Jefferson County Health Department Reports Cat Tests Positive for Rabies

On June 8, 2022, Jefferson County Health Department (JCHD) was notified by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) state lab that the presence of rabies was found in a cat that was initially from Jefferson County. The cat was collected from another county in Missouri after exhibiting symptoms and investigation concluded they tested positive for a rabies variant associated with skunks. There are no other positive cases associated with this animal at this time.

 

This is the first animal in 2022 to test positive for rabies. Last year, Jefferson County had two bats test positive for rabies as well. In the United States, rabies is mostly found in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. Although relatively uncommon, rabies is always considered to be present or endemic within certain types of animals in Missouri.

 

Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease. It can spread to people and pets if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal. Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, staying away from wildlife, and seeking medical care after potential exposures before symptoms start. There is no cure for rabies. Timely administration of rabies post-exposure vaccinations can protect those that may have been exposed to the virus. For more information on rabies, visit the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html.

Rabies Prevention

The health department does not regularly collect animals for rabies testing. Only animals that have had contact, or significant potential for contact, with humans may be submitted for testing. If an animal is found, use precaution to dispose of it in a way to avoid all exposure and apply the necessary protective equipment.

 

Jefferson County Health Department Receives FDA Grant to Implement Retail Food Grading System

Jefferson County Health Department received grant funding through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the amount of $159,130 to be utilized February 1, 2022, through December 31, 2024. Funding will be used to implement a retail food grading system and to plan and further develop a retail food program in Jefferson County.

Part of the grant funding will be utilized to implement a retail food grading system in Jefferson County which will provide ‘grades’ to food service establishments based on adherence to Jefferson County Food Code. JCHD Environmental team will reference the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Model Practices Program which contains information on a grading implementation guide, policies and procedures, and best practices for post-implementation.

Funding will also support the health department’s focus on the planning and further development of its retail food program based on the nine FDA Retail Program Standards. These nine standards include:

  • Regulatory Foundation

  • Trained Regulatory Staff

  • Inspection Program based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Principles

  • Uniform Inspection Program

  • Foodborne Illness and Food Defense Preparedness and Response

  • Compliance and Enforcement

  • Industry and Community Relations

  • Program Support and Resources

  • Program Assessment

 

“We are grateful for this grant funding from the FDA to support and improve our food service establishments here in Jefferson County,” states Jefferson County Health Department Environmental Supervisor, Nicole Thornton. “We will be involving residents of Jefferson County to receive feedback during the design and implementation process.”

No Bubble Wrap Needed-You can help build your child’s resilience for life’s ups and downs

Resiliency has become a hot topic in the past few years with so many things happening in the world. And just like in the rest of the world, our youths’ whole world was flipped upside down. On top of having to deal with all those changes, today’s youth are constantly dealing with other challenges like changes in their regular lives, new classrooms, learning new subjects, bullying, etc. Dealing with the uncertainties of growing up in a complex world and even thriving despite all of them takes many skills. One of the most important includes resilience.

To put it simply resiliency is the ability to handle difficult situations and being able to “bounce back” after a challenge or life obstacle. Having resilience does not mean you don’t struggle, but instead you are able to handle the bump in the road and rise above it be better prepared for life’s next bump. And the amazing part is this same skill is one that will allow one to get the most out of the good times!

No Bubble Wrap Needed: As a parent you always want to protect your child and if given the choice you would bubble wrap them. But you can’t. What you can do is prepare them to navigate the world. You’re thinking to yourself, well how do I help my children become more resilient? Where do I even begin? Not to worry, by starting these few simple practices with your family will help build a strong foundation of resilience!

Be Their Support: By showing your child you support and love them as they are, you are helping your child understand they are worthy, and this self-esteem has amazing implications. This unwavering support does not mean you are approving of every decision your child makes or saying go do whatever you want, but rather it is providing that consistent presence of being there.  

When your kid knows someone has their back, this is when they can take those leaps of development. Having that assurance of “I’m not going anywhere” from their parent or guardian allows them to take those (safe) risks with confidence. As a caregiver sometimes you may worry about saying the right thing, when sometimes it’s how you listen and the presence you portray that makes just as much impact.

Keep Things in Perspective: When you child is going through a difficult situation, help them to take a step back and look at the broader picture and long-term perspective. Although your child (and your teen), may not be able to look at the long-term view on their own, you can help them see past the current situation and that the future is good. Having a positive outlook helps children to see the good things in life and keep going even in the hardest of times.

Turn Inward!: Practice becoming more resilient yourself! We can model resilience when choose healthy coping strategies, keeping things in perspective, looking on the bright side of situations, and growing from challenges. By discussing your thoughts and feelings with your kiddos they can learn to benefit from the right emotions, and which ones may undermine their well-being.

7 C’s of Resilience

On top of these foundational components discussed above, much research has been done on the 7 C’s of Resilience that make up a resilient person. This blog barely touched on the surface of all the other skills that help build resilience. Check out the short video below to learn more about them!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTmi4kHor_s

 Remember if you or your family members are struggling to deal with an adverse experience, seek professional help. A therapist or counselor can assist you in increasing your resilience and managing your distress in a healthy way.

 If you would like to learn more about different ways to help build resilience in yourself and family check out these links down below.

·       https://positivepsychology.com/resilience-activities-worksheets/

·       https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience/guide-parents-teachers

MCH Publicity Statement: This project is/was funded in part by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Maternal and Child Health Services Contract #AOC18380095, and is/was supported by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant #B04MC30623, Maternal and Child Health Services for $12,107,084, of which $0 is from non-governmental sources.  This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.