Avian Flu
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Influenza Pandemic Planning and Preparedness
in the City of Manchester
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General Influenza recommendations
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Flu vaccination is the primary method for preventing influenza and its severe complications.
Annual influenza vaccination is now recommended for the following groups:
1. Persons at high risk for influenza-related complications and severe disease, including:
· Children aged 6-59 months
· Pregnant women
· Persons aged >=50 years
· Persons of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
2. Persons who live with or care for persons at high-risk, including:
· Household contacts who have frequent contact with persons at high risk and who can transmit
influenza to those persons at high risk
· Health care workers
Update as of 12/18/2007:
Flu vaccine is still available at the Manchester Health Department. Flu shots are available on a
walk-in basis Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00 am-4:30 pm. The fee is $15.00.
Pediatric flu vaccine is available free of charge for high-risk children at regularly scheduled Immunization Clinics which are held during the following times:
Monday 1:30-3:30 pm
Tuesday 9:00-11:30 am
Wednesday 9:00-11:30 am
Second and fourth Thursday of each month: 4:00-6:00 pm
Children aged 6 months-18 years who are not considered high-risk may receive the flu vaccine during Immunization Clinics for a fee of $15.00.
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Hepatitis A
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Recently, several Hepatitis A outbreaks have occurred across the country. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believe these outbreaks are associated with the consumption of raw or undercooked green onions (scallions). Please see the FDA Talk Paper at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2003/ANS01262.html for further information.
As a restaurant owner or manager, you should:- Cook green onions thoroughly. This minimizes the risk of illness by eliminating the virus.
- Do not allow employees to use bare hands on ready to eat foods.
- Enforce strict hand washing policies. Employees should wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and hot water in a hand washing sink. Hands should be washed before engaging in food service operations, after taking breaks, visiting the restroom or touching any part of the body. In addition hands should be washed after handling dirty dishes or after engaging in any activity that contaminates the hand.
- Employees with diarrhea should be excluded from food service operations while they are ill and for an additional 48 hours after their last loose stool.
If you have any questions regarding hepatitis A or other food safety topics, please feel free to speak with your Environmental Health Specialist or Phil Alexakos, REHS, Public Health Specialist at (603)624-6466 x307.
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Lead Poisoning
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In 2005
Manchester has seen an increase in lead poisoning among children under 6 years of age, and
among newly arrived refugees.
All children should be screened for lead poisoning at 1 year, and 2 years of age. Talk to your
child's doctor! If you live in a residence built before 1978, talk to your property owner to make
sure your unit is lead-safe. If you are interested in learning how to do lead-safe renovation and
remodeling, see the link below. You may also call the Health Departments' Division of
Environmental Health at 624-6466 or call NHCLPP at 1-800-897-LEAD.
Renovating an older home? To register or for more information, click here for scheduled
classes NH Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
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Lyme Disease
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Lyme Disease (LD) is an infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a type of bacterium called a spirochete. These spirochetes are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected deer tick. Lyme disease is now the most common arthropod-borne illness in the United States and is prevalent in the northeast due to the large number of white-footed mice and deer, the deer ticks preferred hosts. Studies have shown that an infected tick normally cannot begin transmitting the spirochete until it has been attached to its host for about 36-48 hours. Therefore if you venture into a tick-infested area, it is very important to examine yourself at least once daily and remove any ticks before they become engorged (swollen) with blood.
For more information on prevention and control, symptoms, treatment, vaccination and questions and answers about Lyme Disease, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Manchester on Foot: A Stroll through History
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The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Manchester Historic Association and the City of Manchester Department of Health, has developed a self-guided walking tour to take residents through much of the amazing history encompassed in Manchester. The purpose of the guide is two-fold: first, to support tourism by providing visitors with an interesting historical experiential tour that is authentic and unique to Manchester, and second, to serve the greater Manchester community by providing a healthy outdoor activity that will remind residents of the Manchester they once knew and reintroduce them to the Manchester of today. Increasing daily physical activity, eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, and avoiding the use of tobacco products will greatly reduce an individual's risk of developing a chronic disease, such as heart disease or diabetes. As a community, we can make strides towards better cardiovascular health - using this guide to explore Manchester's history on foot is one way to do this.
To view the guide online, please visit the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
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Smallpox
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Smallpox is an old disease that has been eradicated from the globe since 1977. However, because of the potential use of smallpox as a bioterrorism agent, a great deal of concern has been recently generated. Smallpox disease was caused by the Variola virus. The only known source of this virus is in laboratories at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, and in Russia. Recently, there has been some concern that the virus may also be held in countries such as North Korea and Iraq. Because of this concern, President Bush has recently announced a program to vaccinate a small number of Public Health and medical workers in early 2003. These individuals would be the first to investigate and treat potential smallpox cases should they occur. This vaccination program will be expanded to a larger number of health care workers later next year, and to the general public by 2004.
For more detailed information regarding this subject please click on the smallpox link or go to www.smallpox.gov. If you have questions please call the Manchester Health Department at 624-6466.
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Weed & Seed
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Manchester’s Weed & Seed strategy focused on crime prevention and community collaboration has seen success due to its extensive partnerships. Currently Weed & Seed represents over 40 agencies at the Steering oversight level, with Law Enforcement, City Departments and over 50 Neighborhood Watch Groups representing the resident input and needs in the community. Weed & Seed has developed for dissemination a Coordinated Community Calendar and a Community Action Newsletter. These items feature events, training, meetings and updates specific to the Manchester community. If interested in adding an event or news update, please contact Nicole Rodler, Weed & Seed Coordinator, at nrodler@manchesternh.gov or by phone: (603) 624-6466 ext.356.
Weed & Seed Community Calendar
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
Weed & Seed Community Action Newsletter
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
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West Nile Virus
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PRESS RELEASE
September 14, 2007
CONTACT: Tim Soucy, REHS, MPH, Telephone (603) 624-6466 x305
West Nile Virus (WNV) Identified in Manchester Crow
Manchester, NH – The Manchester Health Department announced today that a crow collected by the Manchester Health Department on September 13, 2007 has tested positive for West Nile Virus. Lab results provided by the New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories confirmed the first case of West Nile Virus in a bird in Manchester this year.
“We strongly encourage the residents of Manchester and the surrounding areas to take the steps necessary to eliminate mosquito breeding, and to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes.” advises Tim Soucy, Manchester’s Public Health Director. “At this time the Health Department will continue its surveillance program, but will not conduct spraying.”
West Nile Virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. For humans the risk of contracting the infection is low and in the overwhelming majority of cases, there are no symptoms or just mild, flu-like symptoms. If illness does occur, it happens within 3 to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
To fight the spread of the disease in this state, public health officials remind citizens to eliminate mosquito breeding areas by removing standing water on their properties and to avoid mosquito bites by wearing long clothing during evening, night and dawn hours and to consider using an insect repellent containing less than 30% DEET for children and adults.
The Manchester Health Department has established an information line to assist citizens with concerns and questions about WNV and EEE. The phone number is 624-6466, Ext. #325 and is staffed during normal business hours. After normal business hours, citizens can leave a voice message that will be returned the next business day.
Click Here for Manchester Health Department Prevention Guidelines for
West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
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