatment for EEE; care is based on symptoms.

While people of all ages are at risk for EEE infection, children under age 15 and adults over age 50 have the greatest risk for contracting the severe disease.

West Nile virus (WNV)

West Nile virus (WNV) is also a mosquito-borne infection that can cause illness and occasionally death. Symptoms of the WNV usually develop within 3 to 14 days after exposure; however, it may take up to three weeks for signs to appear in those with weakened immune systems. Many people who contract WNV do not experience any type of illness; an estimated 20 percent of people who become infected will develop mild symptoms including fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea and possibly a skin rash or swollen lymph glands. The person’s health usually improves after several days, but they may feel tired, weak and generally unwell for weeks. Less than 1 percent of people infected will develop severe symptoms that affect the central nervous system. These include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, muscle weakness, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, coma, or inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Most people will recover completely from WNV, even from a severe infection although in rare cases, death can occur.

While people of all ages are at risk for WNV infection, adults age 50 and older and people with certain medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and organ transplants are at the greatest risk of developing serious symptoms.

Zika Virus

Zika is a virus that is usually spread by certain kinds of mosquitos. It can also be spread from one person to another through sexual contact or blood transfusion. For most people it is a mild infection with few or no symptoms. But it has been linked to health problems in some people. It is a serious concern for pregnant women, their partners and couples planning a pregnancy because it can cause serious birth defects. Zika is not spread from person to person by casual contact.

There have been several outbreaks of Zika virus in Central America, South America, the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Southeast Asia. Recently, a small number of Zika infections have been discovered in parts of Florida and Texas that were likely spread by mosquitoes. To date, the only cases in New York State are in people who acquired the virus while traveling to Zika affected areas or through sexual transmission from someone who had traveled to those areas.

Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections. Right now, there is no vaccine to prevent Zika. Public health officials are working hard to learn more about Zika. In the meantime, they are strongly encouraging people to avoid mosquito bites and to control mosquito populations to help make sure Zika doesn’t become widespread in the U.S. Infection with Zika virus is usually mild. Only about one in five people develop any symptoms; hospitalization is rare. If someone is going to have symptoms, they usually start between 2-7 days after exposure. No vaccines or medications are available to prevent or treat Zika virus infections, however the symptoms can be managed. This includes getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids to prevent dehydration, and taking medicines, such as acetaminophen, to relieve fever and pain. Because other infections can look like Zika virus, aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and naproxen, should be avoided until other illnesses can be ruled out.

Vaccine

There is no commercially available human vaccine for WNV, EEE or Zika. The best way to protect yourself is to keep mosquitoes from biting you. EEE and WNV vaccines are available for horses in consultation with a veterinarian.

For more information on WNV, EEE and Zika, contact your Local Health Department or visit:

The NYSDOH 2012 Mosquito Borne Illness Surveillance & Response Plan can be found at:

http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/west_nile_virus/docs/2012_mosquito_borne_illness_surveillance_and_response_plan.pdf

The NYSDOH 2016 Statewide Mosquito-Borne Disease Activity Report can be found at:

https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/west_nile_virus/docs/weekly_arboviral_surveillance_report.pdf

Western New York Public Health Alliance Press Release – Flu Vaccines

The Western New York Public Health Alliance is urging everyone over the age of six months to get a flu vaccine to protect themselves from the effects of influenza. Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently, but millions of people get flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children.

It is important that people understand how the flu vaccine works. Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are used to make the vaccine.

The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. Most flu vaccines in the United States protect against four different flu viruses (“quadrivalent”); an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and two influenza B viruses. There are also some flu vaccines that protect against three different flu viruses (“trivalent”); an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and one influenza B virus. Two of the trivalent vaccines are designed specifically for people 65 and older to create a stronger immune response

It is also important to understand when to get a flu shot. You should get a flu vaccine before flu viruses begins spreading in your community, since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against flu. Make plans to get vaccinated early in fall, before flu season begins. CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October. Getting vaccinated later, however, can still be beneficial and vaccination should continue to be offered throughout the flu season, even into January or later.

Children who need two doses of vaccine to be protected should start the vaccination process sooner, because the two doses must be given at least four weeks apart

Flu vaccines are offered in many doctor’s offices, clinics, health departments, pharmacies and college health centers, as well as by many employers, and even in some schools.

Even if you don’t have a regular doctor or nurse, you can get a flu vaccine somewhere else, like a health department, pharmacy, urgent care clinic, and often your school, college health center, or workplace.

For more information, please contact your local Health Department or go to the Center for Disease Control website: cdc.gov/flu.

The Western New York Public Health Alliance (WNYPHA) is a not-for-profit organization comprised of the Health Commissioners/Public Health Directors and other community public health leaders from the eight counties of Western New York. Their mission is to support collaboration across WNY to further public health initiatives and priorities. As part of this mission, the WNYPHA works to provide health education and information to prevent disease and improve population health. For more information on this article or the WNYPHA, please contact Christine Schuyler, Public Health Director for Chautauqua County at 716-753-4590 or Lori Ballengee, Public Health Director for Allegany County at 585-268-9250.

Western New York Public Health Alliance Press Release – Tickborne Illnesses

Protect Yourself Against Disease Carrying Ticks

The Western New York Public Health Alliance (WNYPHA) is urging residents and visitors to take precautions to avoid tickborne illnesses. Ticks can spread disease. Not all ticks can cause disease and not all bites will make you sick, but as these diseases become more common it’s important to learn how to prevent a bite, how to remove a tick and what to do if you think you could have a tick-borne disease. “The warm winter and recent temperature increase have set the stage for a flourishing tick population, providing an update on Lyme disease, the most common tick related illness in our area, seems prudent,” states Christine Schuyler, Public Health Director for Chautauqua County and Co-Chair of the Western New York Public Health Alliance.

Lyme disease is also the most common disease spread by ticks in New York but there are other serious diseases they spread including Anaplasmosis, Erhichioisis, Babesiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.⁽¹⁾ There are many different species of ticks but locally the most common is the Deer Tick. The Deer Tick is a vector for several diseases (Lyme disease, Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis) and received the name because of its habit of living and feeding on white-tailed deer, however ticks acquire Lyme disease by feeding on infected mice and other small rodents.⁽²⁾

tick-picture Ticks may be found in many types of settings such as woodlands, tree stumps, lawns and gardens, around stone walls, nature trails, outdoor summer camps, and playing fields. Ticks do not jump or fly, they attach to their host when a human or animal makes contact with something that a tick is on, like tall grass, shrubs, or an animal. The risk of human infection with Lyme is greatest in late spring and summer, but ticks can be active any time the temperature is above freezing. ⁽³⁾ “The high concentration of ticks in NYS counties including Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, and Albany leads me to believe the threat of tick-borne diseases will continue and likely increase locally in the future, this is why it is important to become aware and prepare now,” said Pettit.

Lyme can only be transmitted after being bit by an infected tick- seeing an attached tick or a tick bite does not necessarily mean Lyme has been transmitted. It generally takes between three days to one month after a tick bite for Lyme disease symptoms to develop.⁽³⁾ In 60-80 percent of Lyme cases a “bulls-eye” circular rash or solid red patch develops at or near the site of the tick bite first and steadily gets larger or spreads out.⁽⁴⁾ You can also get several patches of rash on your body. Early on in the disease (days to weeks post-tick bite) you may develop symptoms such as fever, chills, headaches, joint pain and/or swelling, fatigue, or facial paralysis (Bell’s Palsy), sometimes these can be very mild.⁽⁵⁾ As Lyme disease progresses more severe symptoms like arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling may develop months-to-years post tick bite in 60% of persons who are not given antibiotic treatment.⁽⁵⁾ It is important to keep in mind that getting Lyme disease once does not provide protection against getting Lyme in the future, if you are bitten again at a different time you can get Lyme disease again. If you develop any of these symptoms you should call your doctor right away to inquire about getting tested and treated.

To prevent tick-borne illness exposure while outdoors you and your family can do the following:

Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.
Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.
Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently while outdoors.
Use insect repellent with 20-30% DEET. ⁽⁴⁾
Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Avoid dense woods and busy areas.
Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls.
Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.
Bathe or shower as soon as possible after going indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that may be on you.
Do a final, full-body tick check at the end of the day (also check children and pets), and remove ticks promptly.

Additional prevention tips for homeowners to create a tick-free zone in your backyard to keep you, your family and pets safe from tick exposure:

Keep grass mowed, along with clearing tall grasses and brush.
Remove brush and leave around stonewalls and wood piles.
Keep wood piles and bird feeders away from your home.
Keep family dogs and cats out of wooded areas to reduce ticks brought into your home.
Place swing sets, sand boxes, decks and patios in a sunny spot away from yard edges and trees.
Place a 3-ft wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas and around patios and play equipment. ⁽³⁾

What you can do if you find a tick attached to you, a family member, or a pet:

How-to-remove-a-tick You should use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the ticks by its mouth parts, as close to the surface of the skin as you can. Carefully pull the tick straight up without twisting. Do not touch the tick. Do not squeeze the body of the tick (may increase your risk of infection). Clean your hands and the areas on your skin where the tick was. Watch the site of the bite for rash (3-30 days after bite). Removing a tick within 36 hours of attachment to the skin can lower the risk of contracting Lyme disease.

To learn more about ticks, Lyme disease and other diseases ticks can spread visit the New York State Department of Health, https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/lyme/.

For more information, contact your local Health Department.