NEWS AND UPDATES

Iowa HHS Announces Investigation of Legionnaires’ Disease Cluster in Marshalltown

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) is investigating a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases among individuals living in north central Marshalltown. Since the beginning of the investigation, 21 individuals have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease and an older adult with underlying health conditions has died. Iowa HHS shares our condolences to the family and friends of this individual.

Legionnaires' disease is caused by Legionella bacteria and thrives in warm water environments and is typically spread through the inhalation of aerosolized water droplets, such as mist from cooling towers, hot tubs, and decorative fountains. Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious and most healthy people who are exposed to Legionella bacteria do not get sick.

“Iowans should know that Legionnaires’ disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early. Adults aged 50 and older, those who smoke or individuals with chronic lung conditions should seek medical care promptly if they develop flu-like or respiratory symptoms,” said Dr. Robert Kruse, Medical Director at Iowa HHS.

People who are more likely to experience severe illness from Legionnaires’ disease include individuals 50 years and older, those with weakened immune systems, those with chronic respiratory conditions (e.g. asthma, COPD) and smokers. Symptoms most associated with pneumonia and Legionnaires' disease include:

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
Muscle aches
Headaches
Chest pain
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea

The risk to anyone who lives or visits Marshalltown is low, however, Iowa HHS recommends that individuals who live and work in this area and who become ill with pneumonia-like illness visit their primary care doctor and discuss this advisory. Iowa HHS has communicated with health care providers to consider testing for Legionnaire’s disease (LD) in any patient who develops pneumonia and lives in, works in, or has spent significant time in north central Marshalltown the 14 days before symptom onset.

Additionally, Iowa HHS is asking businesses and property owners to review their water management practices, especially those with cooling towers, hot tubs, or fountains. The following steps are recommended to help mitigate the spread of Legionella:

Review, maintain and/or establish a water management program.
Disinfection of cooling towers and water systems to prevent bacteria growth.
Perform routine water system maintenance and maintain records and logs.
Perform Legionella testing through accredited laboratories, particularly following any remediation efforts.

Mon, May 16 at 8:52 AM

	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Subscribe to Environmental Health Services (EHS) for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs.

IEHA makes the National NEHA news

Iowa Environmental Health Association’s Credentialing Support

The Iowa Environmental Health Association (IEHA) does something remarkable for its members – particularly during these difficult economic times. IEHA not only promotes and provides proctored exams for several environmental health credentials, but in addition, it has been reimbursing members the cost of their exam fees for the C.E.H.T., R.E.H.S., and CP-FS certification exams (for qualified IEHA members) at its spring and fall conferences! NEHA salutes the Iowa affiliate and encourages all NEHA affiliates to consider taking similar steps to help their members elevate their professionalism even as budget and staff cuts threaten careers.

Why did they do this?

In 2005, one of the goals of the Iowa Affiliate was to promote credentialing through either the REHS or CEHT. In spring 2006, a small group of local environmental health practitioners obtained at least one of these professional credentials through NEHA. As these efforts were taking place, progress was also being made to create public health standards for Iowa. Among other things, the standards call for Environmental Health Managers to hold an appropriate credential. In view of this policy, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) worked with IEHA to develop credentialing study groups, which were partially funded through EH Capacity Building grants and/or preparedness funding. To attract more people to these study groups, IEHA stepped forward to offer to pay for the cost of the credentialing exams.

Paying for the Exams

Each spring, IEHA and IPHA hold an annual statewide conference for environmental health and public health professionals. The conference draws over 600 attendees on each day of the three-day event. Both IEHA and IPHA share in the proceeds from the conference. In addition, IEHA holds a fall conference every other year. IEHA is also a part of a multi-state regional affiliate conference that is held periodically. Proceeds from all of these events constitute the main funding source for the exam proctoring and reimbursement program.

How can YOUR Affiliate Replicate IEHA’s Success?

• Do your homework!

• Is there interest among your membership for a similar program?

• How many of your members are preparing to become certified?

• Approximately how many members each year would sit for an exam?

• What would the yearly cost be to your affiliate for a similar program?

• Are there capacity-building funding opportunities (federal or state level) that you could consider to fund your program?

• Establish Program Goals!

• If there is sufficient interest, develop attainable goals, by year, for your affiliate to achieve.

• Create a committee to oversee the program and its development.

• Network!

• If sufficient interests exists, create a network within your state for:

• Study groups by credential type

• Work groups to research funding opportunities

• Creation of a state-wide conference of environmental health and public health professionals (if one does not currently exist)

• Connect with local and state officials of EH and PH programs to determine interest in and support for your program goals.

• Communicate!

• On your Web site, Newsletter(s), social media, or other avenues, share information about your program.

• Welcome ideas on funding opportunities from others.

• Connect with other Affiliate Presidents (contact information is available on the NEHA Web site and in the JEH) to find out about similar programs being conducted in other affiliates.

Share your program success stories with others.

Bed Bug Information Clearinghouse

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is launching an online Bed Bug Information Clearinghouse. It contains peer-reviewed bed bug outreach materials from a variety of different sources such as governments, universities and extension services. Stemming from a top recommendation from EPA’s Second Annual National Bed Bug Summit, the Bed Bug Information Clearinghouse is a collaborative effort between EPA and partners in the Federal Bed Bug Workgroup.

The goal of the Bed Bug Information Clearinghouse is to provide a “one-stop” location for communities throughout the country to exchange information and outreach materials on the control, detection and prevention of bed bugs. This will help communities conserve resources and provide improved effectiveness and accuracy of community outreach materials.
The Clearinghouse is searchable based on:

Audience – such as Hotels, Health Centers, Housing Authorities, Schools, Shelters, Residential Consumers, etc.
Topic – Detection, Prevention, Non-chemical Control, Management, Pesticides
Type of product – Outreach Materials such as Factsheets, Brochures, Websites, etc.

The Clearinghouse will include information in English and other languages as available. Some of the current information focuses on identifying and treating bed bug infestations in various types of situations. In addition, there is information on several different types of treatments such the use of heat to kill bed bugs.
While there is no quick fix for bed bug infestations, having accurate information about bed bug control will help keep the public from over-applying or misusing pesticides. There are a variety of non-chemical approaches for controlling, detecting and preventing bed bugs that have been shown to be effective, including:

Checking for bed bugs on luggage and clothing when returning from a trip
Looking for bed bugs or signs of an infestation on second-hand items, such as a sofa or bed, before bringing the item into your home
Reducing clutter where bed bugs can hide
Using a protective cover that encases mattresses and box springs

A more informed public is a better partner in the control, detection and prevention of bed bugs. With the help of community advocates distributing outreach materials from the Clearinghouse to the public, EPA hopes that this will lead to increased prevention as well as a reduction in infestations.

For more information on bed bugs, visit http://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/

U.S. Public Health Service (U.S. PHS)

The US Public Health Service team is reaching out to environmental health associations across the country to make them aware of who the USPHS is and ways in which the USPHS can network together.

Get to know who the USPHS is and what services are provide as well as career opportunities. For more information, Click Here

The IEC Bulletin

The latest version of the Iowa Environmental Council News Bulletin is available online! The IEC News Bulletin provides timely information regarding statewide environmental issues. Check it out today

Environmental Health: It is Everywhere, Everyday! ~ Non-Profit Organization (501c) Information ~

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