Please click here to download information on how to stay cool and what to do when the heat becomes to much to handle. If you are looking for information on cooling centers, please call 211.

 

Preventing Mosquito Borne Diseases

The Jackson County Health Department is advising its residents that the best way to prevent mosquito-borne disease (e.g. Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), West Nile Virus, etc.) is by reducing exposure to mosquitoes.

There are several approaches that people can take to prevent and control mosquito-borne diseases.

• Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin and/or other clothing. The repellent/insecticide permethrin can be used on clothing to protect through several washes. Always follow the direction on the package.
  
  
• Wear long sleeves and pants when weather permits.
  
  
• Have secure, intact screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
  
  
• Eliminate mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets, barrels, and other containers. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children’s wading pools empty and on the sides when they aren’t being used.

While there is no human vaccine or curative treatment for these mosquito-borne diseases, early diagnosis and supportive therapy are important to prevent serious complications like encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain). Severe cases of EEE infection begin with the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting. The illness may then progress into disorientation, seizures, and coma. If you think you or a family member may have EEE or some other mosquito-borne disease, it is important to consult your health care provider as soon as possible for proper diagnosis and treatment.

For more information on EEE or other mosquito borne diseases, please click here.

 

Jackson County Health Department 2009 Annual Report

The 2009 JCHD Annual Report is now available for download.   To download the document, click here and select the 2009 report.

 

Lifespan Immunizations
August is National Immunization Awareness Month. This is a timely reminder to ensure that individuals who are entering childcare, kindergarten, sixth grade, high school, or college, or are older-aged adults, are brought up-to-date on their immunizations.

Since 1978, Michigan law requires that all children entering childcare through twelfth grade be complete with immunizations before the first day of entry. In more recent years, higher learning institutions have been encouraged to implement a pre-matriculation immunization policy, to ensure prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases amongst college-age individuals. Physicians and other health care professionals play an important role in ensuring these young adults are adequately protected

For more information regarding immunizations and/or MCIR, please call the Immunization Program at 788-4468. Click here to view additional online information regarding immunization recommendations for infants, children, adolescents, adults of all ages and seniors.

 

Smoke Free Law has been in effect over three months.
The law prohibits smoking in all restaurants, bars and businesses, (including hotels and motels). More information on the law is located at the state website: www.michigan.gov/smokefreelaw.

The Michigan Department of Community Health is conducting a survey is to assess knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Michigan residents after the Smoke-free Air law has been in effect for a period of just over three months.

Please share your opinion regarding the Smoke Free law by clicking on this link: Smoke Free Law Opinion Survey.