WC CWF Health District Board Minutes - 08/23/2002T WICHITA FALLS - WICHITA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD
PLACE: Wichita Falls - Wichita County Public Health District
TIME: 12:15 p.m.
DATE: August 23, 2002
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: C.J. Lippard, Chairman
Larry Rains, D.D.S.
Beverly Stiles, Ph.D.
Susan Strate, MD
Kathy Sultemeier, D.V.M.
Diane Stewart, R.N.
Gregory Stockton
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
HEALTH DISTRICT Barbara J. Clements. Director of Health
REPRESENTATIVES: Reuben A. Warren, Jr., Assistant Director of Health
Elia C. Dimitri, M.D., Associate Medical Director
WICHITA CO. REPRESENTATIVE:
WICHITA FALLS CITY COUNCIL: Mike Norrie, Councilor
WICHITA FALLS CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: Matt Benoit, Asst City Manager
MINUTES:
I. Call to order
C.J. Lippard, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 12:25 p.m.
II. Approval of Minutes
Moved by Dr. Strate, seconded by Beverly Stiles and carried that the June 2002 minutes be
approved.
III. Next Meeting Date
The next meeting date will be Friday, October 25, 2002
RECEIVED IN
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
Dated?
By Time
Page 1 of 3
Director's Report — Barbara J. Clements, Director of Health
1). Public Health Emergency Planning Funding: The Health District received applications
for the Public Health Emergency Response Coordinator ( PHERC) and Public Health
Specialist II. The interview process for the PHERC is finished and a selection should be
made later in the day. The remaining position should be filled after one more week of
interviews. The positions will be top -level supervisory positions and will be directly
responsible to the Director, Assistant Director and/or Division Heads on certain issues.
2). Dr. Dimitri and Dr. Burross will be retiring on August 31. Discussions have been
ongoing between the Residency and the Health District regarding the steps necessary for
continuing the present arrangement between the two entities. Dr. Strate announced that Dr.
Arthur J. Szczerba has been appointed as Interim Director of the Residency and she offered
her recommendation to the Health District and to the Board that he be named as Interim
Medical Director and Health Authority for the Health District. She also recommended that
Dr. Roy Carr be accepted as the interim Associate for each position. Ms. Clements
distributed copies of the curriculum vitae for both physicians.
Dr. Strate expressed appreciation to Dr. Dimitri and Dr. Burross for all their years of service
both to the Hospital and the Health Board. Dr. Dimitri commented that both Dr. Carr and
Dr. Szczerba have done their residency here and both Dr.'s have excellent credentials for
this position.
Mrs. Clements thanked Dr. Dimitri for all the years of support and work he has contributed
to the Health District and also to the Board of Health.
Dr. Strate moved and Mr. Lippard seconded that Dr. Szczerba be accepted as Interim
Medical Director and Health Authority and Dr. Carr as Associate. The Board voted
unanimously to accept the recommendation. The physicians will begin their term effective 1
September 2002.
IV. West Nile Virus — Roy Ressel, Environmental Health Coordinator
Since first identified in New York in 1999, the West Nile virus has been found in 39 States
and the District of Columbia. The median age of human cases is 45 years of age with the
age range of 3 to 94 years.
For the two recent report periods of August 15`h & 23`d, the number of confirmed cases of
West Nile in Texas increased by a total of 72 cases. Of those reported numbers, human
cases increased from a total of 16 to 28; infected birds from 167 to 179; positive mosquitoes
from 72 to 82; and identified cases in horses from 39 to 77. The West Nile virus has been
detected in 42 Texas counties in humans, birds, mosquitoes and horses. The Texas
Department of Health (TDH) will receive 1.3 million dollars from CDC for West Nile
intervention with $500,000 of those dollars distributed to local health departments.
Being in close contact with an infected bird or horse poses no threat to humans. The
primary known transmission route is via the mosquito. The amount of time it takes to
produce an adult mosquito from a laid egg is one week. The female that bites you lives for
about thirty days. Texas has approximately 82 species of mosquitoes, with roughly 12 that
of those that transmit serious disease. The Culex sp.and Aedes sp. are the most common two
species of the disease carriers.
Page 2 of 3
I The Wichita Falls - Wichita County Public Health District closely monitors mosquitoes for
the West Nile virus. The District has four licensed people and seven trucks with ultra low
volume spraying machines to control mosquito populations. Mosquito chemicals are very
expensive and must be used wisely. Source reduction is most effective method of control
with larvaciding second. Using an adulticide is the least effective and the most expensive
method of mosquito control. We are required to document and maintain records of our
chemical use. Sprayers must be calibrated and droplet size must be determined. Ambient
air temperature and wind speed are also factors that can affect delivery of the spray.
Another control measure we use is to frequently larvacide waterways and standing water on
a routine basis throughout the county. The District also monitors 19 mosquito traps to aid in
estimating the local mosquito population. We count the total number of mosquitoes and
identify the species captured. Additionally we collect live mosquitoes to send to TDH for
identification and testing purposes. Also twenty -eight birds have been sent in for testing as
of this date. The best mosquito control is source reduction. Pet dishes, old soda and/or beer
cans, cemetery urns, gutters. birdbaths, and old tires are excellent breeding containers.
There are pros and cons for cities having a mosquito control program. For example, the City
of Fort Worth does not currently have a program. There have been suits and restraining
orders filed on behalf of persons with severe chemical sensitivity to prevent spraying in
several areas of the country. Beekeepers and persons with asthma are examples of some
people that may have a problem with some of the chemicals used in mosquito control.
Mr. Ressel closed his remarks by informing the Board that Chapter 81 in the Health and
Safety Code gives the Health District and the Health Authority the power to abate public
nuisances.
Councilor Norrie asked, with all the traps, sentinel chickens and safe guards in place, is
there a need to expand the program.
Mrs. Clements stated that it is important to have enough traps to know where the disease
carrying mosquitoes are located and pinpoint the specific areas that you want to concentrate
your efforts.
VI. Other Business
Mr. Lippard expressed gratitude from the Board to Dr. Dimitri and stated that he will be
missed and was cordially invited to return.
VII. Adjournment
It was moved by Diane Stewart and seconded by Dr. Sultemeier that the meeting be
adjourned. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
f
fDiane St art, Secret
A
Public Health Board
Page 3 of 3