This month on the BOCC Public Health Report, Dr. Allison Berry said that avian flu is down in WA state and locally. Pertussis (whooping cough) is up, with 14 reported cases. She said that it starts with cold-like symptoms and proceeds to a persistent, severe cough. As a bacterial infection, it can be treated, so seeking treatment is essential and staying up to date with vaccinations (every 10 years for adults) is good practice. Willie Bence talked about how FEMA money is drying up under the new administration in Washington DC, upcoming safety seminars, and the “All County Picnic” at Finnriver on June 28, among other things. Dr. Berry will be on hiatus for a few months (she’s having a baby). but Willie Bence will be on this summer with important public safety updates every first Monday in June, July and August on KPTZ.

This month on the Public Health Report to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, there was a public declaration at the top naming April 7 to 13 Public Health Week here in Jefferson County as it is Public Health Week nationwide. Then Dr. Allison Berry talked about the special challenges facing Washington State and the county due to the cuts in funding from the federal and state governments. Willie Bence talked about FEMA and Wildfire prep. Property owners can go to wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov and get a free assessment from East Jefferson Fire Rescue of their property and the ways they can make property and homes safer from wildfire. Willie said after a relatively “normal” spring we can expect hotter and drier conditions July through September. The assessment is free, and is available until June.

This month Dr. Allison Berry, Public Health Officer for Clallam and Jefferson Counties, and Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management for Jefferson County gave a report to the Board Of County Commissioners about communicable diseases, earthquakes, and community emergency prep. Dr. Berry also answered listener questions. There is a public information session on Neighborhood Prep at the the Jefferson County Library in Port Hadlock at 10:30am on March 20. Also, if you want to report on what you FELT when the earthquake happened this morning (10 miles deep off the coast of Orcas Island on 3/3/25 at 5am) go to https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/uw62078906/tellus.

This month on the Public Health Report to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners, Public Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry talked about the surge that is currently happening with RSV and FLU, especially among children in schools. Both of these viruses can present as common colds, so to err on the side of caution, she recommends staying home if sick, wearing masks in crowded spaces, and getting seen in a clinic or doctor’s office for testing and treatment. Avian Influenza has seen 67 human cases across the US, but none here in Jefferson County, almost all those cases among workers in poultry and dairy farms. Cats need to be kept indoors if they tend to kill birds, as they can contract avian flu. Your cat can give you avian flu if they get it, so if your cat is sick, get them to the vet.

Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence recommended more following distance when driving in this snowy weather. We are predicted to have more this coming Wednesday.

Both Dr. Berry and Willie talked about adjusting to the new reality of the new administration in Washington DC.

This Month on the BOCC Public Health Report, Dr. Berry talked about many different viruses: Covid, Influenza, Pertussis, Avian flu, RSV, and Norovirus. And Willie Bence answered a listener question about what to hold on to when we “drop, cover and hold” in an Earthquake.

The Jeffco. Dept. of Emergency Management is holding a series of presentations on Emergency Prep; the first (on individual preparation) is on Thursday, January 16 from 10:30am tp Noon at the Library in Port Hadlock. Family, and neighborhood prep presentations will follow in February and March respectively.

Flu season is here nationwide. Norovirus is around and presents as a sudden onset of vomiting; it is severe but usually clears in just a few days. The vomit can aerosolize so it can be quite contagious. Washing hands and masking up around anyone who has it can stop the spread. If you are sick, do not prepare food for others.

Another COVID booster will be available in the spring and for those 65 and older, it is recommended twice a year, as the virus does not go away in the summer months yet.

This month, Dr. Allison Berry, Public Health Officer for Clallam and Jefferson Counties, issued the Public Health Report to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), and said there is very little COVID-19 in Jefferson County, but there is a slight uptick in surrounding areas, in ER admissions for COVID-19. Uptake of the vaccine booster is low, so she did encourage those who are at greatest risk to get the shot. Because Covid is no longer a national or state emergency, programs from Jefferson County Public Health to send people to homes and facilities where elderly populations live are not bringing the boosters directly to them. Avian infuenza has not seen a human to human transmission as of yet. There are some isolated cases in the US and in Canada of patients who have contracted the virus from other sources. Anyone with a domestic flock is encouraged to avoid interactions with wild birds, especially around water sources. Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management, was not in attendance this month. Next month’s BOCC Health Report will be broadcast January 6 at 9:45am on KPTZ, so listeners are encouraged to get their questions into Dr. Berry and Willie Bence by noon Friday, January 3 to [email protected].

This Month on the BOCC Health Report, Dr. Allison Berry says all respiratory viruses are low in Jefferson County. Flu season is starting on the east coast, so we can expect it here in about a month – around the holidays,” says Dr. Berry. Willie Bence says we can expect more seasonal wind events, and that the precipitation will be higher than average during the winter, with lower than average temperatures, so prepare for power outages now.

Dr, Allison Berry and Willie Bence deliver the Monthly Public Health Report to the Jefferson Board of County Commissioners on 10/07/2024. Good news currently as a there are low numbers of Covid-19, and no RSV, and Influenza cases currently. Willie Bence talks about the Great Washington Shake out coming up on 10/17 at 10:17 am

Public Health Officer for Clallam and Jefferson Counties, Dr. Allison Berry spoke about COVID-19 and the latest omicron variant KP-3 which is prevalent now in the community. The latest vaccine has the KP-2 variant in it which is closely related to KP-3 so it should provide good protection. Folks should not WAIT to get the vaccine, if you were thinking of waiting until around the holidays, especially if you are in a high-risk group (over 65, immunocompromised.) She said because it is so prevalent now that increasing protection with the vaccine is a good idea. If you had Covid this summer, it’s best to wait on getting the vaccine for two months past your last infection.

Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence spoke to the Commissioners about the mop-up of the 2620 Road Fire and that the fire risk level was lowered last week, which made charcoal barbecues possible for the Labor Day weekend. 

The following is a recording of the presentation during the Public Health briefing at this week’s Board of County Commissioners meeting made by Jefferson and Clallam County Public Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry. The summary below was provided by Jim Burke, producer of KPTZ’s Tuesday’s Local News.

Dr. Berry and the commissioners talked about getting less information on COVID-19 from CDC, long COVID, Avian Flu, as well as thanks for KPTZ’s contribution to getting the word out on COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Please note that the monthly health report here is taking a hiatus until September.