The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department and the Putnam County Health Department have endorsed the Bureau for Public Health’s Food Establishment Rule: 64CSR17. In a letter to Brian Skinner, counsel for the Bureau for Public Health, Stanley Mills, director of Environmental Services for the health departments, wrote, “While this legislation was opposed last year by the hospitality and travel industry, in my long-time experience, this version of the food service code is more food-service-establishment friendly than prior versions of the food code.” The rule incorporates by reference the 2013 Food Code.
The Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health is seeking a physician to serve as executive director/health officer
The Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health is seeking a physician to serve as executive director/health officer for the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department located in Charleston, West Virginia. The position requires an individual who is a physician, has at least five (5) years of public health experience, a Masters in Public Health, and is eligible for a license to practice medicine in West Virginia. Preference is given to specialists certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine.
BACK TO SCHOOL WALK-IN IMMUNIZATION CLINIC
The KANAWHA COUNTY Back to School Walk-In Clinic at KCHD will be Monday, July 30 through (and including) Monday, August 6, 8:30am – 3:30pm
Suggestions offered for dealing with mosquito-borne illnesses
As summer takes hold, residents are becoming more concerned about the annual mosquito-borne illness problem. According to Christina Hinkle, RN, Kanawha-Charleston Health Department’s director of clinic services, “West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne illness that causes no symptoms in approximately 80 percent of the people who are infected.”
As many as 20 percent of those infected with West Nile virus will have symptoms including body aches, fever, headaches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or skin rashes on the stomach or back. About 1 in 150 people develop more severe illnesses that may cause neurological impairment.
KCEAA schedules July 5-6 Hep A clinics
The Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority, in conjunction with the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, is conducting walk-in hepatitis A vaccination clinics for high-risk individuals as part of a response to the national Hepatitis A outbreak.
Clinics are scheduled Thursday, July 5, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Orchard Manor and Washington Manor. On Friday, July 6, clinics are scheduled from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Littlepage Terrace and South Park Village.
Health department identifies five more Hepatitis A cases in food service workers
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, which provides public health services for Kanawha and Putnam Counties, has confirmed hepatitis A cases in food service workers at the McDonald’s at 64 Patrick St. in Charleston, Pizza Hut at 603 Third St. in Saint Albans, Paul’s Poplar Park Drive Inn at 9850 Teays Valley Road in Scott Depot, Sakura at 230 Nitro Place in Cross Lanes, and Sam’s Club at 2500 Mountaineer Boulevard in South Charleston.
Health department schedules June 22 Hep A clinic
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, which also provides public health services for the Putnam County Health Department, is conducting a June 21 and 22 walk-in hepatitis A vaccination clinic for high-risk individuals as part of its response to the national Hepatitis A outbreak.
The clinic is Thursday, June 21, at the Gateway Shopping Center, 23 MacCorkle Ave, in St., Albans. Clinic hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The clinic is Friday, June 22, at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, 108 Lee St., in Charleston. Clinic hours are 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Health department identifies two more Hepatitis A cases in food service workers
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, which provides public health services for Kanawha and Putnam Counties, has confirmed hepatitis A cases in food service workers at the Taco Bell at 4152 WV-34 in Hurricane and the Pizza Hut at 5730 MacCorkle Ave. in Charleston. One worker has been identified at each facility. This is part of an investigation involving a hepatitis A outbreak that began in February and has been linked to a national outbreak.
KCHD offers warm weather guidance
“Now is the time to prepare for hot temperatures that bring illness and even death every year,” according to Christina Hinkle, director of clinic services, at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department and the Putnam County Health Department.
“Take measures to stay cool. Remain hydrated and keep informed. Getting too hot can make you sick. You can become ill from the heat if your body can’t compensate for it and properly cool you off,” Hinkle said.
Health department identifies Hepatitis A in Cold Spot employee
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, which provides public health services for Kanawha and Putnam Counties, has confirmed a hepatitis A case in a food service worker at the Cold Spot at 4005 Washington St., W., in Charleston. This is part of an investigation involving a hepatitis A outbreak began in February.
As a precaution, family members and coworkers are receiving Hepatitis A immunizations, according to CDC protocols.
Health department schedules Kanawha, Putnam Hep A clinics
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, which also provides public health services for the Putnam County Health Department, is scheduling hepatitis A vaccination clinics for restaurant and food service employees in Kanawha and Putnam counties as part of its response to the national Hepatitis A outbreak.
• May 30, Charleston Civic Center
• May 31, Putnam County Courthouse, Second Floor, Old Courthouse
• June 1, St. George Conference Center (Court and Lee Streets)
• June 1, Forrest Burdette Memorial United Methodist Church, 2848 Putnam Avenue, Hurricane
KCHD reports first Hep A-related death
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department is reporting the first Kanawha County death related to the Hepatitis A outbreak. KCHD officials spoke with a family member who confirmed the May 23 death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people who get hepatitis A feel sick for several weeks, but they usually recover with […]
Health department identifies more Hepatitis A in food service employees
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, which provides public health services for Kanawha and Putnam Counties, has confirmed Hepatitis A cases in food service workers at American Inn at 419 Hurricane Creek Road in Hurricane, Buck’s Pizza at 4001 First Ave. in Nitro and McDonald’s at 312 Hurricane Creek Road in Hurricane. One employee at each facility has been confirmed. This is part of an investigation involving the Hepatitis A outbreak began in February
KCHD identifies third case of Hepatitis A in food service employee
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department has confirmed a case of Hepatitis A in a food service worker at O’Charley’s at 70 RHL Boulevard in Charleston. This is the third Kanawha County investigation involving a food establishment since the Hepatitis A outbreak began in February.
The employee did not continue working at the restaurant after the Hepatitis A diagnosis but did work during the infectious period prior to diagnosis, April 27 – May 11. As a precaution, members of the individual’s family and coworkers have received Hepatitis A immunizations, according to CDC protocols.
Members of the KCHD outbreak team, which includes multiple health professionals from the Divisions of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, met with O’Charley’s officials to review restaurant food handling practices. Inspectors were on site at the establishment and spent time talking with employees and observing food handling procedures.
Hepatitis A cases continue to climb
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department reports the cases of acute Hepatitis A occurring in Kanawha and Putnam counties grows daily. As of Thursday, May 3, health department officials are investigating more than 60 possible cases. Local cases have been linked to an ongoing, multistate Hepatitis A outbreak.