Grant County Health District outlines funding mix, says it is monitoring more than 100 people amid Moses Lake avian influenza response

Theresa Atkinson, administrator of the Grant County Health District, gave an overview to the Moses Lake City Council of how the health district is funded, the programs it runs and current infectious‑disease and environmental work in Moses Lake — including an avian influenza response.

Atkinson told the council that the health district draws on state, federal, local and fee revenue and that state funding has grown in recent years. She said the district currently asks local cities for a $3 per resident contribution and that three smaller cities are not currently contributing to the district’s local revenue. She also said that some federal COVID‑era funds are sunsetting and that other flexible funding streams, including Medicaid match programs, face uncertainty.

On public‑health activity in Moses Lake, Atkinson reported that roughly 43% of the district’s reportable sexually transmitted infections are located in Moses Lake and that about half of environmental disease investigations occur there. She said the district is working to expand prevention, testing partnerships and care coordination.

Avian influenza response

Atkinson said the district is leading human health monitoring for an avian influenza outbreak that is affecting animals in the community. She said the Washington State Department of Agriculture is the lead for animal response while the health district is tracking people who had direct exposure.

- “We are currently monitoring just over a 100 individuals, daily, finding out how they’re feeling,” Atkinson said. She told the council that the district has started exposed people on antivirals where appropriate and that, as of her presentation, all test results from those monitored had been negative.

- Atkinson described the response as an incident‑command operation for the district and said about half of the district’s staff have been assigned to monitoring, testing and on‑site PPE evaluation.

Programs, local concerns and public messaging

Atkinson summarized other work the health district conducts locally: sexually transmitted infection investigation and partner treatment, environmental health inspections (food and septic), blue‑green algae monitoring in Moses Lake, a newborn and maternal services partnership with Samaritan Hospital that includes a doula‑training program funded by a grant, and youth prevention work.

She said septic systems are failing in places where older systems are reaching end of life and that city and district staff are working to secure funding to connect affected properties to municipal sewer where possible. Atkinson also described the district’s role in community events, provider alerts to health‑care partners, and a multi‑year community health improvement plan that is nearing completion.

Funding details and constraints

Atkinson said the district’s funding comes from multiple buckets: federal and state grants, program fees, a county tuberculosis contract and local contributions. She said county contributions represent a large share of local funds and that the county provides facilities (the district operates from county facilities without paying rent). State public‑health assistance funds are a major line item and have increased in the post‑COVID era, she said, but some state cuts are possible in the next biennium.

Council reaction and follow‑up

Council members asked clarifying questions about local contributions, the district’s funding mix, and operational impacts as federal COVID funds expire. Atkinson said the district will continue outreach to cities and county officials to clarify contributions and noted some municipalities have verbally indicated they will resume contributions.

Where to get more information

Atkinson said the district has handouts in council packets and that the health district office is located in Moses Lake. She offered to answer further questions and to provide updates to the council as the avian influenza response continues.