Did you know that when YOU quit smoking everyone around you will benefit too?

Quit smoking and you’ll cut the harmful effects of secondhand smoke (smoke that’s exhaled or comes from the burning end of cigarettes, cigars and pipes) for those around you.

Each year in the United States secondhand smoke:

• Causes about 7,300 deaths from lung cancer in adult nonsmokers

• Causes close to 34,000 deaths from heart disease in adult nonsmokers.

If you’re ready to quit, we’re here to help. LFCHD and the Bourbon County Health Department are partnering to offer “Freedom from Smoking” an online tobacco cessation class starting June 20 (8-week class). There are still spots available to join!

For more information, call 859-288-2377 or 859-987-1915.

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department’s Board of Health has selected Dr. Kraig Humbaugh as the 2023 Dr. Rice C. Leach Public Health Hero award winner. The award is given annually to individuals who have demonstrated their dedication to improving the health of Lexington residents. The winners are announced each April as part of National Public Health Week (April 3-9, 2023).

Dr. Humbaugh retired as Lexington’s Commissioner of Health in 2022 after serving almost 6 years in the position overseeing the health department’s mission of helping Lexington be well. His legacy continues to be felt in his role during the COVID-19 pandemic. “He worked seven days a week (and) was in frequent and direct contact with city government, the Kentucky Department for Public Health, local schools and universities, homeless and other shelters and a wide variety of community partners,” Dr. Humbaugh’s nomination stated. “Through his insightful and epidemiologically-based leadership, Dr. Humbaugh ensured LFCHD staff were able to provide the community with the latest guidance and disease information and support.”

The award also acknowledges “Dr. Humbaugh’s inspiring leadership and supreme dedication through the greatest public health emergency of our lives. He is the epitome of a public health hero.”

Dr. Humbaugh will be recognized at the April 10 Board of Health meeting at 5:45 p.m. at 650 Newtown Pike.

Previously known as the Public Health Hero Award, the Board of Health renamed the award in 2016 in memory of the late Dr. Rice C. Leach, Lexington’s former Commissioner of Health who spent more than 50 years as a public health physician. Leach died April 1, 2016.

“This is award is humbling and serves to emphasize the great team in place at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department,” Humbaugh said. “To receive an award named after Dr. Leach makes it even more special.”

The Kentucky Department for Public Health is sharing information about a confirmed measles case in a Jessamine County resident. If you or someone in your family is not up to date on their measles vaccine, make plans now to receive the vaccine. Call our Public Health Clinic (859-288-2483) after 8 a.m. Monday to schedule an appointment, if needed. Learn more about measles at https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html.

The measles vaccine is part of the required vaccinations for school-aged children. You can learn more here: School Vaccinations.

State health officials announced a confirmed case of measles identified in a Jessamine County resident. The resident, who is unvaccinated, attended a large spiritual revival on Asbury University’s campus on Feb. 18. No further information about the individual will be released due to privacy concerns.

“Anyone who attended the revival on Feb. 18 may have been exposed to measles,” said Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH). “Attendees who are unvaccinated are encouraged to quarantine for 21 days and to seek immunization with the measles vaccine, which is safe and effective.”

All reported cases of measles are thoroughly investigated in Kentucky. KDPH is actively collaborating with Asbury University, Jessamine County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Three cases of measles have now been confirmed in Kentucky over the last three months. The first case was reported in December 2022, in Christian County, and it was linked to the outbreak in Ohio. The second case was reported in January in Powell County and there were no known exposures or connections to the outbreak in Ohio. These two previous cases were thoroughly investigated and neither presented a public health threat.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that is spread through the air. Early symptoms of measles are typical of many upper respiratory illnesses – fever, cough, conjunctivitis and runny nose – and proceed to the characteristic rash three to five days after symptoms begin.

“If you may have been exposed at Asbury University’s campus and develop any symptoms, whether previously vaccinated or unvaccinated, please isolate yourself from others and call your medical provider, urgent care, or emergency department to seek testing,” said Dr. Stack. “Please do not arrive at a health care facility without advance notice so that others will not be exposed.”

In the United States, the first dose of measles vaccine is routinely administered in combination with mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) to children at age 12 months through 15 months. A second MMR dose is routinely administered at age 4 through 6 years. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles if exposed to the virus.

KDPH is working closely with local health departments in Kentucky to promote MMR vaccination in communities that have low vaccine uptake. Recent data released from CDC indicates that MMR vaccine coverage among Kentucky kindergarteners is among the lowest in the nation and much lower than the Health People 2030 target of 95%

What are the biggest health needs for Lexington?

Help shape this city’s future by letting us know the top issues for health and well-being for you and your family! If you live or work in Fayette County and are 18 years or older, please take our survey before Dec. 16: https://tiny.lfchd.org/CHA.

The online survey is currently available in English. Hard copies in English, Spanish, French and Swahili are available at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, 650 Newtown Pike, and all Lexington Public Library branches. Other languages can be provided by request; please contact Christy Nentwick at 859-288-2352 or LEX-CHIP@LFCHD.org for more information.

You can see our previous Community Health Assessment Plan at https://www.lfchd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/CHA-CHIP-2017.pdf to help you learn more about how this information is put into practice!

Flu shots are available for free all season by same-day appointment Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at LFCHD’s Public Health Clinic, 650 Newtown Pike. Please call 859-288-2483 to make an appointment; walk-ins will not be accepted in the Public Health Clinic.

“An annual flu shot is the best way to fight the flu each fall and winter,” LFCHD spokesperson Kevin Hall said. “The flu shot remains important this year as we remain in the COVID-19 pandemic. It can help reduce the overall impact on respiratory illnesses on the population, which will lessen the burden on our healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In addition to helping prevent you from getting sick with flu, a flu shot can reduce the severity of your illness if you do get flu and reduce your risk of a flu-associated hospitalization.

The seasonal flu shot is recommended for all people ages 6 months and older and is especially important for people at the highest risk of serious complications from the flu: infants and young children, pregnant women, anyone with underlying medical conditions and adults 50 and older.

Mpox is a rare disease caused by infection with the Mpox virus. Mpox virus is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Mpox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and Mpox is rarely fatal. Mpox is not related to chickenpox.

To help update the community during a current outbreak in the United States, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has created a page with general information about Mpox, including updates on vaccine clinics. It can be found here: Mpox General Information.

As Fayette County students prepare to head back to school, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is making sure they have plenty of opportunities to get their required vaccinations.

To beat the back-to-school rush, the health department will be offering immunizations by same-day appointment at the Public Health Clinic at 650 Newtown Pike. To schedule an appointment or for more information about the immunizations, please call (859) 288-2483.

Participants must be 18 years or younger and be uninsured or underinsured. Medicaid is accepted. Immunization records must be brought to the appointment, and physicals will not be provided. A legal guardian must be present.

When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk and can spread diseases to others in their classrooms and community – including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer or other health conditions.

Fayette County students who are new to the school district or are entering kindergarten are required to bring a Kentucky immunization certificate in order to enroll. Sixth-grade students and 16-year-olds are also required to have certain boosters and must bring an up-to-date immunization certificate. Please call the health department’s school health division at (859) 288-2314 for more information.

The Lexington-Fayette County Board of Health elected Dr. Rodney A. Jackson as chair for the 2022-23 fiscal year, which began July 1.

Dr. Jackson is a board-certified, practicing pediatric dentist in Lexington. He started his practice, Pediatric Dentistry of Hamburg, 19 years ago, and currently has locations in Lexington, Georgetown and Frankfort. A native of Wheelwright, Ky., he obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville, a Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry and completed his pediatric dental residency at UK. He and his wife have two sons. 

Dr. Jackson joined the Board of Health in 2017 and has served as the chair of the Nominating Committee for the last three years. 

Dr. Jackson replaces Michael Friesen, who will continue to serve on the Board of Health.

Leah Mason, JD, will serve as vice-chair for 2022-23. Other Board of Health members include: Jack Cornett, Dr. Lee Dossett, Dr. Hartley Feld, Dr. Maria de Lourdes Gomez, Mayor Linda Gorton, Dr. Gregory Hood, Majd Jabbour, Councilmember Jennifer Reynolds, Dr. Elizabeth Riley and Dr. Jason Zimmerman. Commissioner of Social Services Kacy Allen-Bryant is an official representative of the mayor but is a non-voting member.

The Board of Health meets the second Monday of every month at 5:45 p.m. at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, 650 Newtown Pike.

(En español) Starting Wednesday, June 29, the Moderna vaccine for ages 6 months-5 years will be available for free by same-day appointment in our Public Health Clinic at 650 Newtown Pike. Call 859-288-2483 to schedule your same-day appointment every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday! A legal guardian MUST be present at the time of the shot. To complete the series, a second dose will be given after four weeks; you must call to schedule at that time.

Vaccination against COVID-19 is the best way to reduce the negative impact of this pandemic in all age groups. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), more than 13.5 million children in the U.S. have been infected with COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, and although most children experience mild symptoms, more than 42,000 have been hospitalized in the U.S. and at least 1,240 children aged 18 and younger have died.

The AAP and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for children in this age group. Parents are strongly encouraged to have their infants and young children vaccinated with either vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine is widely available throughout Lexington and can be found at www.vaccines.gov/search.

The AAP shares this about side effects: “The same side effects that we see with routine childhood vaccines have been seen in the studies of these vaccines. They are things like soreness and redness where the shot goes in. Some babies and children don’t feel well later in the day of the shot or on the next day. A small number of vaccinated children get fever—and very few get high fever. Usually, it lasts only a day or two. Thousands of children were in the studies, and there were no children with serious allergic reactions, heart inflammation or other serious problems related to the vaccines that may worry (caregivers).”

Learn more about the vaccine in this FAQ from the American Academy of Pediatrics: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/covid-vaccines-for-kids-6-months-and-older-faqs-for-families.aspx.

COVID-19 vaccines for ages 5 and older are also free by same-day appointment Monday, Wednesday and Thursday by calling 859-288-2483.

Be sure to follow these summer safety tips during the heat:

• Drink plenty of fluids. You will need to drink more fluids than your thirst level indicates. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages or drinks with large amounts of sugar because they cause you to lose more fluid.
• Wear sunscreen and appropriate clothing. Sunscreen should be SPF 15 or greater and applied 30 minutes before going outdoors. Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Wear a wide-brimmed hat that will provide shade and keep your head cool.
• Schedule outdoor activities carefully. If you must be outside, try to plan your activities so that you are outdoors either before noon or in the evening.
• Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library. Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.
• Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.
• Use a buddy system. When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you.
• Monitor those at high risk, including infants and children up to 4 years of age, people 65 and older, people who are overweight, people who overexert during work or exercise and people who are ill or on certain medications for blood pressure diuretics. Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children need much more frequent watching.

Signs of heat-related illnesses include an extremely high body temperature (above 103°F); red, hot and dry skin (no sweating); rapid, strong pulse; throbbing headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; muscle cramps; tiredness and unconsciousness. If someone starts to experience these symptoms, seek medical help immediately and move them to a shady spot, if outdoors, and begin cooling them using whatever methods are available. Monitor body temperature, and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F.