HomeMy WebLinkAbout20232769.tiffWeld County
Department of Public Health and Environment
May 23, 2023 - 9:00 A.M.
Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment
Second Floor Hearing Room 210 & via Microsoft Teams
The Weld County Board of Health met on April 25, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in the second -floor hearing
room of the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment and by via Microsoft Teams.
Those present included:
Board Members: Tom Cope, Doug Printz, Anthony Gallardo, Fred Hepner, Michael Wailes, Lonnie
Ford, and Jeff Reck.
Others: Katie Sall and Lauren Light from Environmental Health, and Valerie Smith, PhD, MPH,
Communicable Disease Program Manager, and Victoria Hounshell, Former MPH Practicum Student
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM. A motion was made by Tom Cope to approve the agenda.
Fred Hepner seconded the motion, and the motion was carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The board approved the minutes of the March 28, 2023, meeting. A motion was made to approve by
Fred Hepner and Tom Cope seconded the motion and the motion was carried unanimously.
Biosolids New:
Denali Water Solutions — Katie Sall presented two new biosolid applications. No public
comment or concerns were received. Environmental Health recommends approval.
DS -2300001, DS -2300002. A motion was made by Fred Hepner to approve the new biosolids. Doug
Printz seconded the motion, and the motion was carried unanimously.
1555 N. 17th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: (970) 304-6410
weldhealth.org
Public Health
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2023-2769
Weld County
Department of Public Health and Environment
Biosolids Renewal:
Denali water Solutions — Katie Sall presented 18 biosolid renewal applications. No public
comment or concerns were received. Environmental Health recommends approval.
DS -200205, DS -200220, DS -200310 -DS -200720, DS -200828, DS -200829, DS -201106, DS -201210,
DS -201214, DS -201316, DS -201401, DS -1700004, DS -1700005, DS -1700008, DS -1800008, DS -
1900006, DS -1900007, and DS -2100002.
A motion was made by Fred Hepner to approval the renewals. Tom Cope seconded the motion, and
the motion was carried unanimously.
Variance Request:
SP -2300096 - Request to approve property owners to keep existing vault for commercial business since there is no
room on the property for a full OWTS to be installed.
Presentations:
Valerie Smith, PhD, MPH, Communicable Disease Program Manager
Tickborne Illnesses
What cause someone to become sick: A pathogen is a microorganism that can cause disease.
Some common pathogens: Virus — small sections of DNA/FNA with a protective shell, cannot
reproduce on their own, treatment focuses on symptom relief, i.e., Colorado Tick Fever Virus.
Bacteria- Free living cells, larger and more complex than viruses, but structurally simple, shaped
like roads (bacilli), spheres (Cocci), or spirals (Spirilla). Surface `appendages' allow them to swim or
adhere to surface. Can reproduce on their own. Treatment with antibiotics. i.e., Lyme Disease
Protozoa — One -celled parasitic or free-living organism. Larger than bacteria. Life cycle often allows
them to grow. Cannot reproduce on their own. Treatment can be more toxic to the host. I.e.,
babesiosis.
1555 N. 17th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: (970) 304-6410
weldhealth.org
Public Health
Weld County
Department of Public Health and Environment
Disease Classification:
Enteric (Gastrointestinal)
Bacterial, viral, or parasitic, characterized by diarrhea (3+ loose stools in a 24 -hr
period), often transmitted through oral ingestion of trace amounts of contaminated feces — fecal -oral
rout — feces contaminated food or drink.
Vaccine Preventable (VPD)
Bacterial or viral, diseases for which an effective vaccine has been developed for mass
distribution, no vaccine is 100% effective.
Zoonotic
Zoonotic Diseases - Broad category of diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans
Bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic, pathogens can live and replicate in host animals without
causing illness or harm, routes of transmission can include- Arthropod vectors (mosquitos, ticks,
bugs/flies), direct contact (inhalation, body fluids, feces), contamination of food/water supply.
Zoonotic diseases are on the rise — deforestation and humans living closer to wildlife, warming
climates have allowed some insect vectors to expand to new regions, global travel has introduced new
species into areas and allowed humans to pass diseases to other parts of the world.
There are two types of Ticks hard ticks (Ixodidae) and soft ticks (argasidae) all ticks have 4 main life
stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.
Reported cases of tick -borne illnesses has tripled in the past 15 years, us reported a total of 50,856
cases in 2019.
If you happen to find any ticks and would like to have it identified only will not be tested for disease,
you can do it thru the state website Colorado Citizen Scientist Tick Submission Form (state.co.us)
1555 N. 17th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: (970) 304-6410
weldhealth.org
Public Health
Weld County
Department of Public Health and Environment
Reportable conditions are required by law to be reported such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
(rickettsia), Colorado Tick Fever (virus), Lyme Disease (bacteria), Tick borne Relapsing Fever
(bacteria), and Tick Paralysis (neurotoxin).
The right way to check and remove ticks is checking in an around the ears, hair, arms, belly button,
the waist, legs, and knees and always use tweezer to grab tick and pull up at once. Protect yourself
before going outdoors by treating clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin, use
EPA registered insect repellents, always check your self your clothing, gear, and pets, shower right
away after coming indoors. Ticks are more active during April -September. For additional information
contact CDP team members 970-400-2223.
Victoria Hounshell - Former MPH Practicum Student/Regis College — Presented her
practicum project to improve education and outreach for zoonotic diseases. The current website
zoonotic disease page had limited but essential information about common vectors, transmission, and
prevention — the goal to make it more informative to the public is to include more transmission info,
prevention strategies, and next best action steps for each disease. Streamline access to phone
numbers and forms for the public by including them on the disease pages. Supplement and organize
resources for our partner agencies. Some of the educational materials created were, access to Canva
PRO, educational posters in both Word & Canva, performed budgeting for bug wipes, developed a
bug wipe/WNV prevention handout, created pamphlets for the Home and Garden Show in March
2023, created business cards.
Rabies Summary Data 2016-2022
The primary vectors in Weld are Skunks and Bats, followed by Cats, Dogs, Foxes, and
Raccoons. Only Bats and Skunks have been testing positive since 2020. Most of the testing was
performed due to a domestic animal exposure. Skunks 52%, Bats 33%, Cats 8%, Dogs 3%, Foxes 2%,
and Raccoons 2%. Raccoons' rates have dropped drastically since the early 1990s. Skunks and Bats
are the primary vectors in Colorado. The following totals # positive animals per year, 2016-5, 2017-
15, 2018-29, 2019-13, 2020-8, 2021-9, and 2022-6. Overall, the state experienced a similar pattern of
cases from 2017-2019, with decreases in 2020.
1555 N. 17th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: (970) 304-6410
weldhealth.org
Public Health
Weld County
Department of Public Health and Environment
Why are there so many bats in Greeley?
Known vectors of rabies include the Silver -Haired, Mexican free -tailed, and big brown bats.
Brown bats and silver -haired bats are common in Colorado. Possible associations: bats habitats -the
downtown Greeley area has older homes that are often rented out and may not be maintained as
well, large trees near the University. Greeley accounts for most of the testing in Weld County,
representing most of the bat testing and the largest number of positive skunks, followed by Ft
Lupton, Keenesburg, and La Salle.
West Nile Virus (WNV) Data Analysis
All positive testing in humans is reported to the state and recorded in the Colorado Electronic
Disease Reporting System (CEDRS). Most of the testing is done when a person is severely
symptomatic, which is only about 1 in every 150 infected people, Colorado: 64% cases were
neuroinvasive disease in 2022. Mortality=l out of 10 people with severe disease. Totals from 2016-
2022 reported 127 cases, 72 hospitalizations, and 7 deaths. The rate of hospitalizations to cases has
increased to 69% as of 2021 and 2022. Victoria earned master's degree May 23, 2023
Staff Discussion:
Lauren announced that Lonnie, Bree, and Anthony got re -appointed by the Weld County
Board of Commissioners, all with terms to expire May 23, 2026
Meeting was adjourned at 10:52 am. Next meeting is June 27, 2023.
1555 N. 17th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: (970) 304-6410
weldhealth.org
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