Rosebud County Public Health Department

05/16/2023

NEWS
Improving and Protecting the Health, Well-Being and
Self-Reliance of All Montanans.”
________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 15, 2023
Contact: Jon Ebelt, Communications Director, DPHHS, (406) 444-0936, (406) 461-3757
[email protected]

________________________________________
Chickenpox Cases on the Rise in Youth
Most cases related to shingles exposure, health officials encourage chickenpox vaccination
Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) officials are reporting a recent increase in the number of cases of chickenpox reported in school-aged children.
And, at least half of these infections were acquired from an adult family member with shingles. Chickenpox, or varicella, can be a serious illness and is easily preventable with vaccination.
“The best way to protect yourself and your child from chickenpox is vaccination,” says Jessica Lopeman, a registered nurse and epidemiologist with DPHHS.
In 2022, there were 23 reported cases of chickenpox in Montana. Cases ranged in individuals from age 1 to over 65. One infant and one young adult required hospitalization.
Early numbers from 2023 show 18 reported cases of chickenpox with no known hospitalizations. Only six cases were reported during the same period last year, which is a 200% increase in cases year-to-date. Shingles is not a reportable condition; therefore, there is no data on the number of cases last year in Montana.
Shingles is a reactivation of the varicella virus, the virus that causes chickenpox. It occurs in 1 of 3 persons who have had chickenpox in their lifetime. Shingles has a rash that presents as red bumps and blisters, usually in a narrow area on one side of the body. This rash may be itchy or painful and is contagious until it has scabbed over completely and can be transmitted by direct contact.
However, the virus is almost exclusively transmitted to people who are not vaccinated for chickenpox or have never had it in the past.
Transmission of the virus may be prevented by covering the shingles rash to prevent contact. The incidence of shingles increases with age, and vaccination against shingles is recommended for persons 50 years and older.
Chickenpox is an illness with a rash and a fever. Like shingles, chicken pox is also caused by the varicella virus. The rash usually appears 14 to 16 days following exposure to the varicella virus, but can be as early as 10 days or as long as 21 days.
It is highly contagious to those who are not immune, especially those who have not been vaccinated with two doses of chickenpox vaccine. Chickenpox can also be serious, even life-threatening, especially in babies, adolescents, adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. The vaccine is excellent at preventing chickenpox by providing 98.3% effectiveness.
“With the recent rise in cases related to shingles exposures, DPHHS is reminding parents and grandparents that shingles can cause chickenpox in unvaccinated persons who have not previously had the virus,” Lopeman said. “It’s important that children are up-to-date on vaccines, including the chickenpox vaccine, and if someone does develop shingles, keep the shingles rash covered to prevent exposure and transmission of the varicella virus.”
________________________________________

05/12/2023

04/21/2023

NEWS
Improving and Protecting the Health, Well-Being and
Self-Reliance of All Montanans.”
________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 19, 2023
Contacts:
Jon Ebelt, Communications Director, DPHHS, (406) 444-0936
Greg Lemon, Administrator, Communication and Education Division, FWP, (406¬) 444-4038
Merry Michalski, Emergency Preparedness Veterinarian, DOL, (406) 444-2939
________________________________________
Health Officials Urge Caution Around Sick Animals
Highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to sicken wild birds and poultry
State health officials are asking the public to be cautious and take steps to prevent exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) this spring by avoiding contact with sick or deceased poultry or wild birds.
“Despite detecting HPAI in birds and mammals, the risk to human health is currently low,” said Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) influenza epidemiologist Devon Cozart. “However, in order to keep it that way, we are encouraging people to be mindful of their interactions with both domestic poultry and wild birds.”
Cozart explains that influenza viruses, in this case H5N1, can frequently mutate. “That’s what gives some influenza viruses the ability to circulate seasonally,” Cozart said. “The more frequently H5N1 encounters a new species, the more likely it is to adapt to infect that species. That’s why we’re seeing some carnivores and scavengers infected with HPAI – because they are likely to eat sick or dead birds.”
Since late 2021, the Montana Departments of Livestock (DOL) and Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), have been monitoring wild and domestic birds in Montana for HPAI.
HPAI causes severe disease and high mortality among domestic birds such as chickens and turkeys. Some wild bird species can also experience high mortality from HPAI infection, but other wild birds, such as waterfowl species, may also carry HPAI without symptoms.
Officials with DOL and FWP predict that the disease will continue to circulate during the spring migration of waterfowl.
Though millions of birds have been infected with HPAI since 2021, fewer than 10 cases of H5N1 in humans have been associated with this outbreak worldwide, including one case in the U.S.
No sustained human-to-human transmission of this strain of H5N1 has been documented; human infections are rare and this HPAI is currently considered by scientists to be poorly adapted to humans.
Wild and domestic birds can potentially spread HPAI through saliva, mucous, and droppings. While most of the animals infected with H5N1 have been poultry and wild birds, recent detections of H5N1 have occurred in Montana and other states. In Montana, small numbers of bears, foxes, raccoons, and skunks have been affected.
Individuals with occupational or recreational exposure to ill or dead poultry and wildlife are at higher risk of infection, but all Montanans are encouraged to avoid handling sick or dead birds when possible.
To protect yourself from HPAI, Montana health officials recommend the following:
• Avoid contact with poultry and wild birds if they appear ill or are deceased.
o If you suspect an outbreak of HPAI in your own poultry/domestic animals, or if your flock experiences sudden die off, contact the Montana DOL at 406-444-2976.
• If you encounter injured or deceased wild birds, contact your local FWP office or FWP wildlife health program in Bozeman at 406-577-7882.
• Contact FWP or your local animal control to report a wild mammal displaying unusual behavior that could be caused by HPAI infection.
• If you must handle a wild bird or sick or dead poultry, take protective measures. Do not handle the animal with bare skin. Wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after contact. Respiratory protection (such as a facemask) and eye protection (such as goggles) are also highly recommended.
o Hunters who come into regular contact with waterfowl or wild poultry should take care when dressing a carcass. Use gloves, as well as face and eye protection when possible.
• If you have exposure to a sick or dead bird:
o Anytime contact is made with a bird or mammal that is suspected to be infected with HPAI, you are encouraged to reach out to your state or local health department for guidance and self-monitor for symptoms.
• If you develop flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, eye redness, or shortness of breath within 10 days of contact with a sick or dead bird, contact your healthcare provider and inform them of your recent exposure. You can also contact your local health department to arrange for testing.
• Backyard flock owners should stay current with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Biosecurity recommendations to reduce the likelihood that your flock will come into contact with HPAI.
• Other protective measures you can take to avoid exposure to HPAI include:
o Avoid direct contact with surfaces that appear contaminated with f***s from wild birds, domestic poultry, or mammals.
• Thoroughly cook poultry products, including eggs, to an internal temperature of 165⁰F. It is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry and eggs. Proper cooking kills influenza viruses as well as many other pathogens, such as Salmonella.
• Everyone 6 months and older should receive an influenza vaccine annually, especially individuals who work or recreate closely with swine or poultry. Seasonal influenza vaccination reduces the potential for humans or animals to get sick with more than one type of influenza virus at the same time, which reduces the chances of HPAI becoming transmissible in humans.
To learn more, go to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website about HPAI in the U.S. here: commercial and backyard flocks, wild birds, and mammals. Or, go to the CDC website here: current situation summary for HPAI.



If you are in crisis and want help, call the Montana 988 Su***de
and Crisis Lifeline, 24/7, by calling 988. Or, text, ‘MT’ to 741-741.
Stay Connected with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services

03/27/2023

COLSTRIP PUBLIC HEALTH HOURS
Every THURSDAY
(wheather permitting)
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
We are open through the lunch hour.

Please schedule an appointment by calling:
406-748-2800 and follow phone prompts. Phone calls are forwarded to the Forsyth office.

You can also call 406-346-2156 directly to schedule.

12/16/2022

Free at-home COVID-19 rapid tests are available through the federal government.

Free COVID-19 test kits can be ordered through:

COVIDTests.gov
or
by calling 1-800-232-0233 between 8 a.m. and midnight Eastern.

Orders yours today!

11/23/2022

Food Safety

11/17/2022

11/14/2022

Colstrip Public Health is NOT CLOSED!!

11/08/2022

🎁 Christmas Joy Program 🎁