Enterics (Digestive Tract Illnesses)
What are bacterial enteric diseases? These are digestive tract illnesses that can be caused by bacteria when someone consumes contaminated food and water, or has unsanitary contact with feces often by means of caring for someone in diapers. Many bacterial enteric diseases are caused by Campylobacter, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Shigella, Vibrio, Salmonella, Yersinia, and Listeria bacterial species. Many of these infections are often referred to as “food poisoning”. Many of the foods associated with these diseases include meat, poultry, shellfish, dairy products, raw or lightly cooked sprouts, and unwashed leafy greens like lettuce and spinach. When infected with one of these bacteria, you may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), abdominal pain and cramps, bloating, fever, body aches, and loss of appetite. Most infections will resolve on their own without the need for antibiotics. However, infections in young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems can be more severe and require medical attention as they are at high risk for fatality.
Who addresses these problems in Umatilla County and how do they do it? The Umatilla County Environmental Health (EH) team performs several duties that help protect Umatilla County residents from these enteric diseases. The EH team performs all restaurant, school cafeteria, hotel/motel, and food vendor/food truck health inspections. They do this to ensure that food is being handled, cooked, and stored properly to decrease the likelihood that someone will contract a foodborne illness. Our EH team also performs inspections of public pools to ensure that they are meeting strict sanitary standards to decrease risks for waterborne illnesses. They also manage septic system permits and site evaluations, as well as have programs that will help pay for domestic well water testing. The UCo Health Communicable Disease (CD) contact tracing team reaches out to those who have tested positive or are part of known outbreaks to decrease the risk that an individual will transmit the illness to anyone else, as well as gather information to determine how they may have acquired the illness. This allows us to contact people who may be unknowingly spreading the illness or allows us to trace back potentially contaminated food items or water systems. The CD Disease Prevention Specialists provide education to healthcare providers about bacterial testing, reporting, and treatment, as well as provide education to community members about how to reduce their risk of getting sick. UCo Health performs all of these tasks because we care about the health and well being of all of our residents and tourists.
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What are parasitic enteric diseases? These are digestive tract illnesses that can be caused by microscopic parasites called protozoans or by parasitic worms. Protozoan enteric infections are typically caused by parasitic amoebas, Cryptosporidium, Cyclosporidium, and Giardia. Parasitic worms on our radar include tapeworms and Trichinella roundworms. Symptoms of a parasitic enteric disease include abdominal cramping and pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), fatigue, weight loss, and occasional fever. Parasitic worm symptoms can additionally include salt cravings, muscle soreness, and pain/swelling around the eyes or worm infections might not have any symptoms at all. Parasitic enteric diseases can be acquired by consuming contaminated foods like undercooked meat or unwashed fruits and vegetables. Infections can also be acquired from swallowing contaminated pool, lake, and river water. Some protozoan infections resolve on their own, while others do require medical intervention. Almost all parasitic worm infections require medical treatment. Infections in young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems can be more severe, leaving them at high risk for fatality.
Who addresses these problems in Umatilla County and how do they do it? The Umatilla County Environmental Health (EH) team performs several duties that help protect Umatilla County residents from these enteric diseases. The EH team performs all restaurant, school cafeteria, hotel/motel, and food vendor/food truck health inspections. They do this to ensure that food is being handled, cooked, and stored properly to decrease the likelihood that someone will contract a foodborne illness. Our EH team also performs inspections of public pools to ensure that they are meeting strict sanitary standards to decrease risks for waterborne illnesses. They also manage septic system permits and site evaluations, as well as have programs that will help pay for domestic well water testing. The UCo Health Communicable Disease (CD) contact tracing team reaches out to those who have tested positive or are part of known outbreaks to decrease the risk that an individual will transmit the illness to anyone else, as well as gather information to determine how they may have acquired the illness. This allows us to contact people who may be unknowingly spreading the illness or allows us to trace back potentially contaminated food items or water systems. The CD Disease Prevention Specialists provide education to healthcare providers about bacterial testing, reporting, and treatment, as well as provide education to community members about how to reduce their risk of getting sick. UCo Health performs all of these tasks because we care about the health and well being of all of our residents and tourists.
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What are viral enteric diseases? These are digestive tract illnesses that can be caused by viruses and are mostly spread via the fecal-oral route, meaning oral contact with contaminated fecal particles is most often how these diseases are transmitted. Caring for someone who is ill, oral-anal sex, or using drugs with others are ways these viruses can be transmitted. Some of these diseases can also be considered foodborne illnesses since consuming undercooked meat and some vegetables are a way these viruses can be transmitted. Viral enteric diseases handled by UCo Health include Hepatitis A and E, Norovirus, and Rotavirus. For most of these infections, symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain. For the hepatitis viruses, dark urine, “clay-colored” stool, joint pain, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) are common symptoms as well. Rotavirus is common in unvaccinated children 3 years and younger. Norovirus is common in infants, young children, and the elderly. Hepatitis A is most common in unvaccinated children and adolescents. Hepatitis E is not common in the United States, but if you travel internationally, you may be at higher risk. Untreated hepatitis infections can put you at risk for long-term health issues like mild to severe liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Vaccines are currently available at UCo Health for rotavirus and hepatitis A. Rotavirus vaccines are recommended for infants around 15 weeks and 12 to 23 months for hepatitis A vaccines. Call 541-278-5432 to schedule a vaccine appointment.
Who addresses these problems in Umatilla County and how do they do it? The Umatilla County Communicable Disease (CD) performs several duties to address these illnesses. The CD contact tracing team reaches out to those who have tested positive or are part of known outbreaks to decrease the risk that an individual will transmit the illness to anyone else, as well as gather information to determine how they may have acquired the illness. This allows us to contact people who may be spreading the illness without knowing they have it or allows us to trace back potentially contaminated food items or water systems. The CD Disease Prevention Specialists provide education to healthcare providers about viral testing, reporting, and treatment, as well as provide education to community members about how to reduce their risk of getting sick. Our clinic nurses also work very hard to ensure that those who need testing and vaccination for numerous diseases stays widely available to our community members.
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Other Health Issues
What are environmental chemicals that can cause harm? Currently, exposure to chemicals like lead, cadmium, and some pesticides can cause long-term health problems, even if someone is exposed to a small amount. Children tend to be most affected by these chemicals because of their small body size. Lead poisoning can be acquired through many avenues like playing with certain plastic or painted toys, exposure to lead paint on the inside and outside of buildings, and contact with lead-containing soil. Cadmium toxicity often results from occupational hazards, especially for those who work in mining and smelting, metal working, working with sewage, and use of certain fertilizers. It can also be acquired by contact with cadmium containing soil and smoking cigarettes. Pesticide poisoning can be acquired by using or mixing pesticide without wearing protective gear, drift from aerial applications, touching or inhaling pesticide that remains in the air after application, and accidental ingestion (often children). All of these chemical poisonings can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain/cramps, and diarrhea. Lead exposure is also associated with developmental delay (slowed growth) and learning disabilities in children, irritability, miscarriage, low birth weight, and premature birth. Long-term effects from cadmium toxicity include decreased lung function, iron-deficiency anemia, cardiac issues, kidney and liver dysfunction, and softening of certain bones. Pesticide poisoning is associated with numerous types of cancers, seizures, birth defects, respiratory diseases like asthma, and learning disabilities in children.
Who addresses these problems in Umatilla County and how do they do it? The Umatilla County Communicable Disease contact tracing team reaches out to those who have these chemicals show up in blood tests and gather information to determine how they may have acquired the toxicity in the chance a certain product needs to be recalled. The UCo Environmental Health team works closely with the Oregon Health Authority to conduct home inspections of those who have developed chemical poisonings to ensure that the harmful component is removed or fixed.
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What are fungal diseases? These are illnesses that can be caused typically by dimorphic fungi. Dimorphic means that the fungi can live in both a mold and a yeast form. Typically, when the fungus is in the environment, it grows in the mold form, but once inside of a host, it switches to the infectious yeast form. The fungal diseases handled by UCo Health include Coccidioidomycosis and Cryptococcosis. We also keep our eye on multi-drug resistant Candida infections that are part of outbreaks. Certain fungal infections are more common in certain areas of the country than in others. Coccidioides fungi are mostly found in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, although areas of Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon have had this fungus isolated from the environment. Coccidioides cannot be spread from person to person. It is only acquired from breathing in spores typically airborne during dry, windy conditions. Cryptococcus tends to be more rare, but Oregon and Washington have seen an increase in cases over the past decade. This also cannot be spread from person to person. Most cases appear to be acquired by human interaction with infected bird feces. Most of these fungal infections either start on the skin or in the lungs. They typically remain in these localized areas in people with healthy immune systems, but antifungal medicines are usually required to fully get rid of infection. Those who are elderly or immunocompromised (have autoimmune disorders, undergoing cancer treatment, take immune system suppressing medicine, etc.) are more likely to have infections spread to other areas of the body. Severe diseases can arise once infection spreads like meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord) or blood infections, both of which can be life threatening if not medically treated.
Who addresses these problems in Umatilla County and how do they do it? The Umatilla County Communicable Disease (CD) performs several duties to address these illnesses. The CD contact tracing team reaches out to those who have tested positive or are part of known outbreaks to gather information to determine how they may have acquired the illness. The CD Disease Prevention Specialists provide education to healthcare providers about fungal testing, reporting, and treatment, as well as provide education to community members about how to reduce their risk of getting sick.
#UCoHealthCares
The CDC has designated the HPMXV (Monkeypox) Virus to be declared a public health emergency. UCoHealth wants to make sure that people have accurate information regarding this situation. Please refer to the information below for Frequently Asked Questions:
What is monkeypox? Human monkeypox is a rare disease caused by an infection with the monkeypox virus, it is from the same family of viruses as smallpox. Because of this, our immune systems will confer protection from one if it has been exposed to the other because of their similarities. It is not, however, related to chickenpox. Due to international travel it has now spread to countries other than that were it originated which was in Central and Western Africa. One of the possible reasons for a resurgence of this family of disease is due to the fact that in 1972 the United States discontinued vaccination because infection rates had become nearly non-existent and the disease was considered eradicated therefore vaccination was no longer necessary.
How can monkeypox be spread? Human monkeypox infection can spread to ANYONE through close, personal contact with the lesions of an infected individual. This can be through skin-to-skin contact with monkeypox rash, scabs, or body fluids. Also, directly touching objects or surfaces used by an infected individual. Sharing clothing, bedding, bathroom appliances, or towels is another common way to spread this virus. Directly engaging in intimate contact with an infected individual is currently a common way of transmitting monkeypox. Contact through oral, anal, and vaginal sex or touching genitals or the anus of an individual with monkeypox can put you at high risk for infection. This illness is NOT a sexually transmitted disease due to the fact that it can be spread in a variety of ways.
Monkeypox can be spread through contact with respiratory secretions similar to how COVID is transmitted. Prolonged face-to-face contact with an individual with monkeypox can put you at high risk for this illness. While it can be spread similarly to COVID, the transmission rate of monkeypox by respiratory secretions is SIGNIFICANTLY lower than that of COVID. A pregnant person infected with monkeypox can transmit the virus through the placenta to their fetus. If you are pregnant and have concerns regarding this issue please reach out to your doctor. Additionally, monkeypox can be transmitted from an infected animal by bite or being scratched, preparing or eating meat of an infected animal.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox and how long do they last? Symptoms of monkeypox infection include fever (100.4℉ or higher), chills, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, generalized body aches, headache, and respiratory symptoms like sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, and/or cough. Not everyone will experience these symptoms but everyone will experience the characteristic rash. The incubation period for the human monkeypox can range from about 3-17 days, which means most individuals are actively infected by the virus, but do not have symptoms. Symptoms of monkeypox typically last between 2-4 weeks. Human monkeypox infection is rarely fatal.
Very early during infection, flat, small, and discolored areas of skin can appear on or near the genitals, anus, hands, feet, chest, and face. In some cases lesions can appear on the tongue or in the mouth. The rash will soon move from flat lesions to raised lesions and then will become filled with clear fluid. About a week into the rash, lesions become sharply raised and firm with a more opaque fluid filled appearance. Lesions can then develop a depression in the center of them called umbilication. After about 5-7 days of the rash onset, scabs will begin to form. They will crust over and fall off typically between day 7-14 of rash onset. Once scabs have fallen off, a new, healthy layer of skin will form and the individual will no longer be considered contagious. Unfortunately, pitted scars or skin discoloration can remain in the site of the lesions once fully healed.
Researchers are still looking into if the virus can be spread when someone is infected but does not display any symptoms, during what point in the infection a person is considered most contagious in regards to respiratory secretions, and whether the virus can be transmitted through semen, vaginal fluids, urine, or feces.
How can I protect myself? The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to avoid high risk situations. Examples of ways you can do this are by:
1. Taking a temporary break from activities that increase your risk of exposure.
2. Limiting your number of intimate partners.
3. Washing your hands often especially after engaging with high touch surfaces.
4. Wearing a mask when engaging in prolonged face-to-face contact.
5. Avoiding large gatherings that involve close, personal, skin-to-skin contact.
6. Wearing a condom (latex or polyurethane) when engaging in sexual activities.
Remember, condoms alone may not prevent exposure during sexual activities because the rash can occur on other parts of the body.
What should I do if I think I have monkeypox or have been exposed? If you believe that you may have monkeypox, contact your primary care provider. They will talk to you about your symptoms and decide if you should be tested for monkeypox. It is recommended that you stay home until your doctor clears you to decrease the likelihood that you could transmit the virus to others in the community. Make sure your doctor reports this to UCo Health so we can help you through this process and connect you with resources while you remain at home.
During isolation at home, people with monkeypox should clean and disinfect the spaces they occupy regularly to limit household contamination.ISOLATING ALONE IN HOME: People with monkeypox who are isolating alone at home should regularly clean and disinfect the spaces they occupy, including commonly touched surfaces and items, to limit household contamination. Perform hand hygiene afterwards using an alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) that contains at least 60% alcohol, or soap and water if ABHR is unavailable.
ISOLATING WITH OTHERS IN HOME: People with monkeypox who are isolating in a home with others who don’t have monkeypox should follow the isolation and infection control guidance, and any shared spaces, appliances, or items should be disinfected immediately following use.
When doing laundry, clothes and sheets should not be mixed with that of other household members. Additionally, we recommend washing laundry in hot water not cold water for better disinfection.
PLEASE NOTE: If you believe you have been exposed to someone who has monkeypox, call UCo Health at 541-278-6290 and ask to speak with our Disease Prevention Specialist Tanner Pearson about next steps. #UCoHealthCares
To learn more about monkeypox prevention, visit: www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/prevention.html
