We all know the drill when it comes to seasonal influenza. And yet, it still needs to be said.

Your best protection against influenza is getting a flu vaccine. After that, practices that will also help protect you from getting sick include good handwashing, plenty of sleep and covering coughs and sneezes. If you do get influenza, stay home and talk to your doctor about antiviral medication.

I say it still needs to be said because I don’t think I’m the only one who occasionally sees people leave public restrooms after abstaining from an encounter with soap, warm water and the friction that helps cleanse germs off. And they don’t seem to be humming the “Happy Birthday” song twice, which is also a recommended guideline for how long it takes to get a good scrub. 

I don’t think I’m alone when I tell this story about a former colleague. Let’s call him Flu Guy. Flu Guy would come to the office and proudly announce that he had boldly come into work in spite of the fact that he had the flu. To him, this was a point of pride that he had eschewed staying safely at home, where he could rest, recover and not infect everyone within 10 feet.

I hated Flu Guy.

I want to make it clear that this was a few jobs ago, so this wasn’t at Monongalia County Health Department. Because knowing these rules is our job.

As you probably know, seasonal flu is upon us and cases have been on the rise. It began spiking about a month ago. So far, this season is worse than last year's and this past week, cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) surpassed those in the 2017-18 flu season. Flu does not appear to have peaked. The line on the graph is still moving in an upward direction.

One thing that is different about this flu season is that there also is another illness floating around, although not in West Virginia and so far, not in any states surrounding us either. 
Novel coronavirus, now officially called Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been diagnosed in 15 people in seven states. They are Washington state, California, Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Texas. This does not include American passengers aboard a cruise ship that has not been allowed to return to the U.S. 

No, we don’t want to dismiss coronavirus. And yes, the number of cases worldwide spiked this week after a decision was made to take into account cases that doctors had diagnosed using clinical methods.

In the United States, however, cases are not going up quickly. Travel from China has been severely restricted. Those who are returning from China are being put into quarantine or are undergoing self-quarantine, which basically means they will stay home for two weeks to make sure they don’t develop symptoms. Symptoms include a fever, coughing and shortness of breath. 

If anyone who has not been to China develops those symptoms, it’s much more likely that the cause is another respiratory illness. After all, those are pretty basic symptoms.

Certainly, if someone has a real reason to be concerned*, action should be taken. As Monongalia County Health Department has been advising, in messaging developed with WVU Medicine and Mon Health Medical Centers, “action” does not mean going to an emergency department or physician office and sitting in a waiting room. 

Instead, there are two phone numbers to call: the WVU Medical Access and Referral System (MARS) line at 304-598-6000 and Mon Health Medical Center at 304-285-3798.

*In terms of who should be concerned, guidance has been divided into three categories, all of which require a person to have either just returned from China or to have interacted with someone who has just returned from China who has been confirmed to be ill. 

As MCHD stated in a press release last week (available online at monchd.org/press-releases.html), these guidelines include: (1) individuals with fever OR signs of lower respiratory illness AND who have had close contact with a person confirmed to have coronavirus within 14 days of symptom onset; (2) fever AND symptoms of lower respiratory illness AND a history of travel from Hubei province, China, within 14 days of symptom onset; and, (3) fever AND symptoms of lower respiratory illness requiring hospitalization AND a history of travel from mainland China within 14 days of symptom onset.

We’ve been fielding calls at the health department during the past week from concerned citizens from a variety of West Virginia counties who are worried about coronavirus. If a person has not just returned from China or interacted with someone diagnosed with the illness, they should not be worried about coronavirus.

But flu? That’s widespread in all 55 counties. 

So take precautions against seasonal influenza. And if you still haven’t gotten a flu vaccine, it’s not too late. You can call your health care provider or MCHD Clinical Services at 304-598-5119 to make an appointment.

Keep the holiday of love safe
 
Valentine’s Day can be a time that involves going the extra mile for somebody special or planning a caring act to make your partner happy.
 
So why should things be any different when it comes to sexual activity?
 
Responsible sex can be achieved in a variety of ways and taking the time to familiarize yourself with and practice these methods can result in a mutually enjoyable, worry-free holiday.
 
One of the most common ways of preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is by using condoms. Be sure to use a new condom with every sex act, and to do so correctly. Laboratory studies have shown that proper applications of them create a protective barrier between partners, and that they also reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy.
 
If at any point you believe you were exposed to a STD, or would just like to be sure, getting tested is an option. All sexually active people should be tested for STDs at least once; others should be tested more frequently depending on factors that include a high number of partners.
 
Many STDs are asymptomatic, meaning there are no tell-tale signs of an infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis have all significantly increased since 2014. More cases of STDs mean that more people are infected, and they may not even know it.
 
Practicing responsible sex is important because it reduces your chances of contracting all STDs, including human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. HIV weakens the human immune system and can lead to the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). If you have or have had an STD, you are at an increased risk of getting the virus. According to the CDC, around 154,000 people in America have HIV and don’t know it.
 
HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a common virus. There are about 14 million new infections every year. HPV is spread through intimate contact and can lead to many forms of cancer. More than 9 out of 10 cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV. There are also more than 14,000 new cases of throat cancer in men caused by the virus every year.
 
The best thing you can do is make sure you have been vaccinated. The HPV vaccine comes in two doses if taken at the recommended age, and it is approved for girls and boys ages 11-12. Young adults can also receive the vaccination up to age 26. Those who are older and have not yet been vaccinated should talk with their health care provider first.  
 
Getting tested not only determines if you have an infection, but it also ensures that you receive the proper care while keeping others safe. Monongalia County Health Department’s Clinical Services offers free confidential testing and treatment to the public, regardless of income or health insurance coverage.
 
While the only way to completely avoid STDs is to abstain from having sex, here are the key takeaways to reduce your exposure if you do:
 

• Use a new condom for every sex act, and for the entire duration of it.
• Limit or reduce your number of sexual partners.
• Limit alcohol use because it lowers inhibitions and good judgment.
• Make sure you have received the full HPV vaccination.
• Make sure both you and your partner(s) get tested.

 
There may not be anything less romantic than finding out you have an STD, so be sure to keep responsible sex practices in mind as Valentine’s Day approaches once again.
 
For more information or to make an appointment, call MCHD Clinical Services at 304-598-5119.

​On the first Friday in February, MCHD Dentistry, the bustling and pleasant dental office at Monongalia County Health Department, turns the activity up a couple of notches.

Balloons anchored by toothbrushes decorate the hallways. A table offers brochures, information and a lion plushie with human-looking teeth that kids can use to practice brushing with a giant toothbrush. 

Give Kids a Smile not only provides children up to the age of 18 without insurance a free dental cleaning and checkup, but it also offers a friendly and fun introduction to an important way to stay healthy that often goes overlooked.

“Most kids go into those offices and see all the tools and hear the sounds that can be terrifying and traumatizing,” said M.J. Zink of Morgantown, whose two children, Corabelle and Luke, have attended Give Kids a Smile in the past. 

Instead, Zink noted, the event is “exposing them at a young age to a friendly atmosphere. It’s good for the kids to be exposed. It’s a great first impression. I wish I would have had something like this when I was a kid.”

This year’s Give Kids a Smile will be celebrated on Friday, Feb. 7. Children will receive a tooth cleaning, a dental checkup and oral education. There also is the possibility that some restorative work — such as filling a cavity — will be performed.

“Our focus is on providing free preventative services to children without insurance,” said Dr. Dan Carrier, dentist and program manager of MCHD Dentistry who noted that a chair will be kept open at this year’s event for that very purpose. “I think what we’re looking at now is the impact we have with kids who are here. In the past, we haven’t had space to be able to fix teeth. We’re now trying to do that more.”

For a child a visit to MCHD Dentistry depends on the age. Babies and toddlers on their first trip to the dentist might sit in a parent’s lap while Dr. Carrier examines the teeth and applies a fluoride treatment. 
​
“I always say the first visit is more for the parent than the child,” Dr. Carrier said.

​It also helps get the child accustomed to the bright lights of a dental visit, from the safety of a parent’s lap. Older children will have a more routine cleaning and exam. 

The American Dental Association (ADA) launched Give Kids a Smile in 2003 and since then, 5.5 million children have received care from about 10,000 dentists across the country. MCHD Dentistry has been participating since 2011, when about 20 children participated during the inaugural event.

As illustrated by statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), kids can be prone to cavities that will go untreated if they do not visit a dentist. About 1 in 5 children ages 5 to 11 have at least one untreated decayed tooth, while that number is 1 in 7 for adolescents ages 12 to 19 years. And, at 25 percent, children ages 5 to 19 years of age from low-income families are twice as likely to have cavities than children from higher-income households. That figure is 11 percent.

The CDC also notes, “Poor oral health can have a detrimental effect on children’s qualify of life, their performance at school and their success later in life.”

Conversely, fun and productive visits to the dentist early on can set up habits that will help give kids health teeth for a lifetime.

“It’s a phenomenal experience and outreach to the community,” Zink said. “When we go in there, everyone is so happy and polite. It’s exciting for my children to pick out what color toothbrush they want. 

“And the staff are fantastic. They are just so kind and welcoming.”
​
To make an appointment for Give Kids a Smile, call MCHD Dentistry at 304-598-5108.

Most people these days know the importance of keeping up with your vaccines. One very important one is the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. This vaccine can help prevent not only HPV, but cervical cancer, too. 

As January’s Cervical Health Awareness Month comes to a close, it’s a great time to talk about cervical health.

Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix. The cervix is what connects the uterus to the vagina. Cervical cancer is caused by certain types of HPV, which is spread through sexual contact. Sometimes HPV can go away on its own, but if it does not, it can cause cancer.

It is very important to get screened for cervical cancer before you show any symptoms. This can help find cells that are abnormal or show signs of HPV before they turn into cancer. Cervical cancer can be tested by pap smears and HPV tests. 

How often you should be tested for cervical cancer and HPV depends on your age. From ages 21 to 29, you should be getting a pap smear every three years. After you reach 30-65 years old, you have the option to get a pap test every three years, an HPV test every five years, or get both tests every five years. The option that is best for you depends on your past test results and other factors. Some women may need tested more often than others.

You are more likely to develop cervical cancer if you have HIV, are a smoker, or use birth control pills for more than five years. There is also an increased risk if you have several sexual partners or have given birth three or more times. 

You can lower your risk of contracting HPV and cervical cancer by being proactive with your health. Beginning as early as age 9, both girls and boys can get the HPV vaccine, which consists of two shots that are six months to a year apart. You can get the vaccine after this age, but it is more effective if received at the recommended age of 11 or 12. 

Adult women should make sure to visit a doctor annually for a well-woman visit. The goals of a well-woman visit consist of a physical exam, learning about your health history and habits and setting health goals. You can prepare for this by learning about your family health history and making a list of topics and questions to discuss with your doctor. Cervical cancer is most commonly found among women who have not had annual check-ups. 

It is also helpful to use condoms and limit your number of sexual partners. Using condoms correctly for each encounter is especially important. Avoiding smoking can help prevent HPV and cervical cancer as well, because smoking lowers your immune system’s ability to fight the infection. You should also be careful about how much you drink and in what situations. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, prompting people to make choices that they otherwise wouldn’t.

According to the National Cancer Institute, the HPV vaccine decreased the number of HPV 16 and 18 infections — the strains that cause cervical cancer — by 83 percent in girls aged 15-19 years old. Infection rates among women aged 20-24 decreased by 66 percent. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are often no symptoms of cervical cancer until it is advanced, and even then, the only symptom may be abnormal discharge or bleeding. If you experience this, see a doctor as soon as possible. 

If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer, there is treatment available. The treatment plan is determined by the size of the cancer or how far it has spread. Cervical cancer is typically treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of those procedures.
 
Monongalia County Health Department’s Clinical Services offers exams, including the Pap test. We also offer the HPV vaccine. For more information or to make an appointment, call 304-598-5119.

Are you living in a realm with potentially dangerous, odorless, colorless gas that forms from the breakdown of uranium in the soil? A radioactive gas that is undetectable to the human senses that may be seeping up from the earth and into the crevices of your floors and walls? 

If so, you may have just crossed over into … The Radon Zone.

OK, so it sounds a little melodramatic, but that’s what happens when you try to tailor information about radon in the style of Rod Serling.

That’s what Monongalia County Health Department has done with its video, which can be viewed by going here.

The idea came from the fact that Monongalia County is in “the red zone” when it comes to this odorless gas that seeps up from the breakdown of rocks in the soil. It then can seep into homes and other buildings and accumulate.

Nationally, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, 1 in 15 homes have high levels of radon. 

But in Monongalia County, that figure is 1 in 5.

Making a video in the style of the old 1960s “Twilight Zone” series was a way to get the message across.

It was also great to have “Rod Serling” — local actor Michael Vozniak, a Fairmont native and WVU grad student and teaching assistant — inform audiences about radon while channeling the icon and intense chain-smoking screenwriter, TV producer and narrator of the show.

The fact that Serling was a chain smoker was a convenient coincidence. Exposure to too much radon is the No. 2 leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, next to smoking. In a given year, about 21,000 Americans die from lung cancer caused by high levels of radon. Serling, who could often be seen with a cigarette in his hand with smoke billowing next to him, died of the disease at the age of 50.

Because we’re the health department, we did not ask Michael to actually use cigarettes in “The Radon Zone.” Those are smoke-free cocoa bean sticks playing the role of Serling’s ever-present cig.

The video also gives the viewers a chance to see what it’s like to get a radon test. Joe Lawson, an MCHD Environmental Health sanitarian as well as a certified radon measurement specialist, crosses the colossal cosmos, or at least parts of North Central West Virginia, to detect this noxious yet noble gas, as Serling notes in the video.

That means that Joe will come to your home and set up a continuous radon monitor that will run for 48 hours. Two days later, he returns to collect the device, which generates a report that is mailed or emailed to the customer.

If the reading is 4 picocuries per liter or higher, then the homeowner should consider mitigation techniques that will lower the radon levels in their home. A certified radon contractor can do the job and the average cost is $1,500.

The cost for a test by MCHD Environmental Health is $125 in Monongalia County and $150 in surrounding areas. How often should you get one? Every few years. Radon can be elusive, with one house measuring a high level while the one next door is OK. One year, your house can be fine. A few years later, the radon level can be higher. 

So, submitted for your approval: Radon, an invisible, odorless gas, might be skulking and lying in wait in your home. But we can detect it, and it can be mitigated. A case to be filed under Rn — for radon.

​For more information or to make an appointment for a test, call MCHD Environmental Health at 304-598-5131.