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DOH warns against feeding wild animals

DOH warns against feeding wild animals

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Environment, Outdoors.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Being a small island, AMI’s wildlife and human inhabitants often cross paths, but due to people feeding animals, they are getting to be a little too comfortable with their human counterparts.

“I had just dropped some people off at Coquina Beach and stopped for a quick snack,” said Randy Lusk, who drives one of the Old Town Tram golf cart shuttles in Bradenton Beach. “I grabbed some trail mix and saw a squirrel jump in the golf cart by my left foot. Before I knew what was happening, he ran up my leg and grabbed some of the trail mix out of the bag on my lap. I thought he would run away, but he ran up my arm, sat on my shoulder and had a snack; it was crazy!”

Lusk said he was not coaxing the squirrel and not trying to feed it, but obviously, it had been fed so many times it had absolutely no fear of humans. While it’s a funny story with pictures that will brings laughs for Lusk and his family for a lifetime, even an innocent-looking squirrel could potentially be dangerous.

The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County (DOH-Manatee) reminds the public to avoid contact with wild or stray animals out of concern that they could be carrying rabies.

Anyone believing they may have been exposed to rabies, bitten or scratched should contact their health care provider and their county health department immediately.

In addition, if bitten by a suspected rabid animal, seek immediate treatment to prevent contracting the disease. Immediately wash animal bites and scratches with soap and water and call Animal Services at 941-742-5933 to report the bite. They will remove the animal for quarantine or testing.

The rabies virus is present in some wildlife in Florida and can spread to unvaccinated pets, which then pose a high risk to pet owners and their families. Some actions people and their families can take to prevent from being exposed to rabies include avoiding direct contact with wildlife, not feeding wildlife, consulting a veterinarian to ensure pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations and supervising pets and young children while outside.

DOH-Manatee recognized for emergency preparedness

DOH-Manatee recognized for emergency preparedness

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

BRADENTON – The Florida Department of Health – Manatee County (DOH-Manatee) is being recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its staff’s ability to plan for, respond to and recover from public health emergencies.

DOH-Manatee staff demonstrated these capabilities by meeting the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready (PPHR), a unique partnership between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“This community is a leader in emergency preparedness — in public health, in public safety and in other disciplines,” DOH-Manatee Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Bencie said in a press release. “Still, the most important factor in determining whether we succeed in responding to an emergency will be the actions of our citizens in advance planning, cooperating with authorities and helping each other in a time of disaster.”

Departments recognized by the PPHR program must go through a rigorous peer-reviewed evaluation to assess their ability to meet a set of national standards for public health preparedness. These standards align with federal government requirements and other national best practices for emergency preparedness.

To qualify for the PPHR distinction, health department staff must also collaborate with state, local and community partners on developing plans accounting for everyone in their area.

“Public health preparedness planning, response and recovery begin at the local level. Local health departments play an essential role in creating healthy, resilient communities that can respond to and recover from disasters,” NACCHO Chief Executive Officer Lori Tremmel Freeman said. “NACCHO commends the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County for being a model of public health emergency preparedness.”

Representing more than 300 health departments across the country, NACCHO provides resources to help local health department leaders develop public health policies and programs to ensure that communities have access to vital programs and services that people need to keep them protected from disease and disaster.