Morrow County public health highlights new outreach, well testing and 10 pertussis cases

Robin Canaday, Morrow County public health director, reported to the Board of Commissioners that the department expanded services and community outreach during the most recent quarter, and that it detected 10 cases of pertussis in the county.

Canaday said the department’s “primary goal in public health is to make sure every household in Morrow County is safe, protected, and connected with services so they can thrive and be the healthiest they can be today and into the future.” That work, she said, included vaccine clinics, a diaper bank run from a church donation, a new drug take-back program, partnership with WIC for nutrition services, and bilingual outreach at Mexican and Guatemalan consulate events.

Canaday summarized several ongoing projects and service updates. The county has resumed family-planning services at the school-based clinic after completing required certifications. The immunization program is scheduling a fall calendar for flu clinics and conducts outreach to businesses and schools. The department also is holding open houses about nitrate and well-water concerns, including one July 30 at Riverside High School for well owners.

On drinking-water work, Canaday said the state Office of Resilience and Emergency Management helped with earlier well testing but has reduced its support now that the situation is in a maintenance phase. “To fill that gap, Umatilla County has stepped in and is gonna help us with some well testing,” she told the commissioners, saying Umatilla staff will visit every other week to collect samples under state-funded program element 75.

On communicable disease, Canaday said the county recorded 10 pertussis cases in the first half of the calendar year and tied some of those cases to a related outbreak in neighboring Umatilla County. She told the board that pertussis “can be really bad for young babies, children” and reminded residents that protection comes from the DTaP vaccine. She also said the county’s triennial review of reproductive-health services is under way and that the department met program requirements with only charting recommendations.

Commissioners and staff asked whether the Umatilla outbreak is over; Canaday replied that the county “We've had our 10 cases, and we expect it to stay that way” and that statewide respiratory illnesses were down in recent OHA reports.

Canaday also provided operational details: 316 households are currently receiving water deliveries, 113 filtration systems have been installed, and 290 wells tested above the 10 μg/L threshold (reporting format in the department’s packet). She closed by listing two current job openings in the health department — a clinic RN and a part-time Spanish translator — and the department’s hours.

Less-critical details and next steps: public outreach events are scheduled for late July and the department is creating its fall immunization calendar. Commissioners asked for continued updates on testing and on any changes to vaccine-demand or staffing.