Foodborne sicknesses, communicable illnesses, and HIV are all public well being points Mecklenburg County is going through, in response to a presentation by the county’s well being director at a Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners assembly Tuesday evening.
Dr. Raynard Washington offered on the county’s state of public well being and mentioned how residents can defend their well being this fall.
Foodborne sickness
Not too long ago, Mecklenburg County has had a number of outbreaks of foodborne sickness, Dr. Washington mentioned.
Foodborne sickness may result from soiled utensils and gear, poor worker hygiene, and improper storing and cooking temperatures.
“Foodborne sickness can happen wherever meals is consumed,” Dr. Washington mentioned. “It’s not simply eating places and hospitals and locations that serve and promote meals. Meals points additionally happen at private and personal occasions, in addition to picnics and potlucks at [people’s homes].”
Probably the most generally reported foodborne sickness within the county is Salmonella, E. coli., and Campylobacter.
Residents can view a restaurant’s newest well being inspection or submit a service request by the county’s web site.
Communicable illnesses
As of Sept. 16, there have been 155 Influenza-like sickness emergency division visits.
Washington expects an uptick in instances throughout November.
As flu season approaches, Dr. Washington recommends getting a flu vaccine in September or October whereas exercise is low.
“Now is a wonderful time for everyone to go and get your flu shot,” D. Washi mentioned.
Younger kids who want a number of doses, pregnant folks, older adults and people with underlying situations are inspired to get a flu vaccine as quickly as doable.
Respiratory syncytial virus, often known as RSV, is one other sickness residents ought to pay attention to. It may be extra frequent in infants and older adults, he mentioned.
Final 12 months, an outbreak of RSV, impacted Mecklenburg County.
As of Sept. 16, there have been 47 RSV-related emergency division visits, up from 13 instances since July 15, 2023.
To forestall one other outbreak, Dr. Washington encourages maintaining sick kids at residence.
He additionally recommends these 60 and older, infants beneath the age of 8 months, and pregnant ladies between weeks 32 and 36 discuss with their medical doctors about getting a vaccine in opposition to RSV.
COVID-19
After experiencing a summer season surge in COVID-19 instances, Dr. Washington expects a cool-off interval, adopted by one other rise across the vacation season.
COVID-19 booster photographs, which he additionally recommends, can be found at native drugstores.
“It’s universally beneficial for everyone that’s six months and older,” he mentioned.
Whereas not accessible by the Mecklenburg County Well being Division but, Washington expects the division to obtain up to date COVID-19 vaccines across the second week of October.
As of Sept. 16, Mecklenburg County had 54 COVID-like emergency division visits, in comparison with 106 comparable visits the week of Sept. 6.
Rabies
In 2023, there have been 1,837 rabies experiences assessed. That’s down from 2,603 instances in 2018 and a couple of,245 in 2022.
The commonest animals with rabies discovered all through the county are raccoons, bats and foxes.
Dr. Washington recommends avoiding any wild animals.
“It’s not a good suggestion — in reality, it’s in opposition to the legislation— to have interaction with wild animals,” he mentioned. “We do need of us to be conscious of that, not choose them up, not contact them, notably issues like raccoons and foxes, and even feral cats and canine.”
Residents are inspired to name Animal Care and Management at 311 if they’re involved about an animal’s security or well-being.
Sexually-transmitted sickness
Mecklenburg County has additionally seen a current rise in syphilis instances, very similar to the remainder of the nation.
In 2022, the speed of early syphilis was 30.9 per each 100,000 residents within the county.
HIV instances have additionally risen not too long ago.
Final 12 months, the speed of an infection was 65.1 per each 100,000 residents, up from 42 in 2019.
Dr. Washington mentioned remedy is crucial for managing HIV and stopping illness transmission.
Mecklenburg County affords free at-home STI take a look at kits residents can order by the Let’s Get Checked program.
