Johnson County Health Department - EPI Update Newsletter

An unusually high number of rabid animals have been detected so far this year in Missouri. As of May 23, 2005, 18 animals have tested positive for rabies, compared to 6 animals for the same time period last year. (The total number of rabid animals detected in 2004 was 62% greater than the average annual total for the preceding 10-year period.) The 2005 cases include 9 bats, 8 skunks, and 1 horse. The rabid horse was detected in Douglas County; five persons are undergoing the rabies prophylaxis as a result of this incident.

Veterinarians, medical providers, and public health officials should be alert to potential cases of animal rabies, and possible human exposures, in their area and know how to respond appropriately.

Because of the possibility of rabies following an animal bite or scratch, all Johnson County exposures should be reported to the JCHD Disease Containment program. Tel: (913) 826-1303, Fax: (913) 826-1210.
For the Animal Bite Investigation report form - click here
2005 Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control - click here
For more information on rabies - click here

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has been involved in an increased number of norovirus outbreaks in Kansas this spring. The outbreaks have been in schools, nursing homes, and other facilities in all regions of the state. The outbreaks have been contained following normal disease containment protocols specific to each setting.

“We are seeing more outbreaks of norovirus than we have ever seen in Kansas,” said Dr Gail Hansen, acting state epidemiologist at KDHE. “One reason for the increase is that public health has been able to determine norovirus as a cause of more foodborne illness outbreaks, and our state laboratory has recently enhanced its testing capabilities. But whether the increase in virus is due to enhanced surveillance or the normal cycle of disease, we recommend following precautions such as handwashing to protect yourself.”

To prevent the spread of norovirus:
- Wash hand frequently, especially after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing food and eating.
- Carefully wash fruits and vegetables.
- Thoroughly clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces, such as bathroom fixtures, with a bleach-based cleaner or other disinfectant.
- Immediately remove and wash clothing and linens with soap and hot water after contamination.
- Refrain from preparing food for others if you have diarrhea.

To see more information from the CDC about norovirus, click here.

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Since October 2004, more than 330 people have died from Marburg hemorrhagic fever in Angola, a country in southeastern Africa. As of May 28, 399 cases had been reported. Most of the cases occurred in the Uige Province in northern Angola, where 388 cases and 324 deaths have been reported.

To see the full text of this article, please click here.
To see more information from the CDC on Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever, please click here.

The first phase tests of a human vaccine for West Nile virus were successful for 59 of 60 test subjects, a biotech company announced in mid-May. West Nile Virus, spread from birds to humans and other hosts through infected mosquitoes, can cause severe encephalitis. Dr. Thomas Monath, chief scientist at vaccine developer Acambis, said the new vaccine, produced enough neutralizing antibodies to provide immunity in all but one of the 60 people who were vaccinated. The Phase I trial was conducted as part of a US Food and Drug Administration New Drug Application.

To see the full text of this article, please click here.

Spring is a time when many people spend more time outdoors, so it's important to remember how to prevent tick bites. Some of the more common diseases that you can get from a tick bite include: babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Q-fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Southern tick-associated rash illness, tick-borne relapsing fever and tularemia. Other diseases that you can get from a tick in the United States include anaplasmosis, Colorado tick fever, and Powassan encephalitis.

To read about specific tick-borne diseases, please visit: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/list_tickborne.htm

To read about protecting yourself from tick bites please visit: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/ticktips2005/

To see upcoming workshops, satellite broadcasts, and more at the Johnson County Health Department, check out the What’s New? page of our website to see our calendar of events.

May Communicable Disease Report:

Disease Category	Apr 2005	Apr 5yr Avg	YTD 2005	2004 Total	2003 Total	2002 Total
Enteric Diseases:
Campylobacter	5	3.2	14	53	48	35
Salmonella	6	6.2	27	85	50	38
Central Nervous System:
Meningitis, Aseptic (including viral and fungal meningitis)	1	0.6	2	29	14	26
West Nile Encephalitis/Meningitis	0	0	0	2+	5	2
West Nile Fever	0	0	0	1+	0	0
Sexually Transmitted Infections:
Infection Numbers (excluding HIV/AIDS - see below)	95	35.2	379	981	849	876
Vaccine Preventable Diseases:
Influenza, A&B	0	0	4	1	7	1
Measles	0	0	0	0	0	0
Pertussis	4	0.8	7	19	5	4
Varicella	23*+	n/a	127*+	51*+	*	*
M. tuberculosis:
Confirmed Cases	1!	0.8	7	7	14	12
Rare Diseases (other than listed):
Brucellosis	0	0	0	2	0	0
HIV and AIDS	Jan - Mar 2005	Jan - Mar 5yr avg	YTD 2005	2004 Total	2003 Total	2002 Total
HIV	4	3.8	4	18	16	18
AIDS	4	3.6	4	23	19	8

* Became reportable in June 2004
+ Includes probable as well as confirmed cases
! 17 cases under investigation

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Communicable disease reporting is the cornerstone of public health surveillance and disease control. Please remember to maintain an index of suspicion for bioterrorism and reportable disease, and give us a call if you have any questions or concerns (913-826-1303). On behalf of the Disease Containment Staff, thank you for your continued support.

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Johnson County government does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age and handicapped status in employment or the provision of programs and services.