Jefferson County Board of Health updated on meningitis outbreak response

STEUBENVILLE -- The Jefferson County Board of Health received an update on the county health department's response to an outbreak of meningitis B that so far has affected 10 children in an Amish community near Bergholz.

Dec. 12 marked the last case reported -- the longest stretch of time yet since a newly confirmed case, said Dr. Janie Culp, medical director for the health department. Beginning with the first two confirmed cases on Dec. 6, members of the Jefferson County General Health District's clinical staff have been collaborating with local epidemiologists, health systems and the Ohio Department of Health to counter the bacterial disease's spread.

Culp said the outbreak has not threatened the general public, as members of the Amish community tended to keep to themselves. Seventy-four members of that community came to receive post-exposure treatment on Wednesday from the health department's mobile clinic, which was stationed at the Bergholz Volunteer Fire Department.

Immunization for the community is the next step, Culp said, reporting that members of the Amish community have been largely receptive to the idea.

Later, the board heard from a local activity and resource center for the elderly about a request for funding through the health department's recently awarded $306,781 Healthy Aging Grant through the Ohio Department of Aging.

Cynthia Morris, representing Our Place, said the center seeks to bring numerous Jefferson County communities into a new program. Through the program, elderly county residents would discuss their individual communities' needs -- nutrition, education, fitness and other aspects -- and Our Place would work to help community members build their own programs to fill those needs.

"The older population really needs a lot of help right now," Morris said. "(The program) is something that we're very excited about."

Morris said Our Place's request is for $100,000, with funds going toward the program's administration, marketing and fellowship equipment.

Our Place, located inside First Westminster Presbyterian Church in Steubenville, opened on May 16 for individuals 50 years or older, and currently has 162 paying members, two lifetime members and four free members. Morris said Our Place is partnered with various local agencies and part of the Ohio Association of Senior Centers and SilverSneakers senior fitness program.

Also, the board handled three nuisance complaints, including one regarding 1339 Main St., Smithfield, the case for which was forwarded to the local court system after a 30-day notice last month, with no improvements witnessed since.

The board approved sending a final board order for the abatement of an open dump site on county Road 20. Health Commissioner Andrew Henry showed photos of brush mixed with construction and demolition debris, as well as scattered trash.

Henry said "little progress" has been observed at the dump location, and the individual alleged to be behind the dump has failed to appear at two health department meetings. The individual had desired to buy the property, Henry said, though conversations ceased between him and the owner when the owner was notified of the dumping.

At the request of sanitarian Jack McGuire, the board forwarded a nuisance case regarding garbage piles at 2618 Commercial Ave., Mingo Junction, to the local court system.

In other business:

• The board scheduled a special meeting for Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in the second-floor community room of the Jefferson County Towers building for year-end advances and transfers.

• The board approved Apex Landfill's license application for operation in the county, effective for 2024. Apex was the only applicant out of three expected landfills, Henry said.

In spite of increased odor complaints in 2023, Henry said Apex and its operators have "put forth every effort to try and mitigate their odors."

• Marc Maragos, environmental health director, said there were 26 calls to the odor complaint hotline in November, and there have been 23 so far in December.

• The Ohio Department of Health reinspected Jefferson County's swimming pools and changed their status from provisional status to fully approved, Henry said. This comes one month after the county's campgrounds were restored to full approval.

• The ODH recommended the health department pursue full accreditation under the Public Health Accreditation Board, which carries with it access to additional ODH resources, Henry said. The department had previously sought "pathways" accreditation, which is a less intensive process but does not carry the same resource access.

• The board approved a contract for the Medicaid Administrative Claiming program, allowing the health department to assist the Ohio Department of Medicaid clientele. Also, Henry said the Jefferson-Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority approved raising the base amount in its contract with the health department from $80,000 to $100,000, covering the department's services for the authority. The finalized contract will be presented at the next meeting for the health board's review.

• The board approved two purchase orders more than $5,000: A final, $20,537.38 check from the CF23 grant for the Jefferson County Juvenile Court and $5,125 for the purchase of naloxone though the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, funded through the HEALing Communities Study.

• Members of the board thanked outgoing board member Clark Crago for his service, particularly during previous, more turbulent years.

• Henry commended board member Anthony Mougianis on being named the 2023 Free Clinic Community Partner of the Year by the Charitable Health Network, in partnership with the ODH.