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Madison County Public Health reports full staff, spike in animal‑bite referrals and plans for community safety programs
Summary
Emily, Madison County’s public‑health director, reported full staffing for the department, an unusual recent rise in animal‑bite and bat/rabies exposures that produced six post‑exposure treatments, and a slate of outreach activities including immunization clinics, canning safety classes, life‑jacket distribution and upcoming back‑to‑school clinics; the board approved the March 17 minutes.
Emily, the Madison County public‑health director, told the Board of Health on June 16 that the department has reached full staffing for the first time in her tenure and reviewed recent activity and priorities.
"Right now our current staffing — we've had another change. We added Marissa. So you can see that we have all full‑time staff right now," Emily said, adding that full staffing supports clinic work and outreach.
Emily warned the board about a high volume of animal‑bite and bat exposures in recent months and reported that six residents completed rabies post‑exposure prophylaxis in the last few months — a marked increase from historical averages of one to two per year. She said bat activity in the Madison Valley and seasonal movement of residents into seasonal homes may be factors.
The director reviewed recent and upcoming activities: CPR trainings and OSHA trainings for local employers, immunization clinics and school catch‑ups (noting several childhood vaccines delivered), water‑bath canning and food‑safety classes at the Enis library (31 participants), a car‑seat certification renewal, bicycle safety events in Big Sky, community blood drives with Vitalant, and plans for air‑purifier workshops and summer fair booths. She also described donations of self‑service blood‑pressure kiosks to senior centers and distribution plans for life jackets at Enis Lake and Harrison Lake with partner agencies.
On budget work, Emily said drafting is underway but turnover in the county finance office and uncertainty about tax revenue projections make the budget incomplete; she said she expects more clarity in coming months.
During routine business the board moved to approve the minutes of the March 17, 2026 meeting; a motion was made, seconded and the chair called the vote, which was recorded as approved and believed unanimous. No roll‑call tally was recorded.
Board members raised operational follow‑ups — how to manage donated life jackets at fishing access points, ways to improve commissioner engagement, and potential partnerships to manage life‑jacket kiosks — and Emily said staff would follow up.
The meeting adjourned after routine closing remarks.
