According to the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), all fresh and frozen shellfish, and many products made from these shellfish, shipped from South Korea to the United States should be considered  potentially unsafe for consumption. This includes frozen breaded shellfish products from South Korea.  States have been advised by the FDA to treat South Korean shellfish products as being from an unapproved source.

Effective May 1, 2012, FDA has removed all certified dealers in the Korean Shellfish Sanitation Program from its Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List. This stops the shipment of fresh/frozen molluscan shellfish from Korea to the United States.  DHMH is working with distributors and local health agencies to ensure that these products are removed from store shelves. There is not a need at this time for public health agencies to have product tested.

Advice to Consumers

    Before you purchase molluscan shellfish from a restaurant or grocery store, check with the establishment to determine the country of origin of the product.  If the product is from Korea do not purchase or consume it. When in doubt, don’t eat it.

    If you have already purchased these products, theses should be discarded so that no person or animal can eat them.

    If you have eaten these products and are concerned about symptoms, you should contact your health care provider.

For more information, contact the FDA

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/MediaContacts/default.htm

Stay connected by following:

MarylandDHMH on Twitter or ‘liking’ Maryland DHMH on Facebook.

5.1.1

•  Obesity Resolution
•  County Council Agenda
•  DHMH Policy on Influenza Vaccination for DHMH Facilities and Local Health Department Employees
•  DHMH Policy on Privacy Administrative Requirements

5.1.2 A

•  Board of Health Presentation October 18, 2011
•  Board of Health Presentation May 1, 2012
•  Interim Report to County Council from Obesity Task Force
•  Health Matter Presentation

5.1.3 A

Impact on policies

5.2.1

• Local Health Improvement Plan
• Committee Members
• Data
• Minutes
• Assessment of resources
• Priorities

5.2.2

• Local Health Improvement Plan
• Priorities
• Measurable Objectives
• Improvement Strategies
• Performance Measures
• Measurable time frames

5.2.3

• Reports showing implementation of plan
• Examples of how the plan was implemented

5.2.4

• Annual evaluation of plan
• Progress made
• Show how the plan was revised

5.3.1

•  Process used to develop organizational strategic plan (May 15)
• List of attendees with titles (Note governing entity member should attend)
• Summary
  • Number of meetings
  • Duration of planning process
  • Method used for review stakeholders

5.3.2

• Strategic Plan for DHMH
• DHMH’[s Mission, Vision and guiding principlaes/values
• DHMH’s strategic priorities
• DHMH’s goals and objectives with measurable and time-framed targets
• Identification of external trends, events or other factors that may impact community health
• Analysis of DHMH’s strengths and weaknesses
• Linkages wit health department plan

5.3.3

• Annual Report

5.4.1

• Document that we participated in preparedness meetings
• Agendas
• Minutes
• Documentation of participation in a test that implements the All Hazard Emergency Operations Plan
• Debriefing or evaluation report
• Documentation of collaboration in revising emergency plans
• A collaboration review
• Contact list of those who have been updated
• Collaboration with emergency response partners
• Copy of revised plan to demonstrate current practices and information

BALTIMORE, MD (May 3, 2012) – With warmer weather and tick season right around the corner, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) reminds Maryland residents that they can protect themselves and their families from tick bites and tickborne diseases, including Lyme disease.

 There are several kinds of ticks in Maryland that can transmit disease when they bite people or their pets. These ticks are most commonly found in wooded and brushy areas, shrubs, leaf litter and tall grass – and even in people’s backyards.

One of the smallest ticks – the black-legged tick – causes some of the biggest problems because it is so small and can transmit several tickborne diseases, including Lyme disease. Many tickborne diseases have similar early symptoms, including fever, headache, fatigue and possible rash. However, the signs and symptoms may vary, so it is important that people contact their health care provider if they develop any of these symptoms after a tick bite or after being in tick habitat. Most cases of tick-borne disease can be cured with antibiotics, especially when treatment is started early.

“Whether spending time in the backyard or hiking in the woods, taking the proper
precautions can help Marylanders enjoy the outdoors safely,” said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, Secretary of DHMH.

To prevent Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases, DHMH recommends Maryland residents take the following precautions:

Wear long pants and long sleeves to help keep ticks off of skin;

• Wear light colored clothing to spot ticks more easily;
• When planning to be in an environment where ticks are often found, use repellent that contains at least 20 percent DEET on exposed skin for protection that lasts several hours. Parents should apply repellent to children; the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends products with up to 30 percent DEET for kids. Always follow product instructions;
• Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents, with permethrin, or look for clothing pre-treated with permethrin;
• Avoid areas with high grass and leaf litter and walk in the center of trails when hiking;
• Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors to wash off and more easily find crawling ticks before they bite;
• Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of the body upon returning from tick-infested areas. Parents should help children check thoroughly for ticks. Remove any ticks right away;
• Remove an attached tick with tweezers by grasping it as close to the skin as possible and pulling firmly and gently straight up and washing the area well with soap and water; and
• Talk to a veterinarian about tick control products for pets.

More information about Lyme disease and how it is transmitted, including tips on how to prevent tick bites and disease transmission from tick bites, can be found at http://ideha.dhmh.maryland.gov/OIDEOR/CZVBD/SitePages/lyme-disease.aspx .

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Stay connected by following MarylandDHMH on Twitter or ‘liking’ Maryland DHMH on Facebook.

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Moving Towards a Healthier Harford

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