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Douglas County Health Department reports low COVID and influenza, pertussis cases among high schoolers; medical officer retiring and replacement named
Summary
Director Mike Hill told the board influenza and RSV are low, COVID‑19 remains low, a small pertussis run occurred among high school students, death‑certificate sales increased after funeral‑home agreements, and the department’s medical officer, Dr. Smith, is retiring; Dr. Cameron Dastry is named to start Jan. 1.
Director Mike Hill gave a brief operational update to the Board of Health noting current disease activity, service developments and staffing changes.
Hill said influenza and RSV activity in the county is low but influenza may be starting to increase. COVID‑19 case levels remain low. He reported a "little bit of a run of pertussis among high school kids" and said that raised concern because infected teenagers could pass pertussis to infants.
Hill said the vital records unit has seen an increase in death‑certificate sales — roughly 1,000 additional certificates per month — after the department entered agreements with funeral homes and began providing a courier service for northern parts of the county. He credited staff for revenue brought into the department through those arrangements.
Hill announced that the department's medical officer, Dr. Smith, has notified staff of retirement and a move to Arizona. Hill said he solicited candidates and that Dr. Cameron Dastry (transcribed as "Dastry") has agreed to serve as medical officer beginning Jan. 1; Hill said no board action was required for that appointment.
Board members and staff asked few follow‑up questions and accepted the update as an informational item.
