TUBERCULOSIS AND VACCINE PREVENTABLE

Tuberculosis - The School Screening program has seen over 860 clients since January.  There have been four active cases of TB this year.  The HIV Care clinic staff received a presentation on the risk of TB with HIV clients.  A partnership was developed to ensure clients are properly monitored when they have HIV and latent TB infection.  A screening clinic for the international summer students at the University of Windsor was held with approximately 40 clients in attendance.

Vaccine Preventable - The Biologic nurses have completed 115 cold chain inspections with 85 remaining.  An increase in the demand for vaccines has been noted since the high school immunization questionnaires were sent out.  To date 4,105 doses of Adacel and 2,347 doses of meningitis C vaccines have been requested from area physicians.

The Grade 7 Hepatitis B immunizations are coming to a close for this school year.  Over 3,800 students received the first dose and 3,480 students have received the second dose.  Over 90% of the students have completed the series.  During the summer months, we will be contacting the remaining 10% of the students to encourage them to attend the Health Unit and complete their series or they will be picked up in September at the school.

The team is also assessing immunization questionnaire forms that continue to be returned.   Services have been increased in the Leamington office with two full days planned for this month.

CHRONIC DISEASE AND INJURY PREVENTION

Tobacco ControlEnforcement Update - Since May 31, 2006, there have been 421 complaints (as of May 31, 2007) reported to the Tobacco Hotline at the Health Unit, all of which were assigned to and investigated by an enforcement officer.

• 273 were complaints for smoking in a public place/workplace
• 47 were for complaints related to sale/supply to a minor
• 14 were complaints related to school infractions
• 63 were complaints for smoking in restaurants/bars

Since the implementation of the Smoke Free Ontario Act (May 31, 2006), a total of 145 charges have been laid in Windsor-Essex (as of May 31, 2007).  Of these, 56 were laid against tobacco vendors in Windsor-Essex for the sale of tobacco to a minor in conjunction with our test shopper program.  During the summer months, additional shifts of test shopping and hospitality will be added to our regular schedule.

OTRU Survey - The third installment of the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit (OTRU) survey was completed from May 22 through June 11, 2007.  A total of 58 tobacco vendors and 72 restaurants and bars were inspected during the survey in the Windsor-Essex County area based on selected premises provided by OTRU.  One charge was laid to a tobacco vendor for selling tobacco to a person less then 19 years of age during these inspections. Copies of all inspection forms were sent to the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit for their review and evaluation as part of compliance research on the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.

Ministry of Revenue - The fourth round of joint visits between the Health Unit’s Tobacco Enforcement Officers and the Ministry of Finance Tobacco Tax Inspectors will take place from June 20-22, 2007.  As during prior visits, officers from each agency will be partnered up to perform visits to a number of tobacco retailers in our area over a three day period.  Extensive procedures and protocols have been put in place collectively by both parties to ensure that each enforcement agency is able to perform their jobs to the best of their abilities.

Health Action Windsor-Essex
Go For Health Windsor-Essex: A Call For Action - The launch of the Call For Action on June 7, 2007 was a great success with approximately 88 people in attendance.  Words of welcome and support were given by Jeff Watson, MP (by letter); Gary McNamara (by video); Ken Lewenza Jr. for Mayor, Eddie Francis; Nelson Santos; Dr. Allen Heimann; and Brenda Carter, Vice-President, Regional Cancer Services, Erie St. Clair.  Key leaders representing seven sectors provided their perspective of why the Call For Action was important to their sector. Many provided examples of what they were already doing and what their individual and collective sectors could strive for.  Sector representatives included: Bill Mark, CAO, Town of Leamington for the Municipal sector; Rick Thrasher, Director, Claims Administration, Green Shield Canada and Gary Parent, Financial Secretary, CAW, Local 444 for the Business sector; Mary Jean Gallagher, Director of Education, Greater Essex County District School Board for the Education sector; Frank Chalmers, Integration Consultant, Erie St. Clair LHIN for the Health sector; Dan Pelletier, Executive Director, YMCA for the Leisure and Recreation sector; Dave McEwen, Department Head, Food Services, University of Windsor for the Food Services sector; and Veronique Mandal, Hargreaves, Mandal Stewart for the Media sector.  The Guest speaker was Dr. Andrea Steen, President, Windsor-Essex County Medical Association.  Gord Smith, Chair of the Go For Heath Windsor-Essex Coalition gave an overview of the Call for Action.  All the major media were present: A-Channel, CBC TV and radio, other radio stations, The Windsor Star and some county newspapers.  The launch coincided with The Windsor Star’s Fit City series.  The series utilized a number of quotes and messages from the Call For Action document.

As a next step, a forum will be held on September 19, 2007 where representatives from all sectors will be brought together to develop an action plan for their sectors to move forward with the implementation of the Call For Action.  The plan from there is to have semi-annual forums to monitor progress toward the Call For Action.

Health Action Workplace Committee - 4th Annual Executive Breakfast Series Forum – The Ciociaro
Club was the site of the 4th Annual Executive Breakfast Series Forum, hosted by Health Action Windsor-Essex and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.  The topic for this forum was Absence Prevention and Management presented by Brian Brown, Chief Executive Officer of School Boards Coalition Incorporated.  Twenty-four workplaces were represented.  There were 80 people registered although actual attendance was 67.  A number of labour representatives were unable to attend at the last minute due to a presentation to the government in Ottawa that same day.  The Windsor Star interviewed Mr. Brown resulting in an article the next day in the business section.

Physical Activity Bike to Work in June - On June 1, 2007 the 8th Annual Bike to Work Any Day in June Contest kicked off with a free breakfast event in front of Windsor City Hall for all cyclists on their way to work by bicycle.  Caroline Postma from City Council rode in on her bike to enjoy a variety of healthy breakfast items provided.  A variety of local media were present to cover the event.  In total, there were approximately 40 cyclists who stopped by to pick up breakfast and healthy living and cycling safety brochures that were out on display.

This year, approximately 80 ballots boxes, over 300 posters and over 3,500 ballots were distributed throughout workplaces, community centres, and bike shops in Windsor and Essex County.  Our goal is to have over 550 participants enter this year’s contest.
The above activities were carried out in partnership with the Windsor-Essex County Active Living Coalition.

HEALTH INSPECTION

West Nile Virus Strategy 2007 - This year the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is again working with the community to reduce the adult mosquito population and to promote measures that individuals can take for protection.  The West Nile virus strategy this year, which launched on May 28, 2007 involves setting mosquito traps once a week and collecting mosquitoes for testing, larviciding in areas where the virus is found, providing education to the public through a series of fact sheets available online, and collecting dead crows and blue jays until a bird tests positive for West Nile Virus.  The Health Unit encourages residents to contact 519-258-2146 ext. 1491 to report any dead birds in their area.

Summer Festivals – Health Inspection Strategy - With the introduction of the revised regulations for special events last year, the inspectors will inspect on the basis of the Food Premises Regulation and in others, that have been designated as exempt from that regulation, on the basis of the HPPA alone.

The season for fairs and festivals has begun with the Strawberry Fest in LaSalle (non-exempt) and Carrousel on the River (exempt).  Through educational materials and training along with onsite visits, when appropriate, we will work to make these events as safe as possible for the public.

Emergency Response May 25, 2007 - On May 25 an industrial fire in the heart of Windsor spread a thick layer of smoke through an area with more than 20 food premises including bakeries, food stores, restaurants, butcher shops, variety stores and warehouses.  In the face of a toxic plume of undetermined content, all food premises were ordered closed.  In addition to the smoke damage some facilities were without electricity for more than 12 hours.  When safe to proceed, the inspection team evaluated each food premise and corrective action was ordered.  This included the disposal of food and cleaning prior to re-opening.

Lead in Water - The City of London recently discovered that drinking water samples taken from the
taps of various consumers contained elevated levels of lead, even when taken after the lines were flushed.  Elevated levels of lead in tap water are typically caused by lead piping and solder in plumbing.  Flushing for a period of five minutes or more replaces water that has been in contact with lead pipes and solder in plumbing for a period of time with water from the drinking-water system that has only been briefly in contact with the lead pipes.  In accordance with recent provincial order, water distributions systems in Windsor-Essex have been testing to ensure the safety of our water supply.  To date the reported lead levels in our area have fallen within the acceptable range.  Educational materials on lead in water are available on the Health Unit website.

Respectfully submitted,
Deb Bennett, Director