August 2007 News

MDCH Receives Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) Funding - August 29th

Two Receive Senior Citizen Of The Year Awards - August 27th

Unpredictable Weather Brings Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Risks - August 24th

State, Advocacy Organizations Settle Medicaid Lawsuit - August 22nd

August Recognized as Immunization Awareness Month in Michigan - August 6th

MDCH Releases Draft Ecorse and River Rouge Health Consultation - August 6th

OSA Receives Disease Prevention Grant - August 2nd

Michigan's First 2007 WNV Human Case Detected - August 2nd

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MDCH Receives Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) Funding August 29, 2007 The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is pleased to announce it has been awarded Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) funding through the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. MDCH is scheduled to receive $141,887 each year, for a three-year project period, beginning August 2007. MAI provides funding for activities to evaluate and address the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on racial and ethnic minorities. MDCH will use these funds to contract with AIDS Partnership Michigan (APM)-an experienced Detroit community-based organization-to increase access of eligible minority HIV positive releasing prisoners to the Part B AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) (and, as appropriate, other programs that provide prescription drug coverage), and increase access of eligible minority youth (aged 13-24) to the Part B ADAP, other prescription programs, and medical care and treatment services. "In addition to continuing to fund current programs and working to contain costs, MDCH has a unique opportunity to support some of our most vulnerable citizens," said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. "Receiving this additional funding is an important step in addressing and reducing those health disparities experienced by racial and ethnic minorities in Michigan." These projects will focus on two separate populations. One project, Community Re-entry, targets HIV positive prisoners and their release from Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) facilities. Annually, MDOC facilities release approximately 70 HIV positive individuals in need of community-based, follow-up assistance that properly links released prisoners to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, other medication programs, and into medical care and treatment plans. The other project, Youth Link, will link minority youth who are living with HIV to medical care and treatment services, including the ADAP. Activities will include: engagement - to establish trust, assess barriers to accessing medical care and ADAP services including mental/emotional challenges and substance use, provision of HIV education/information; stabilization - linkage to HIV case management services to address basic needs of food, clothing and housing; transitioning- linkage to appropriate medical care services including escorting into the medical care setting; and recruitment of successful peer models to provide ongoing mentoring and support particularly as it relates to retention in medical care and treatment adherence. Services will be provided primarily in the metropolitan Detroit area, including the city of Detroit and contiguous counties. Back to Top

Two Receive Senior Citizen Of The Year Awards August 27, 2007 Two individuals have been honored with Senior Citizen of the Year awards from the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging (OSA), the Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging (CSA), and the Michigan State Fair. The awards were presented during a Senior Citizen of the Year Awards Program on Seniors' Day at the 2007 Michigan State Fair in Detroit. "These awards are presented every year to recognize special older adults for their contributions to our state," said Sharon Gire, OSA Director. "The example they set is an inspiration to others and they deserve to be recognized." Senior Citizen of the Year Awards focus on two main categories-leadership and service-and reflect contributions made to civic and social life during the past year by persons age 60 and older. Dr. Karl Gregory of Southfield was one of recipients of the 2007 Senior Citizen of the Year Award for Leadership. He has distinguished himself as a nonprofit volunteer and community leader and as an effective neighborhood activist for health, transportation, civic engagement, and livable communities for all ages. He has worked to better the lives of older adults and individuals with disabilities through numerous organizations including the Downtown Detroit Senior Center, Adult Well-Being Services of Detroit, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, and the Detroit Work Force Development Board. According to Adult Well-Being Services, which nominated him, Gregory "inspires all who come into contact with him by his unwavering commitment to helping others realize their fullest potential as contributors to a healthy, just and peaceful community, state, and nation." Edward F. Bares of Grand Haven received the other 2007 Service Citizen of the Year Award for Service. During his past 30 years of retirement, he has contributed numerous hours as a volunteer designer, CAD and engineer for E2 technologies, and has refurbished wheel chairs for International Aid which repairs donated, unusable wheel chairs. He visits and runs errands for homebound older adults, and provides transportation for those who no longer drive. He also has served his community through a number of charitable organizations such as the Grand Haven Jaycees, Grand Haven Aviation Club, First Presbyterian Church, and the Grand Haven Toastmaster's Club. According to International Aid of Spring Lake, which nominated him, Bares is "the volunteer every organization is looking for." He is "devoted, organized, considerate, humble, energetic and humorous. He is an inspiration to those who work with him." Back to Top

Unpredictable Weather Brings Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Risks August 24, 2007 The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is urging residents to be aware of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning when using alternative sources of power during an outage. Due to recent weather-related power outages, Allegan, and Barry, and Kalamazoo county residents are asked to be extra vigilant as they compensate for the lost power. If not used safely, gas-powered generators, kerosene heaters or other alternative heating or power sources can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Residents are encouraged to seek shelter with friends, family, or at a community shelter as a safer alternative. Carbon monoxide is an invisible, tasteless, and odorless gas formed when fuel is burned. Carbon monoxide can build up to deadly levels within minutes in enclosed spaces and can only be detected with a carbon monoxide detector. Warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include flu-like symptoms without the fever: headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, and confusion. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause coma and death. Every year, hundreds of people in Michigan are hospitalized and 15 to 20 die as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning when the power is out: NEVER run a generator inside your house or in your garage, and keep it away from windows and doors. (If theft is a concern, lock it to a tree or fence.) NEVER use charcoal or propane grills or camp stoves indoors. Do not use portable heaters powered by propane or kerosene indoors. Always turn off your vehicle in the garage. Place a carbon monoxide detector in the hallway outside bedrooms in all sleeping areas. If you suspect you or a family member is displaying signs of possible carbon monoxide poisoning, get fresh air immediately and call 911. For more information on the recent outages, please visit The Kalamazoo Gazette site. Back to Top

State, Advocacy Organizations Settle Medicaid Lawsuit August 22, 2007 LANSING - The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and children's advocacy organizations today announced an agreement to settle an eight-year old lawsuit brought under federal Medicaid law. "We welcome this settlement as an opportunity to improve the delivery of medical and dental care to the more than 1 million children in the state enrolled in Medicaid," said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. "Our top priority continues to be ensuring that low-income children in Michigan have access to the very best medical care Michigan has to offer." Jennifer R. Clarke, lead counsel for the advocacy groups which brought suit against Michigan in federal court, hailed the agreement as "an opportunity for advocates and MDCH to work collaboratively, using the data to obtain more resources for better care." State officials also agreed to collect and give advocates detailed information regarding access to medical and dental care as well as the care that children are actually receiving. They also agreed to ongoing consultation with advocates to improve children's access to health care and dental services. Under the settlement agreement, MDCH also will expand the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) to include the mandated checkups and screenings actually received by children. Originally filed in 1999, the case was brought in federal court against state officials by the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Michigan Chapter of the American Association of Pediatric Dentists, Westside Mothers - an organization of mothers in the Detroit area, Families on the Move - an advocacy organization for foster care families - and several individual children and their families. These groups had claimed that Michigan's Medicaid program did not meet the federal requirements for state Medicaid programs for children. State officials denied the allegations of the complaint, but agreed to settle the case to avoid the cost and distraction of litigation, and to further the shared goal of improving children's access to medical services under Medicaid. In 2006, while the suit was pending, Michigan raised its rates for certain children's medical and dental services by 47 percent. Dr. Sheila Gahagan, president of the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatricians, stated that the settlement, which protects the 2006 increases in reimbursement rates, is "an important step in ensuring that enough doctors are available to meet all of the need." To implement the agreement, the state and advocates have appointed designees who will monitor the settlement agreement and be the principal contact for issues associated with the lawsuit. Michigan also agreed to pay $25,000 per year over the next three years to help compensate the advocates' chosen designee. Advocates have designated Dr. Charles Barone, M.D., Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Henry Ford Health Services to serve in that capacity, while the state has designated Neil Oppenheimer, Assistant to the Director of the Medical Services Administration of MDCH. Back to Top

August Recognized as Immunization Awareness Month in Michigan August 6, 2007 In partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Governor Granholm and the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) are recognizing August as Immunization Awareness Month in Michigan. "Certain vaccines are encouraged from infancy on through to the elderly years," said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. "Those traveling abroad and those with compromised immune systems are also encouraged to contact their primary care provider for appropriate immunization recommendations." In addition to the routine immunizations given at birth, parents are urged to protect preteens - 11 and 12 year olds - by having them vaccinated against serious, sometimes life-threatening diseases such as meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, and cervical cancer. Research shows that preteens generally do not get preventive healthcare, visiting the doctor only when they are sick. "Many parents do not realize that some childhood vaccines, such as those for tetanus and whooping cough, wear off over time and, as they get older, young people are at risk of exposure to different diseases at school, camp or in other new situations," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, Director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Adults and the elderly, especially those with underlying health concerns, should receive an annual flu shot as well as age-appropriate shots to guard against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal, and Hepatitis A and B. In 2006, the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) was expanded to include adults, and all vaccine doses are recommended to be reported to the registry. MCIR provides patient immunization history and shows what vaccines are due. Those traveling outside the U.S. should check with the country they are visiting as most require specific travel immunizations for visitors. For more information on CDC's Preteen Vaccine campaign, please visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/preteen/. This site provides easy-to-understand, downloadable educational materials for parents and health care providers, in English and Spanish, about the vaccines and the diseases they prevent. For more information on Michigan's immunization education efforts, please go to www.michigan.gov/immunize. Back to Top

MDCH Releases Draft Ecorse and River Rouge Health Consultation August 6, 2007 The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has released a draft Public Health Consultation regarding manganese in soils in the cities of Ecorse and River Rouge. The consultation discusses exposure to airborne soils that contain elevated levels of manganese, but the health implications of this exposure cannot yet be determined. Long-term air monitoring conducted by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in the city of River Rouge indicates that manganese levels in the air exceed recommended screening levels. Manganese in the air may be from several sources and not just the soil. MDCH recommends that further soil sampling and air monitoring occur. More detailed analyses may be necessary to determine the proportion of airborne manganese due to soil. MDCH invites the public to review the Public Health Consultation and offer comments on it. Copies of the Public Health Consultation are available for public review at the River Rouge Public Library, 221 Burke Street, River Rouge, and the Ecorse Public Library, 4184 W. Jefferson Avenue, Ecorse. The Consultation is also available on-line at the Division of Environmental Health website, www.michigan.gov/mdch-toxics, under "Health Assessments and Related Documents." There will be a public meeting regarding this Consultation in September. Details will be announced at a later date. Information and comments should be addressed to Christina Bush, Toxicologist, Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Environmental Health, Capitol View Building, P.O. Box 30195, Lansing, Michigan 48909, or to bushcr@michigan.gov. People may also call the toll-free telephone number, 1 800 648-6942 (1-800-MI TOXIC). Comments on the Public Health Consultation must be received by October 1, 2007. All comments received will be evaluated and considered and responses will be provided in the final version of the Consultation. The Division of Environmental Health conducted the Public Health Consultation under a cooperative agreement with the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Information concerning the human health effects of exposure to environmental contaminants such as manganese can be found on the ATSDR web page at www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html. Back to Top

OSA Receives Disease Prevention Grant August 2, 2007 The Michigan Office of Services to the Aging (OSA) in Lansing has been awarded a multi-year federal grant to prevent disease and improve the health of older adults. The grant-provided through the Administration on Aging (AoA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)-will provide $250,000 per year for three years. The grant's purpose is to empower older people to take more personal control of their own health through disease prevention programs. "Chronic disease is a major health concern in Michigan because of the growing number of aging adults and their effected families," said Sharon Gire, OSA Director. "It is easier and less costly to prevent chronic illness, rather than treat it after it happens." Preliminary data from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFS) reveals that 60 percent of the state's residents over age 59 reported having doctor-diagnosed arthritis, 18 percent indicated having hypertension, and 15.6 percent reported having cardiovascular disease. Grant funding will be used to establish evidence-based disease prevention programs that will help combat chronic illnesses such as stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. These programs have been effective at empowering older adults to take charge of their own health thus reducing their risk of developing a disease and/or disability. In Michigan, the funding will be given to four area agencies on aging (AAAs) in four regions of the state. The AAAs-the Detroit Area Agency on Aging (Wayne County), the Region 2 Area Agency on Aging (Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee Counties), the Valley Area Agency on Aging (Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee Counties) and the Region IX Area Agency on Aging (12 Counties in Northeast Michigan)-will start community coalitions to implement disease prevention activities while trying to reach the maximum number of older adults who are at risk. Implementation of the disease prevention programs will also involve the training of community leaders and program staff, the development of community coalitions, and the conducting of annual conferences. OSA will partner with all four AAAs and the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) to conduct a self-management program as well as other programs that address balance, physical activity, and fall prevention. Back to Top

Michigan's First 2007 WNV Human Case Detected August 2, 2007 LANSING - Researchers at the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) public health laboratory have today positively identified the state's first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) for 2007. A 25-year-old Oakland County woman was hospitalized in mid-July with symptoms associated with the disease. "Because we cannot predict the impact WNV will have on Michigan again this year, it is crucial that citizens are aware of the potential risk of WNV infection," said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. "Communities should use surveillance information to target intervention and prevention strategies in areas where WNV activity has been detected." Late spring typically signals the beginning of the season for mosquito-borne diseases such as WNV in Michigan. Surveillance activities for WNV continue this year as a cooperative partnership involving the Michigan Departments of Agriculture, Community Health, Environmental Quality and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, and local health departments throughout the state. All agencies are integral parts of Michigan's WNV surveillance, prevention, and response strategies. Mosquitoes most likely to transmit WNV to humans lay eggs in small collections of stagnant water. Adults can hatch in as short as 10 days time in the warmest months of the summer. Mosquitoes become infected with WNV after feeding on sick birds carrying the virus. Within 10 to 14 days, the mosquito can transmit the virus to humans. "It is important that Michigan residents take the necessary precautions to prevent exposure to mosquitoes until our first frost of the season," said Dr. Gregory Holzman, MDCH Chief Medical Executive. "Since West Nile virus is spread to humans and horses almost exclusively through the bite of an infected mosquito, people need to take measures that reduce the chance of receiving mosquito bites." Most people bitten by a WNV infected mosquito show no symptoms of illness. However, some become sick three to 15 days after exposure. Holzman said about one-in-five infected persons will have mild illness with fever, and about one in 150 infected people will become severely ill. Symptoms of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the spinal cord and brain linings) include stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, muscle weakness, convulsions and paralysis. Persons aged 55 and older are more susceptible to severe WNV disease symptoms. Physicians are urged to test patients for WNV if they present with fever and signs of meningitis or encephalitis, or sudden painless paralysis in the absence of stroke in the summer months. Blood donor screening for WNV is expected to continue in 2007. Michigan residents are encouraged to: Maintain window and door screening to help keep mosquitoes out of buildings. Drain puddles in the yard, emptying water from mosquito breeding sites such as buckets, troughs, barrels, old tires or similar sites where mosquitoes lay eggs. Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active (dawn and dusk) Wear light colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors. Apply insect repellants that contain the active ingredient DEET to exposed skin or clothing, always following the manufacturer's directions for use. (Avoid applying repellent to children less than 2 years of age, and to the hands of older children because repellents may be transferred to the eyes or mouth potentially causing irritation or adverse health effects). Collection of information on the sightings of sick and dead wild birds and mammals is necessary for monitoring the risk of WNV to humans, wildlife and domestic animals. For rapid reporting of a sighting, please use the web-based reporting form by visiting the state's website at www.michigan.gov/westnilevirus. For those without Internet access, you may use your local library to access the Internet or call the statewide toll-free number at: 1-888-668-0869 for updated information about WNV. Back to Top