West Nile Virus Found in Madison County Mosquitos

August 8, 2018 Leave a comment


 

 

West Nile Virus Found in Madison County Mosquitoes

One mosquito pool in Madison County that tested positive for West Nile Virus has been reported to the Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department (ELVPHD). Positive West Nile samples are most often reported as summer draws to an end during August and September. Humans get West Nile Virus after being bitten by an infected mosquito that was feeding on an infected bird.

Since we know West Nile Virus is in the area, ELVPHD will no longer be collecting dead birds for West Nile Virus Testing. There is still a limited supply of FREE mosquito wipes available at ELVPHD locations in Wisner, Norfolk and Tekamah. The addresses are listed below.

  • ELVPHD Norfolk Office—302 Phillip Avenue Suite 100, Norfolk
  • ELVPHD Wisner Office – 2104 21st Circle, Wisner
  • ELVPHD Tekamah Office—1121 S. 13th St, Tekamah

The best way to prevent West Nile Virus is to prevent mosquito bites. Limit outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, use mosquito repellent, and wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors.  Standing water should be removed as it provides a place for mosquito breeding. West Nile Virus has flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, and rash. Less than 1% of infected people will develop a severe illness. Older adults and people with compromised immune systems are at the highest risk for becoming seriously ill if infected with West Nile. Contact the Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department at 402-529-2233 for more information.

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Health Department has Radon Test Kits for Sale

December 30, 2016 Leave a comment


Keep your family safe from radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer. Elkhorn Logan

Valley Public Health Department (ELVPHD) wants you to know that January is National Radon

Action Month. ELVPHD will have short term radon test kits, while supplies last, for people

living in Burt, Cuming, Madison, and Stanton counties. The kits will be available for $7.00 plus

sales tax starting January 3 rd .

Radon is a natural gas in soil and rock that you cannot see or smell. It can enter your home

through holes and cracks in the basement floor, walls, or from well water. The Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that homes with radon levels of 4 picocuries per liter

(pCi/L) of air or more be mitigated. Last year, the average radon level in the health department’s

service area was over 8 pCi/L, twice the safe amount.

Testing is easy and the winter months are the best time to test your home for radon. The test kit

should be set up in the middle of a room in the lowest level of your home that you often spend

time in. It should be within the normal breathing zone (2 to 6 feet from the floor). When the three

day testing period is over, simply seal the kit with the supplied package and ship to the lab for

testing.

Radon kits will be available while quantities last and can be picked up at the following health

department office locations Monday – Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm:

 ELVPHD Norfolk Office: 302 W Phillip Ave., Suite 100, Norfolk

 ELVPHD Wisner Office: 2104 21 st Circle, Wisner

 ELVPHD Tekamah Office: 1121 S. 13th St., Tekamah

For more information please call 402-529- 2233 or email mason@elvphd.org. Public health aims

to make people and communities healthy and safe. In doing so, ELVPHD offers many services

and programs to local residents and businesses of Burt, Cuming, Stanton and Madison Counties

in northeast Nebraska. Visit us online today at: http://www.elvphd.org.

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Health Department Seeks Public Comment

June 14, 2016 Leave a comment


{Wisner} The Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department (ELVPHD) 2016 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and Community Health Assessment Report (CHA) is now available in the “Featured Content” section of the home page of the ELVPHD website (www.elvphd.org).

The CHIP sets the priorities for the health department for the next 3 years. ELVPHD invites the public to view the department’s preliminary CHIP and Assessment Report and to report any comments or suggestions at info@elvphd.org. Public input on the CHIP and the CHA is being sought through July 1, 2016. The final CHIP and CHA will serve as the department’s guiding document in addressing the public health needs of ELVPHD communities.

For more information, please contact the Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department at (877) 379-4400. ##

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National Diabetes Prevention Program

April 22, 2016 Leave a comment


Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department is continuing efforts to grow a referral network to link people with pre-diabetes to attend the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) classes in Burt, Cuming, Madison and Stanton counties. Having a strong referral network of health care providers, fitness centers, agencies and organizations helps ELVPHD to grow the NDPP classes which in turn helps participants commit to healthier lifestyles and lower their risk for diabetes.

Weight control, healthy eating and exercise lowers people’s risk of developing diabetes. During ELVPHD’s 2016 community health survey of 1,480 people who live, work or go to school in the service area, 71% indicated that they were overweight or obese. Diabetes ranked as the 5th highest health concern among those taking the survey. In addition, according to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2014 data, 9.7% of people in ELVPHD’s district have been diagnosed with diabetes as compared with 9.2% for Nebraska overall.

The NDPP program consists of classes held once per week for 16 weeks by a trained health coach. With the support of the health coach and peers, participants learn to eat healthy, how to add fitness to their life, handle stress, and stay driven. DPP is an evidence-based prevention program and is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The goal of the program is to prevent diabetes and/or to delay the onset of diabetes. Results of the classes taught by ELVPHD and community partners from 2015 show that 76% of participants lost at least 5% of their body weight. ELVPHD will be hosting a new classes starting in July. If you are interested in taking a DPP class or in learning more about being a part of our referral network, please contact ELVPHD at 402-529-2233 or info@elvphd.org for more information.

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Tai Chi Renewal Class in May

April 7, 2016 Leave a comment


On May 16, 2016, Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department (ELVPHD) will be hosting a Tai Chi renewal class for their volunteer instructors at the United Methodist Church in Norfolk. The instructors will be led by Holly Warth, RN and certified Tai Chi instructor. Nine current instructors will receive the renewal training. In addition, ELVPHD also worked with 4 new instructors in February to receive their Tai Chi certification. All of the trained Tai Chi instructors will then be able to teach classes in their communities to expand Tai Chi offerings.

ELVPHD has helped to provide community Tai Chi classes throughout the health district (Burt, Cuming, Madison and Stanton counties) for over six years. It is an evidence-based practice that is designed to improve balance and strength. The goal of the program is to decrease falls among residents– especially for those over the age of 65. Of the individuals who participated in the 2015 Tai Chi classes, 83% improved their movement assessment scores from the beginning to the end of the class series.

Classes are regularly held in senior centers and other public venues by a team of dedicated volunteer instructors. If you are interested in participating in a Tai Chi class, please call 402-529-2233. Funding for this project is provided by the Department of Health and Human Services – Division of Public Health.

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Preliminary Health Assessment Survey Data Released for Public Input

March 28, 2016 Leave a comment


Patrons that completed the 2016 Community Health Survey recently gave their input regarding a variety of health issues in the Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department (ELVPHD) health district. This year, nearly 1,500 people completed the survey, which represents a 30% increase from the total responding in 2013.
Following are a few of the findings in a preliminary report released today by the health department, the organization that administers the survey, in collaboration with Oakland Mercy Hospital, St. Francis Memorial Hospital and Faith Regional Health Services:

 

  • On average, 67 percent state that in the last year, someone in their home had a mental health or emotional problem that affected their ability to do daily activities
  • 74 percent of people reported a need to lose weight
  • 137 out of 597 parents reported that their children “rarely or never” wear protective equipment (such as a helmet) when riding a bike, scooter, skateboard, inline skates, etc.
  • 84 percent of tobacco/nicotine users reported that they would like to quit

 

A detailed report of preliminary findings from the survey is available at www.elvphd.org. The public is invited to give their input regarding this data between now and April 5, 2016. Concerns or comments can be submitted by email or phone to: info@elvphd.org or 402.529.2233.

 

In addition, the public is invited to participate in either of two community focus groups coming in April. The focus group for the Burt and Cuming county communities will take place Wednesday, April 13th from 10:00 AM—3:00 PM in the Nielsen Community Center, 200 Anna Stalp Ave. West Point, NE. Focus group for the Madison and Stanton county communities will take place Wednesday, April 14th from 10:00 AM—3:00 PM in the Ponca Tribe Transit Facility, 1800 Syracuse Ave. Norfolk, NE. Lunch will be provided for both focus groups. Please register for either event by email at: info@elvphd.org or by calling 402.529.2233

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Keeping the Weight off During the Holidays

November 13, 2015 Leave a comment


Keeping the weight off during the holidays

Losing weight or maintaining weight loss during the holidays is often difficult. Especially during the holidays, all-too-common phrases such as “I’m too busy” or “It’s too hard to maintain a routine this time of year” make it easy to avoid exercise, choose unhealthy foods and pack on the pounds. To avoid unwanted weight gain, consider the following strategies as the holidays near:

  • Keep a food diary to keep yourself on track
  • Plan meals ahead of time so you aren’t eating on the go
  • Weigh yourself weekly and keep a written weight diary
  • Plan your breakfast before you go to bed and set out the items you can so they are ready
  • Set aside the ½ hour after dinner for family walks or activities with kids or pets
  • Set aside a few minutes during work breaks to walk with co-workers
  • Park a little farther away to increase steps

According to the American Heart Association, people who are successful with weight loss and maintaining weight loss have several common habits:

98% have modified their eating habits

94% increased their level of physical activity

78% eat a healthy breakfast every day

75% weigh themselves weekly

62% watch 1.5 hours or less of TV daily

 

For more information about making healthy choices for a healthier heart, visit Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department’s (ELVPHD) website at www.elvphd.org. ELVPHD’s Operation Heart to Heart program provides health coaching and education for individuals and businesses. The program focuses on adopting a healthier lifestyle and includes heart health screening, education and coaching. To learn more please call 402-529-2233. Funding for this project provided by AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation’s Connections for Cardiovascular HealthSM program.

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Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department Disaster Volunteer Training

September 3, 2015 1 Comment


Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department is conducting disaster volunteer training in various locations on upcoming dates in September. This free training will provide an overview of public health’s role in disaster response and will explain what the requirements are for public health volunteers during an emergency event. 

               Training dates, times and locations are as follows:

 

               Thursday, September 10, 2015

               6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

               Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Dept. 2104 21st Circle, Wisner, NE

 

               Thursday, September 17, 2015

               6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

               Northeast Community College

               Lifelong Learning Center

               801 East Benjamin Ave, Norfolk, NE

 

               Tuesday, September 22, 2015

               6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

               Horizon Inn and Suites

               301 Plaza Drive, West Point, NE

 

               Thursday, September 24, 2015

               6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

               Oakland City Auditorium

               401 N. Oakland, Oakland, NE

 

               Monday, September 28, 2015

               6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

               Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Dept. 2104 21st Circle, Wisner, NE

 

Registration for this training is REQUIRED! Please register at least two days in advance of these trainings as seating is limited; there will be a waiting list for those not able to register for their desired date. To register, please email Melanie Thompson at melanie@elvphd.org or call 402/529-2233.

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ELVPHD 2013 Annual Report

November 13, 2014 Leave a comment


Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department’s most recent annual report is complete and available to review at www.elvphd.org. You can also call our office at 402-529-2233 to request a hard copy. Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health offers over 20 programs to the residents and businesses of Burt, Cuming, Madison and Stanton counties. We would like to thank our partners and program participants for our accomplishments within the last year.

 

The breast cancer awareness program was able to help 124 women in the service area with an educational program and of those, 21 women received free mammograms in partnership with area health clinics and hospitals.

 

Operation Heart to Heart’s educational tracking showed that education was provided to 1,043 individuals and with a 79% increase in client’s heart-health knowledge. There were 30 case- managed clients that resulted in 72% of the participants having a decrease in blood pressure, and all-together 201 total pounds lost. This program screened 547 people at 40 different agricultural related events.

 

The Healthy Communities Initiative Coalition (HCI) was able to have two permanent medication drop boxes installed in the area. One is located at the Norfolk police station and the other located at the West Point police station. So far, these boxes have collected 148 pounds of medication.

 

Tai Chi, a program that helps with fall prevention, had 80 citizens participate in the classes sponsored by senior citizen centers. Out of these 80 people, 75% of them improved their timed sitting and walking tests.

 

 

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Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department Providing Flu Shots

November 4, 2014 Leave a comment


ELVPHD will be providing flu shots from 8am to 8pm at the Wisner Auditorium for any voters needing a flu shot. Cost is $35. We do accept most insurance.

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