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WC CWF Health District Board Minutes - 12/19/2003PLACE: TIME: DATE: WICHITA FALLS - WICHITA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD Wichita Falls- Wichita County Public Health District 12.15 p.m. December 19, 2003 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: HEALTH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES: Susan Strate, M.D. Kathy Sultemeier, D.V.M. Diane Stewart, R.N. Gregory Stockton Tom Delizio, M.D. Larry Rains, D.D.S. Beverly Stiles, Ph.D. CITY CLEHK'S OFFICE Date By __6L Time Barbara J. Clements. Director of Health Reuben A. Warren, Jr., Assistant Director of Health WICHITA CO. REPRESENTATIVE: WICHITA FALLS CITY COUNCIL: Mike Norrie, Councilor WICHITA FALLS CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: Matt Benoit, Assistant City Manager MINUTES: I. Call to order Diane Stewart, Co- Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:15 p.m. II. Approval of Minutes: Moved by Dr. Sultemeier, seconded by Greg Stockton and carried by voice vote that the October 24, 2003 minutes be approved. III. Report of Influenza Activity Lori Morrow, R.N. Mrs. Morrow stated that the Health District participates with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Texas Department of Health (TDH) in worldwide surveillance to determine which viruses are circulating each season. TDH selects 15 sites in different regions throughout Texas for this surveillance program. The Health District has been participating for the last five (5) years. This surveillance enables the CDC to develop new vaccines for the following flu season, assess the severity of the annual epidemic and detect new strains of the virus before a pandemic strain can emerge. Page 1 of 5 Although influenza is not a reportable condition in Texas, it is extremely contagious. It is second only to the common cold as the most common infectious disease and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States; there are approximately 200,000 persons hospitalized annually resulting in 20- 40,000 deaths. There is no permanent immunity to the flu at the present time. Flu epidemics usually last only four to six weeks but it can spread worldwide. Approximately every three years, there are wide spread epidemics of Type A and every thirty to forty years there is an epidemic that spreads worldwide called a pandemic. There have been four pandemics in the twentieth century. In 1918, there were forty million deaths worldwide due to influenza. The last pandemic was in 1968 with the Swine Flu. Flu season varies substantially in terms of timing, pattern of onset, peak and decline and overall severity. It usually begins in November or December and reaches peak levels from late December to late March. This year's flu season began unusually early. CDC reported this season's flu activity would be more severe than in the previous three years. There are three strains of the influenza virus: Type A which results in moderate to severe illness, affects animals, humans and all age groups; Type B which results in milder epidemics, affects humans only and primarily children; and Type C which does not cause epidemics and is rarely reported in humans. Effectiveness of the vaccine depends primarily on the age and immunocompetence of the recipient as well as the degree of similarity between the virus strain included in the vaccine and those circulating during the flu season. This year has emerged as the earliest flu season since 1976. As of December 6tn, 2003 flu activity has been reported in forty -seven states and widespread in twenty - four states. The first detected case in Texas was in early October in Houston. In Texas, eighty -eight pregnant women were hospitalized with lab confirmed Influenza A. This has not been reported in other states. The severe complications occurring in children include encephalopathy, respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and secondary bacteria pneumonia. Nationwide there have been twenty -nine deaths reported among children. The early season coupled with unusually high demand for vaccine has resulted in a depletion of vaccine inventories. It usually takes about four months to develop the flu vaccine. Eighty -three million doses of influenza vaccine were produced for 2003 -2004 flu season. In a typical year, seventy to seventy -five million Americans receive a flu shot. The United States has never used more than eighty million doses in a single season. When the Health District's flu campaign began in October, very few children or persons under age twenty -five presented for vaccination. However, due to recent media attention, we have now given a substantial amount of vaccine to these age groups. So far this season, we have given 3,382 doses of vaccine. Page 2 of 5 The Health Districts seven surveillance sites have collected ninety -four specimens with the first being collected October 22 "d. Of the ninety -four specimens collected, forty -one proved positive for influenza Type A; twenty -two were negative; thirty are pending and one was not suitable for testing. At the present time, the Health District has vaccine and continues to provide the immunization. IV. Report on Animal Control Ordinance Roy Ressel, R.S. Mr. Ressel reported that the handout Mrs. Clements distributed is merely an addendum to the ordinance that was emailed earlier to each Board member. The City Legal Department revisited the definition of "Curtilage" which resulted in minor changes on pages 7 and 8. Mr. Ressel stated that since the October Board meeting, The Board Sub - committee has met several times and suggested several changes to the ordinance. One of those changes involves not releasing an unvaccinated animal from the Animal Reclaim Center until it has been vaccinated. It is a State law that biting animals cannot leave quarantine until they are vaccinated. Texas Health and Safety Code 826.023 Paragraph (a) states, "Rabies vaccination for animals may be administered only by or under the direct supervision of a veterinarian' ". At a recent meeting of the National Association of State and Public Health Veterinarian's, a committee on the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control proposed the following change. It states, "An exception to the recommendation that vaccines be administered under the direct supervision of a veterinarian has been made for animals held in animal control shelters (Part 1.A.)" Although the new language allows for non - veterinarians to administer rabies vaccines, it still must be under the authority of a supervising veterinarian who can be held accountable and who can insure that the persons administering the vaccine are appropriately trained (Part 11.6.1.). The Sub - committee saw this change as an opportunity to increase vaccination rates without jeopardizing accountability, especially in areas that are underserved by veterinarians. Hopefully, the State of Texas will take this recommendation into consideration. In the current suggested ordinance, the Health District is authorized to appoint any licensed veterinarian in the City to collect animal license fees and upon such appointment such veterinarian shall have authority to issue animal licenses upon completion of rabies vaccination. This will be strictly voluntary service by the veterinarians. It will not be mandatory. There will be an $8 charge annually for the City tag. If the veterinarian issues the tag, the vet will retain $2. The fee for pickup /disposal of dead animals will be changed from $5 per trip to $5 per animal and pickup /disposal of dead livestock will be increased from $31.25 to $50). Page 3 of 5 V. Report on Animal Control Ordinance cont The Sub - committee is also considering limiting the number of animals allowed at a residence to three animals due to the nuisance factor. The current ordinance states 'no person shall keep four or more in aggregate of four or more of either dogs or cats over the age of four months within the City who does not possess an unrevoked permit from the Animal Control Division.' The section concerning the cats at -large remains an issue. The Health District remains comfortable recommending confining cats to the residence. Dr. Sultemeier stated that she does not agree with that particular provision and will not support inclusion of it until the public has an opportunity to comment on this issue. Mr. Ressel stated that there would be a meeting with the veterinarians before the ordinance is brought before the Council. Mrs. Clements stated that it is possible there may not be unanimous agreement on this issue. The Health District favors the ordinance as it is written. The Board could vote that they do not support that position. The Council will consider all of the different views before they vote on the ordinance. Dr. Strate asked why a committee meeting was not scheduled until the Friday before the Board meeting. Mrs. Clements replied that an earlier meeting time was difficult since sub - committee members had busy schedules. Dr. Strate suggested that after the holidays, a committee meeting be scheduled as soon as possible to work out the issue. Dr. Sultemeier stated that she is not comfortable with a vote being taken before the issue is presented to the public and the veterinarians for comment. Mrs. Clements stated that it could be taken to those groups, perhaps with a different recommendation on this section from the staff and from the Board. Dr. Rains stated that, being a member of the Sub - committee, his understanding is that now, nothing can be done about a nuisance cat unlike a nuisance dog. This section is trying to give the staff something that is enforceable so if there were a problem with the neighbor's cat, there would be a means to deal with it. At the present time, there is not. Mrs. Clements stated that the United Humane Society and the Humane Society of America has an extensive campaign at the present time called 'Cats Indoors'. It has been on national television and we reviewed their literature and information as we worked on this section of the ordinance. Dr. Sultemeier suggested that the language be changed stating that cats would be picked up only on a complaint basis. Page 4 of 5 V. Update on Humane Society Roy Ressel, R.S. Mr. Ressel presented a list of twelve concerns from Texas Department of Health (TDH). He stated that Ms. Morris visited the Animal Reclaim Center (ARC) the previous day and they are in the process of working to correct the items listed. The ARC continues to improve and much progress has been made. They have removed the ceilings and insulation and it is being replaced. The work will continue to be monitored by Texas Department of Health (TDH) and staff of the Health District and further reports will be forthcoming. Mr. Ressel said that he could provide the Board with a copy of the TDH list of items needing correction. VI. Other Business Dr. Stiles was formally excused for the meeting. The next Board meeting will be held February 27th. Mr. Stockton stated that he would be out of town on that date. VII. Adjourn It was moved by Greg Stockton and seconded by Dr. Sultemeier that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 1:45 p.m. fier, Secretary Board Page 5 of 5