Public Health Week is April 1^st through the 7^th . Public health workers will continue their work to protect the health and safety of community members. We want all Ocean County residents to live a long and healthy life in a safe environment. During this public health week we will be highlighting the services we provide for individuals to ensure a decrease in the causes of poor health and disease risk among individuals and within our community. The Ocean County Health Department will be facilitating several events to help promote the services that we provide to the public because public health is you too.  We will be participating in the Ocean County College Opiate Summit, Sexual Assault Awareness Night at Blue Claws Stadium, and a Live Healthy Ocean County (LHOC!) event at St. Paul Lutheran Church in which we will be partnering with Senior Services.

We have made it a priority to have services from the following units our Alcohol and Drug Services, Chronic Disease Services, Community Assessment and Health Education, Emergency Preparedness, Infectious Disease Services, Environmental Health Services, and our Maternal and Child Health Services.

Learn more on our 2019 National Public Health Week page.

Take the initiative to protect yourself from the measles!  Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by exposure to the measles virus.  It rapidly spreads through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes.  The initial symptom of the measles is a fever; infected individuals will then experience a cough, runny nose, and red eyes.  A tiny rash of red bumps will appear on the skin, first appearing on the head and working its way down the rest of the body.

Steps to Prevent Measles:

It is important for every child to receive two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination by age six.  The CDC considers you protected from measles if you have written documentation (records) showing at least one of the following:

• You received two doses of measles-containing vaccine, and you are a(n)—
  • school-aged child (grades K-12)
  • adult who will be in a setting that poses a high risk for measles transmission, including students at post-high school education institutions, healthcare personnel, and international travelers.
• You received one dose of measles-containing vaccine, and you are a(n)—
  • preschool-aged child
  • adult who will not be in a high-risk setting for measles transmission.
• A laboratory confirmed that you had measles at some point in your life.
• A laboratory confirmed that you are immune to measles.
• You were born before 1957.

If you think you have the measles:

Follow these tips immediately at the first sign of symptoms

1. Avoid public places or close contact with others.
2. Contact your primary care physician immediately to inform them of your signs and symptoms.
3. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
4. Stay home for a minimum of four days after you develop a rash
5. Practice frequent hand washing.
6. Disinfect your surrounding area frequently.

MMR Vaccination:

Take the initiative to get vaccinated!  It is important for you to receive a MMR vaccination.  Children should get the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age.  The second dose should be administered at 4 through 6 years of age. Teens and adults should also be up to date on their MMR vaccination. If you do not have a vaccination record and are unsure of your vaccine history, consult with your primary physician.

Local Considerations:

33 cases of measles have been confirmed in Ocean County as of 12/21/2018.  The New Jersey Department of Health issued a press release warning residents about the additional confirmed cases that could have exposed others to the infection while in Ocean County between October 17, 2018 through November 30, 2018.  The last rash onset date is November 30, 2018 and 4 days of infection ended on December 4, 2018.

Anyone who visited the following locations may have been exposed to measles:

• CHEMED Health Center, 1771 Madison Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • October 17 between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
  • October 18 between 10:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
  • October 30 between 9:20 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
  • October 31 between 8:45 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
  • November 1 from 10:15 p.m. to close

• Eat a Pita, 116 Clifton Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • October 15 between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

• Four Corners Bagel & Café, 150 James St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • October 31 between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

• NPGS, 231 Main St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • October 25 between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
  • October 29 between 2:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

• Office of Dr. Eli Eilenberg, 150 James St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • October 31 between 11:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.
  • November 1 between 12:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

• Pizza Plus, 241 4th St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • October 28 between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

• Schul Satmar, 405 Forest Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • October 13- October 21 between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily
  • October 28- November 1 between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. daily
  • October 28- October 31 between 6:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. (morning of Nov. 1)
  • November 1 between 6:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

• Office of Dr. Eli Eilenberg, 150 James St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • November 1 between 12:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

• Fountain Ballroom, 725 Vassar Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • October 30-October 31 between 6:00 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.

• Mesivta of Eatontown, 1300 New Hampshire Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701 and 107 East Harvard St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • November 6-November 9

• Bais Shalom AKA Alumni, 345 9th St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • November 6 between 1:15 and 6:45 p.m.

• Motor Vehicle Commission, 1861 Hooper Ave, Toms River, NJ 08753 (The Motor Vehicle Commission has chosen to close this location until Monday, Nov. 19. Other locations will be open for customers in the area).
  • November 7 between 2:30 and 5:15 p.m.

• Ateres Reva, 500 Summer Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • November 11 between 6:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. (morning of November 12)

• Lake Terrace, 1690 Oak St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • November 12 between 6:30 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. (morning of November 13)

• Passaic Chill Youth Drop In Center 217 Brook Ave, Passaic, NJ 07055
  • November 17 between 8:30 p.m. and midnight

• Junior’s Kosher Deli, 215 Main Ave, Passaic, NJ 07055
  • November 18 between 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

• Rite Aid, 78 Main Ave, Passaic, NJ 07055
  • November 18 between 8:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

The Ocean County Health Department is working diligently to identify and notify people who might have been exposed during the time the individuals were infectious. In the event that additional exposure locations are identified, information will be updated on the New Jersey Department of Health’s measles page.

Additional Resources:

https://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/topics/measles.shtml

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/

https://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/documents/topics/measles/measles_exposure_guidance_public.pdf

https://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/topics/measles.shtml

Learn more on our Communicable Disease page.

Take the initiative to protect yourself from seasonal influenza this season.  Influenza (Flu) is a virus that is a contagious respiratory virus.  It is important for everyone 6 months of age and older to get vaccinated each year.  There are also a few more steps you can take to prevent the seasonal flu.

Steps to prevent the flu:

1. Wash your hands- it is important to wash your hands frequently throughout the day.
2. Avoid close contact- steer clear of family and friends when they are sick to avoid catching their germs.
3. Cover your nose and mouth- Whenever you cough or sneeze, be sure to cover your mouth with your elbow to avoid the spread of germs.
4. Avoid touching your face- Keep your hands off of your eyes, nose, and mouth. These areas are portals for germs to enter your body.
5. Stay home when you’re sick- Avoid contact with co-workers, family, and friends when you are sick to avoid spreading your germs.
6. Know when to seek medical treatment- It is important to monitor your signs and symptoms.  If you have flu-like symptoms you may want to see your primary physician for anti-viral medications.

If you are sick with the flu:

Some people may only experience mild symptoms of the flu.  However, sometimes the illness is more severe and leads to complications.  Follow these tips to help yourself recover faster when sick with the flu.

1. Get plenty of rest- Sleep restores your body’s immune system.  Avoid strenuous activity and added stress.
2. Drink fluids- Dehydration is common when sick. Providing your body with enough fluids can lessen your chance of dehydration.  Drink plenty of water and sports drinks will to stay hydrated.
3. Stay home- The influenza virus is highly contagious.  It is important to take off work and school when you are sick so you don’t spread the virus.
4. Avoid close contact- The influenza virus may spread quickly to those you are in close contact with. Distance yourself from family and friends during the time that you are sick.

Flu vaccines:

Take the initiative to get vaccinated!  It is important for you to receive a flu vaccination every year.  Vaccines provide your body with the immunity and protection against influenza viruses.  There are many convenient locations you can go to get your flu shot.

• Your primary care physician
• The Ocean County Health Department offers vaccines at various locations throughout Ocean County. For a schedule of upcoming flu clinics in Ocean County, click  HERE  or call Clinic Services at (732) 341- 9700, Ext. 7604
• Many pharmacies now offer flu shots. For local participating pharmacies, click HERE

Additional resource:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm

Take the initiative and start today by making an emergency plan for you and your family. When there is a disaster, your family may not be around. It is important to know how you’ll respond, where you’ll go, how to contact one another, and how to reconnect if separated. Outlined below are a few important steps provided by Ready.gov ( https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan)  to make sure you are ready for any emergency. PHU2 challenges you to review and initiate these steps today!

Step 1: Start an emergency plan

Begin to develop an emergency plan by discussing these 4 questions with your family, friends, or household members.

1. How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
2. What is my shelter plan?
3. What is my evacuation route?
4. What is my family/household communication plan?

Step 2:  Consider specific needs in your household.

As you prepare a plan make sure you keep in mind your households living needs and responsibilities.  Prepare for who will care for children and pets, as well as having effective communication. Keep in mind some of these factors when developing your plan:

• Different ages of members within your household
• Responsibilities for assisting others
• Locations frequented
• Dietary needs
• Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
• Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
• Languages spoken
• Cultural and religious considerations
• Pets or service animals
• Households with school-aged children

Step 3: Fill out a Family Emergency Plan

Download and fill out a family emergency plan or use them as a guide to create your own. Here’s one from FEMA for reference.

• Emergency Plan for Parents (PDF)

Step 4: Practice your plan with your family/household

PHU2 wants you to know that it is important to be ready for any type of emergency. By taking the initiative and following these steps you can feel that you are prepared for any disaster. For more information on making a plan you can visit https://www.ready.gov/  or https://www.ochd.org/

Reference:

Make A Plan. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2018, from https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan

Visit our Emergency Preparedness page for more ideas.

HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including hepatitis C virus, can be easily spread from one partner to another.

HIV and other STDs can be passed in several ways, but most typically through:

• Sexual contact and sexual intercourse.
• Sharing needles/syringes and/or other “works” with someone who is infected

While PHU2 strongly supports protected sex during sexual encounters and recommends that needles, syringes, straws, or other works are never shared, knowing your status for these diseases is important regardless. If you have STD symptoms, if someone you’ve had sex with has an STD, if you’ve engaged in unprotected sex, or shared needles or syringes, you should get tested as soon as possible.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you test for HIV at least once a year if you participate in actions that can increase your chances of getting HIV. These include:

• Injecting drugs or steroids with used needles or works
• Having sex for money or drugs
• Having sex with an HIV-infected person
• Having more than one sex partner since your last HIV test
• Having a sex partner who has had other sex partners since your last HIV test

The CDC recommends that all Baby Boomers (born 1945–1965) get tested for hepatitis C. Many people do not know that they have Hepatitis C. The good news is that there is treatment that can help you if you are diagnosed but the only way you can know for sure that you have Hepatitis C is if you get tested.

Ways you can get hepatitis C include:

• Blood transfusions, organ donations, or blood products before 1992
• Unsterilized tools at tattoo parlors
• Past recreational drug use,
  even if just once
• Less commonly, sharing personal items that have infected blood, such as shaving razors or toothbrushes

For more information visit (http://www.hepchope.com/)

PHU2 wants you to take the initiative and get tested.  You can get tested for HIV, STDs, and hepatitis C at the Ocean County Health Department. Getting tested is a great way for you and your partners to stay safe and free of STDs. You can find HIV, STD, and hepatitis C counseling and testing times and locations at http://www.ochd.org/ .

Reference:

Know the facts. Get tested. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2018, from http://www.knowmystatus.org/testing/

1 in 30 Baby Boomers has Hepatitis C (Hep C), and most don’t even know it. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2018, from http://www.hepchope.com/

Learn more on our Communicable Disease page.

Take the initiative today to be a healthier you and learn how you can begin to quit smoking. Quitting smoking and wanting to change to a tobacco free lifestyle can be very difficult and it is common for smokers to have a hard time quitting, luckily there are many resources, support and information programs that can help you quit in the most effective way for you.

Some resources include:

NJ Quitline

When you’re ready to quit, call the NJ Quitline. You will speak to a highly trained Quit Coach who has years of counseling experience. They will listen and talk to you about:

• Why you want to quit
• What makes quitting most difficult for you
• Your smoking history
• Your smoking triggers and a plan for dealing with them
• Deciding upon and preparing for a quit day
• How to avoid slips and relapse

For more information visit http://njquitline.org/readyToQuit.html

RWJBarnabas Health

RWJBarnabas Health provides access to many resources to help individuals quit smoking. Some of these resources and programs include:

• One-on-one sessions with our knowledgeable, trained coaches
• Medication and behavioral treatment
• Personalized plans for reducing and eliminating tobacco use
• Assistance for parents who want to eliminate second-hand smoke
• Relapse prevention
• Individualized plans for smokers with mental illness

For more information visit https://www.rwjbh.org/

PHU2 wants you to know that there are many more resources within New Jersey that can help you take that first step to having a tobacco free life. For more information you can visit https://www.ochd.org/

References:

(n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2018, from http://njquitline.org/readyToQuit.html

New Jersey Health System. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2018, from https://www.rwjbh.org/our-locations/

Learn more on our Substance Abuse page.

Take the Initiative in your own home and protect yourself and others from being exposed to poisons by learning what a poison is, who is at risk, and how to prevent a poisoning from happening.

Help prevent poisonings:

• Learn how to poison proof your home and reduce the risk of poisonings.
  • Poisons in the household can include; medicines, Carbon monoxide, household cleaning products, chemicals, food, animals/insects, and plants
• Talk about poisons with your family and household members so others know what to do, too.
• Prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding your home of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
• Never share prescription medicine.
• Never mix household or chemical products together. Doing so can create a dangerous gas.
•  Keep all chemicals, household cleaners, medicines, and potentially poisonous substances in locked cabinets or out of the reach of children.

To correctly dispose of expired medications make sure to bring them to a drop-off box. There are currently fifteen locations for Ocean County residents to dispose of their unused or expired medications.  The drop boxes are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  For locations and more information visit (https://www.ochd.org/Resources/Page/54 )

If there is an accident and someone in the home is exposed to poisons follow these few initial steps:

• If the person inhaled poison, get to fresh air right away.
• If the person has poison on the skin, take off any clothing the poison touched. Rinse skin with running water for 15 to 20 minutes.
• If the person has poison in the eyes, rinse eyes with running water for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Your poison center can give you other first-aid advice and may save you from a visit to the emergency room.

Immediate Answers
Been Exposed? Speak to a live health expert:

1. Call 1-800-222-1222

2. Explain your situation or symptoms

3. Have the name of the product and container ready or the name of the suspected source of exposure

4. Don’t rely on the Internet

PHU2 wants you to take the initiative and be more informed about poisons and be prepared for exposure. Check your home today to see if your household cleaners are stored out of reach of children. Go through your medicine cabinet to confirm that any expired medications are identified and take the right steps to dispose of them.  For more information you can visit https://poisonhelp.hrsa.gov/index.html

Reference:

(2011, October 17). Retrieved March 23, 2018, from https://poisonhelp.hrsa.gov/index.html

Learn more on our Environmental Health page.