Public-health staff report routine surveillance, outreach and clinic planning

At the May 27 Carlisle Board of Health meeting, the town’s Public Health Nurse reported two infectious-disease cases since the last meeting that required follow-up but did not pose a threat to public health. The nurse said she completed the medical review for the Skyhawks camp application and has "begun planning for vaccine clinics this fall." She also reported offering blood-pressure screenings at the Senior Health Fair, planning a Stop The Bleed training for Department of Public Works employees and participating in the MAPHN conference on building resilience in public-health nursing.

The nurse summarized international and out-of-jurisdiction developments reported to the Board: a Democratic Republic of Congo Ebola outbreak declared May 15 and a contained hantavirus incident on a cruise ship; the nurse said the local risk in the U.S. is low. She provided sources in the department notes for the Board’s record.

Health Director Kelli Calo reported that the department continued routine food-establishment inspections and environmental health activities, coordinated with Facilities on the department trailer, installed a counter screen to help with plan reviews, and continued collaboration with the Great Meadows Public Health Collaborative on tickborne-illness materials. Calo said she will work with Town Management to explore funding for a scanning and digitization project of Board records to reduce duplication and paper files.

Both reports were informational and no formal board action was associated with these updates at the May 27 meeting.