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MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />June 24, 2009 <br />Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 4 June 24, 2009 <br />Vines, seconded by Steve Yuhasz, and carried without dissent. <br /> <br />VI. Reports and Discussion with Possible Action <br /> <br />A. Annual Communicable Disease Report <br /> <br />An annual report on the status of communicable diseases is required to comply with <br />accreditation standards. Judy Butler, the Community Health Services Supervisor, <br />reported on disease issues impacting the community in 2009 as well as a summarization <br />of activities for the calendar year 2008. In 2008 there were outbreaks of pertussis and TB <br />that kept the department especially busy. Chris Harlan commented that she was <br />unaware that dengue fever had been reported in Orange County. Ms. Butler said that <br />malaria and dengue fever were mainly a result of travelers to foreign countries. <br /> <br />She noted that state requirements for STD testing have changed; therefore statistics <br />have increased for HIV and other STD’s. HIV will now be more widely tested. Also pelvic <br />inflammatory disease became reportable. The early diagnosis of HIV and other STD’s <br />will result in more favorable outcomes. <br /> <br />All TB cases must be directly observed by a medical professional for medication <br />administration. This is a 6 month treatment in most cases. Latent cases are treated for 9 <br />months in the same manner. This requirement increases the workload of the <br />communicable disease nurses and in some cases also requires an interpreter. <br /> <br />This year the state has initiated a web-based reporting system for reportable <br />communicable diseases that is accessible by all counties. This has led to a more rapid <br />response and treatment as cases are reported sooner to the counties, and as a result <br />helps limit the spread of infectious disease. The reporting system is also a good <br />surveillance tool because staff can access data for outbreaks in other counties that <br />could possibly affect Orange County. <br /> <br />Ms. Butler stated that during the current calendar year the department has had to deal <br />with several health law violators and cases of parental refusals to vaccinate their <br />children due to religious beliefs. Staff members have worked with each of the school <br />districts who will be distributing a letter to parents of children with religious exemptions <br />about the exclusions that will be necessary if there is a case(s) of infectious disease in <br />the school. <br /> <br />Tim Carey complimented Ms. Butler on an informative and comprehensive report. <br /> <br />B. Annual Preparedness Update <br /> <br />Pat Gentry, Preparedness Coordinator, reported that Orange County Public Health <br />Preparedness efforts in 2009 have been focused on the timely update of the county’s <br />Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Plan and the recent response and mitigation of the <br />novel influenza H1N1 flu outbreak. <br /> <br />The SNS Plan revisions are an annual requirement of State Division of Public Health <br />submission. This year, Orange County Public Health has been selected as one of seven