by Alli Howe | Aug 31, 2023 | News
Three hospitalized Mesa County residents have tested positive for West Nile virus during the month of August. All three cases were over 70 years old.
“Last year we had one hospitalization in September,” said Rachel Burmeister, Disease Surveillance and Emergency Response Program Manager for Mesa County Public Health. “We had a very wet winter and are seeing the results now with increased mosquito activity and higher cases of West Nile virus.”
Mosquitos continue to test positive for the virus throughout the valley. The public can view a mosquito heat map and look at specific mosquito traps on the Grand River Mosquito Control District website, grmcd.org
Local and State Situation
In Colorado, there have been 193 cases of West Nile virus so far in 2023. Approximately 106 people have required hospitalization. There have been 13 deaths.
In Mesa County, 7 people have tested positive for West Nile virus and we anticipate more cases in September.
Prevention
Prevention is important because there is no specific treatment for West Nile virus.
Follow these steps to limit risk for mosquito bites:
- Use an EPA-approved insect repellent effective against mosquitoes. Look for one that contains DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, 2-undecanone, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Dress in long sleeves and pants when in areas where mosquitoes are active.
- Avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn; this is when mosquitoes are most active.
- Drain and remove sources of standing water on your property.
Talk with a health care provider if you develop a fever with severe headaches or confusion.
Background
- The West Nile virus season runs from May through October with case counts typically peaking in September.
- Most people who are infected with West Nile virus do not get sick. In fact, about 75-80% of cases are asymptomatic. For those who do experience symptoms, they can range from mild illness to severe encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain.
- People who are over the age of 50 are at the highest risk for severe illness.
- This is not a condition that spreads from person-to-person.
by Alli Howe | Aug 31, 2023 | air quality, burning, News
Mesa County Public Health will begin accepting residential burn permit applications on September 1. The fall burn season runs through September 30 for the City of Grand Junction, and through October 31 for the rest of Mesa County. Permits for everyone in the County (including those within city limits) are issued by Mesa County Public Health. These permits cost $25 and are valid during both designated burn seasons for the calendar year. All of the proceeds from the permits support local fire protection districts.
Agricultural burn permits are free. Within the city limits of Grand Junction, agricultural burning is permitted only during the designated fall and spring seasons. Outside of the city, agricultural burning is allowed year-round.
The easiest way to obtain a permit is through Mesa County Public Health’s online system. This online tool has been re-designed and is easier than ever to navigate and use. Your permit will be emailed to you right after check out. If you need assistance navigating the online portal, please call our team at 970-248-6900. You can also come to Mesa County Public Health for assistance at 510 29 ½ Road.
Once you have a permit, it’s important to monitor air quality, weather, and other safety alerts.
Burn permits are not valid if there is a red flag warning, fire restriction, or a no burn advisory in place. Air quality information can be found on the Mesa County Public Health website. The Air Quality page makes tracking air quality conditions and advisories easy to access.
Open burning pollutes the air and poses a fire hazard. Consider alternatives, such as composting or wood chipping, if possible. The Mesa County Organic Materials Composting Facility at Mesa County Solid Waste, 3071 U.S. Hwy 50, accepts organic materials like leaves, grass clippings, tree limbs, hay, and straw from Mesa County residents.
by Alli Howe | Aug 29, 2023 | News
If you’re struggling, or know someone who needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or text CO to 741741.
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Death by suicide is preventable and takes support from all levels of our community. This is particularly important to the Mesa County community. The suicide death rate in Mesa County remains higher than both Colorado and the United States. Also, the rate of suicide deaths has increased over the last two years.
A group of Mesa County partners, including Mesa County Public Health, has launched a coordinated campaign to address this challenge. The goals of the campaign are to:
- Educate the community about evidence-based, simple ways to support a friend, family member, or co-worker who is experiencing emotional pain.
- Reduce stigma in Mesa County when speaking about suicide.
Current state of Suicide Crisis in Mesa County
Key findings from the 2022 Mesa County Suicide Report indicate:
- Suicide death is most common among working age adults, 25-64 years old.
- Hospital visits for suicidal ideation and attempt are most common among youth and young adults under 25.
- Drugs or alcohol were involved at the time of death in nearly 75% of suicide deaths.
- Those who die by suicide have often made previous attempts. In 2022, one in four people who died by suicide had a known previous attempt.
View the full 2022 Mesa County Suicide Report.
Suicide Prevention in Action: #Bethe1to Campaign
#Bethe1to teaches five specific actions to be used when communicating with someone who may be suicidal. These actions are supported by research in the suicide prevention field.
- Ask If you think someone might be considering suicide, take the first step and be the one to ask. Ask directly, “Are you thinking about killing yourself?
- Be There If someone you know is thinking about suicide, take the next step and be the one to be there. Listen to their reasons for feeling hopeless and in pain. Listen without judgment and with compassion and empathy
- Keep them safe. If you ask someone if they are thinking about suicide and they say yes, be the one to keep them safe. Separate them from anything they are thinking of using to hurt themselves.
- Help them connect. If someone you know is thinking about suicide, be the one to help them connect to resources. Help them build a support system, including the 9-8-8 Lifeline, family, friends, clergy, coaches, and therapists.
- Follow up. If someone you know tells you they’ve been thinking about suicide, don’t forget to take the last step and be the one to follow up with them. It can make all the difference.
Learn more about how to save a life at bethe1to.com.
Follow Mesa County Public Health on Facebook @mesacountypublichealth to learn all September.
by Alli Howe | Aug 23, 2023 | Food Recall, News
Mesa County Public Health has been made aware of super sweet cut corn and mixed vegetables being recalled that could have been distributed in Mesa County. The manufacturer, Twin City Foods, is recalling Quick Frozen Super Sweet Cut Corn and Mixed Vegetables due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes (or L. monocytogenes). To date there have been no confirmed cases of human illness associated with this product. This Food Safety Alert is being issued out of an abundance of caution due to the seriousness of the illness for pregnant women, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
Description of Recalled Products
- Frozen sweet corn and other mixed vegetables bagged with Kroger, Signature Select, and Food Lion branding.
- A more detailed description of the products that are subject to the recall can be found on the FDA website.
- These products are sold at grocery stores and convenience stores.
What Should Consumers Do
- Check your freezers. Listeria can survive at freezing temperatures.
- Throw them away or return them to where you bought them for a refund.
- If you have any questions, contact Twin City Foods at 360-629-5678 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5 pm EST).
Listeria Description and Treatment
- Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns.
- Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and/or convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. It can be an invasive infection that spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract.
- In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
- Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems.
- Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.
Examples of Products
by Alli Howe | Aug 22, 2023 | News
Mesa County continues to be touched by the tragic impacts of drug overdose. Throughout the past year there have been more than 1,140 deaths related to overdoses in Colorado. According to the Mesa County Coroner’s Office, local deaths due to overdose numbered 32.
To honor these valuable lives, Mesa County Opioid Response Group (MCORG) will display flags at Lincoln Park in Grand Junction on International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31. This day provides a time to reflect and educate the community about local prevention resources. There will be flags representing the number of people in Colorado who have died from a drug overdose, with different colored flags representing the lives lost in Mesa County.
MCORG includes different agencies in Mesa County, including Mesa County Public Health and Western Colorado Area Health Education Center (WCAHEC). This group represents the full scope of overdose services: treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and prevention education. Over the last year they had 3.7k people complete naloxone training. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications.
“Our theme for International Overdose Awareness day is, A time to remember, a time to act. We will remember the lives taken by overdose and prevent similar tragedies in the future. The most important thing for our community to know is that these deaths can be prevented,” said Brandon Gray, a Community Health Planner for Mesa County Public Health and a member of MCORG.
The public is invited to join MCORG on Thursday, August 31 to view the flag display and pause in remembrance of those lives lost. Their team will be on hand to connect people with local resources throughout the day at different locations:
- Lincoln Park 8-11 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.
- Colorado Mesa University 1-3 p.m.
List of Substance Use Treatment resources are available on the Healthy Mesa County website.
by Alli Howe | Aug 16, 2023 | News
Mosquitoes from two trap locations in Fruita and Grand Junction have tested positive for West Nile virus.
The Grand River Mosquito Control District collected the mosquitoes on August 8 and 9, 2023. The types of mosquitoes that tested positive were identified as Culex species, which can transmit West Nile virus to people.
This is the first confirmed West Nile activity in mosquitoes in Mesa County this year.
This information comes after the first human case of West Nile virus is confirmed in a Mesa County resident. There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus, so prevention is key.
This is the time of year when activity typically peaks, so it’s critical for residents to take precautions.
The best way to avoid getting West Nile virus is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Increased outdoor activity can lead to increased exposure to mosquito bites, so take some easy steps to protect yourself:
- Use an EPA-approved insect repellent effective against mosquitoes. Look for one that contains DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, 2-undecanone, or oil of lemon eucalyptus,
- Dress in long sleeves and pants when in areas where mosquitoes are active,
- Avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn; this is when mosquitoes are most active,
- Drain and remove sources of standing water on your property.
The public can view look at specific mosquito traps on the Grand River Mosquito Control District website, grmcd.org
Colorado Situation
So far this season, there are 22 confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in residents of 13 counties, including Mesa and Delta counties. The state recently confirmed the first death associated with West Nile in Weld County.
In 2022, Colorado had 206 reported human cases of West Nile virus, including 20 deaths.
