Trending
LISBON -- At least five cases of cyclospora were reported in Columbiana County as of last week, according to county Health District Health Services Administrator Amanda Amato.
Amato talked briefly about the gastrointestinal illness caused by contaminated food or water during the recent county health district board meeting, noting it's not transmitted person to person. Some of the foods affected include lettuce and other leafy greens and berries.
She suggested washing hands before, during and after preparing vegetables under running water and said to scrub produce with a brush while cleaning. If the produce is cooked, be sure to store it properly.
A detailed guidance for avoiding cyclosporasis through food safety for both preparation and storage is available on the Facebook page for the Columbiana County General Health District.
Amato also updated board members on the upcoming rabies vaccination clinic from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday in the vaccine dome at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds. Anyone attending should enter via Vista Drive off of Market Street through the Vista gate. The cost is $5 per vaccine, cash only, for dogs and cats. Animals must be confined in a crate or on a leash and must be 3 months of age or older. No appointment is needed. The health district is partnering with the Lisbon Veterinary Clinic and the Columbiana County Career & Technical Center.
She thanked board vice president Dr. Kimberly Jackson on helping out during the recent skin cancer clinic, which had 17 patients.
In other business, Director of Environmental Health Laura Fauss shared a report of inspections of food facilities from March 1 to June 30 and how the numbers compared to last year. She also shared the numbers for inspections of public pools, with 33 completed so far in July and just three left to inspect. She said they're a little behind with the food inspections after an inspector left for another job. The total food inspections for licensees so far this year from March 1 to June 30 was 591. Last year, the number at this point was 614.
The board approved a new hire of Lydia Johnson of Youngstown as environmental health specialist in training/registered environmental health specialist out of 46 applicants and four who were interviewed. County Health Commissioner Dr. Wes Vins said they liked her energy and were excited that she's ready to start part-time quick. She's coming from the private sector and will work one day per week starting July 27, then go full-time on Aug. 31. When full-time, she'll make an average monthly salary of $3,837.
Fauss also talked about what she called exciting news, with the district receiving another $200,000 in funding from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund for replacing septic systems. The application process is open through Aug. 14, with applications available on the health district website at www.columbiana-health.org.
In other matters, the board approved travel for Vins and medical director Dr. Gretchen Nickell to attend the Association of Ohio Health Commissioners fall conference in Dublin Sept. 21-23. Vins estimated the cost at $259.
The board issued board orders against Tracey Marshall, McDonald Street, East Liverpool, requiring her to drain her swimming pool or properly maintain it due to the conditions. Fauss said she was already through county Municipal Court for the same violation last year and was fined $100. She said the water level is down, but the pool needs pumped out and cleaned out.
The board also updated the policy for cell phones and tablets, appropriated $82,733 in carryover for home health and $58,879 for the workforce development grant, with July expenses of $163,656 approved.
The next health board meeting will be 4:30 p.m. Aug. 19.