UCHD media

06/25/2022

your home for safety: After filling out your Home Hazard Hunt, make necessary corrections as soon as possible. Prevention is the best first aid. Download this brochure from Be Ready for the Home Hazard Hunt checklist: http://ow.ly/5nva30rRduV

06/16/2022

A bat found on June 11 at the Southeast corner of Thompson Park in Longmont, near Fourth Avenue and Pratt Street, has tested positive for rabies.

Public health officials recommend that the following precautions be taken to reduce the risk of exposure to rabies:

• DO NOT handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. Contact animal control to collect the animal.
• Thoroughly wash any wound caused by an animal with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.
• Keep vaccinations current for all dogs, cats and ferrets. Keep cats and ferrets inside and dogs under direct supervision.
• Contact your local public health department or animal control if people or pets have been bitten or exposed to a bat.
• Attempt to contain the bat and then contact your local animal control officer to assist with capturing the bat and delivering it for testing.

For information about rabies, visit https://www.BoulderCountyRabies.org

04/09/2022

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed a backyard flock detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Pitkin County, Colorado. This finding is the first case of HPAI in domestic poultry in Colorado and confirmed cases can be tracked at ag.colorado.gov/hpai

If you are a backyard flock owner, it’s critical to increase your biosecurity measures by keeping your flock closed (not introducing new birds), decreasing interactions between domestic and wild birds, and keeping feed away from wild birds. Please report any sick or dead birds to the State Veterinarian’s office at 303-869-9130.

03/09/2022

02/11/2022

Vaccines can protect you from serious illness and death from COVID-19. But DYK that after being vaccinated, you should STILL:

😷 Wear a mask
↔️ Keep a safe distance
🪟 Open windows
🤧 Cough/sneeze into your elbow
👐 Keep hands clean
to stop the virus? Here’s why ⬇️

01/08/2022

EXTENDED Air Quality Advisory: Cold and stagnant weather conditions in the Grand Valley have allowed fine particulate matter to climb into the 'Moderate' category on Saturday.

Mesa County Public Health recommends people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children in the area to reduce prolonged or heavy indoor and outdoor exertion.
See more information on our website,
https://bit.ly/3JNIfPB.

01/05/2022

Tips for Safe Cleanup After a Fire

Everyone impacted by the and should assume debris and ash contain hazardous materials and take the following precautions:

• Stay indoors or leave the burn area on windy days.
• Keep doors and windows closed.
• For homes with central air, check air filters regularly and replace when visibly soiled.
• Use rugs inside and outside entrances to catch any possible debris on shoes.
• Avoid tracking debris into the house; remove shoes.
• Wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when cleaning ash – N95 or equivalent mask, latex or nitrile gloves, and eye protection.
• Use a damp mop or cloth to clean away visible dust in the house.
• Do not use harsh chemical cleaners or vinegar as they can react with chemicals in the ash. Soap and water are adequate to clean ash from hard surfaces.
• Soft surfaces and fabrics should be laundered or discarded.
• Use a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter system.
• For exterior cleaning, spray with water – do not sweep ash and consider wearing an N95 or equivalent mask or respirator.

More information: https://www.boco.org/marshallfire

01/03/2022

Are you prepared for a positive COVID-19 test?

01/02/2022

Here are some important steps for staying healthy after a fire

Do not disturb ash or debris from fires!

An N95 or equivalent mask is strongly recommended when you’re cleaning your home and if you’re outdoors in burn areas.

• PLEASE NOTE: Most face coverings worn to protect against COVID-19 are not adequate to protect against the fine ash particles created by a fire.

Wipe surfaces with a damp cloth and avoid harsh chemical cleaners – stick with soap and water.

Only use vacuum cleaners with a HEPA filter.

If you are considering purchasing an air filtration unit, be sure that is has a HEPA filter.

Take off your shoes before entering your home to avoid spreading ash.

Get your HVAC ducts professionally cleaned as soon as you can.

• Replace your HVAC filters as soon as they appear soiled.

• Use the highest level of filtration recommended by the manufacturer.

• Consider an activated carbon pre-filter to reduce odors.

Test your fire and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure that they work properly.

If you are using a combustion space heater, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidance for ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide exposure.

• Never leave the house or sleep while combustion space heaters are operating.

Thoroughly check all visible plumbing fixtures and piping for leaks and be alert for signs of broken pipes inside the walls – especially exterior walls.

• Visit https://www.bouldercounty.org/environment/air/wildfire-air-quality-and-health/ for more information on the potential health impacts of exposure to fire smoke.

• Visit https://www.bouldercounty.org/safety/fire/safe-cleanup-after-a-fire/ for more information on how to safely clean up after a fire.

01/01/2022

12/27/2021

Hospital stays can be expensive, but COVID-19 vaccines are free. Help protect yourself from being hospitalized with COVID-19 by getting vaccinated.

Find your vaccine: www.vaccines.gov.

12/17/2021

12/06/2021

Be healthy for all of your holiday adventures and parties🎄
Grab a friend and commit to one new healthy behavior this season. Double bonus if you get a flu or COVID-19 shot now so you'll be protected by Christmas.

12/03/2021

Some people, who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, will still get sick because no vaccine is 100% effective—these are called breakthrough cases.

All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States are very effective at preventing COVID-19 and decrease your chances of severe illness and hospitalization.

Visit https://health.mesacounty.us/covid19/datadashboard/ for local COVID-19 case data in Mesa County.

11/20/2021

Pregnant women who become infected with the delta variant are at increased risk of a stillbirth or dying during childbirth, according to two new studies

11/18/2021

They’re still heroes. Now it’s your turn.
Protect Colorado’s health care resources by wearing a mask, washing your hands, watching your distance, and waiting to join large gatherings. Stay up to date on routine care.
Make plans to get your flu shot, your COVID-19 vaccine booster, or your child’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine today. Learn about getting a flu vaccine during COVID-19 at https://bit.ly/3vVjZVk

11/13/2021

Q: Are pets getting sick from COVID?

A: TL, DR. Yes, pets and other animals can get infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Most of these pets that get sick with COVID-19 have mild illness and fully recover. However, people with COVID-19 should still act in a way to protect pets from infection.

A recent study out of the UK demonstrated a large increase in myocarditis (heart inflammation) among dogs and cats (from 1.5% to 12.5% of pets) during December 2020 to March 2021, coinciding with the surge of the alpha variant. Many of the owners of the sick pets also became sick with COVID-19 in the month or two before the pets got ill (and about half of the pets themselves tested positive for either the alpha variant of the virus or the antibodies). While myocarditis among pets in the UK has returned to pre-COVID levels, the possibility of viral mutation and health effects of the virus in other species is something we are watching closely.

Here are some tips to help you protect your pets:
• Pet owners and their household members should get vaccinated if eligible.
• If someone in your household has COVID-19, they should isolate from all other people and animals. If isolation is not possible, people with COVID-19 should avoid snuggling, petting, and sharing the same bed with their pets. In addition, they should wash their hands well before and after interaction with their pets.
• Pets should have limited contact with unvaccinated people outside of the household.
• Do not put a mask on your pet.
• Do not wipe your pet down with disinfectants, hand sanitizer or other surface cleaners. Talk to your vet for guidance on proper care of your animal.

Thankfully, there seems to be low risk of pets spreading COVID-19 to humans. In addition, pets do not appear to spread the virus from skin, fur, or hair.

Tips for protecting your pet from COVID.

https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/covid-19/pets.html

Uptick in myocarditis in dogs and cats.
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-linked-heart-inflammation-cats-dogs-rcna4319

Prior post on risk of getting COVID-19 from dogs:

https://www.facebook.com/dearpandemic/posts/201193291509326

11/13/2021

“"The most important job the surgeon general has is to make sure that he or she is doing everything possible to help people around our country stay healthy and safe." Watch TFK Kid Reporter Lucy's interview with Dr. Vivek Murthy https://t.co/rcxGtwvbAM https://t.co/siuRd5fZAP”