Your health: Rabies, syphilis, tomatoes and HIV in the headlines

Rabies on the rise but vaccines in short supply

The Michigan Department of Community Health has identified twice as many rabid animals this year as it had at the same time last year — 18 positive infections so far. For all of last year, Michigan recorded a record 210 rabies infected animals. The state called last year’s rate a 300 percent increase.

MDCH spokesman James McCurtis told Michigan Messenger that while the recorded number is significantly higher than last year at this same time, it is difficult to predict if the state would surpass last year’s number. “If we continue to go in this rate we are going to break that record,” he said. “The highest time for rabies is in August, when animal populations are settling in for hibernation and breeding, and are more likely to interact with each other.”

McCurtis noted that Wisconsin saw a similar increase in reported rabies cases last year as well. No one can figure out why there has been a sharp increase in rabies cases.

The virus is spread from warm-blooded mammals, like bats, cats, dogs, horses and cows, by biting. Once the virus has infected an animal or a person and symptoms are evident, the disease is almost always fatal. In some cases the infection will present in the classic stereotype of the aggressive animal, but other times, the infection can manifest with bizarre, even docile behavior, like a raccoon walking up to people in the middle of the afternoon. A positive diagnosis can only be done by examining the brains of suspect animals. The heads are sent overnight to the MDCH labs in Lansing, and results are returned within 24 hours.

Continued -A vaccine has been approved by the FDA for use in post-exposure treatment of people, or for those people in high risk categories such as animal control workers.

Unfortunately, the maker of the vaccine has limited the supply while it reworks production lines. As a result, the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta has ordered that all preventive vaccinations cease, and that only those who have had direct contact with a rabies-infected animal receive the series of shots. The shots are given in the arm muscles, contrary to popular myth about being injected into the stomach, and require a series of injections over a month-long period.

For more information on rabies visitthe Centers for Disease Control Web site or the state of Michigan’s Web site about rabies.

Genesee County notes “significant” syphilis outbreak

Cupid’s disease is making a comeback in Genesee County, home to Flint. Officials say in May 2008 they had 41 confirmed cases of syphilis, and on June 12, Between the Lines reported the health department had documented 53 cases. According to a report in the Flint Journal, county health officials said the figure of 41 cases was 20 times more than this time last year. And syphilis is not the only sexually transmitted infection running through Genesee County. State health records show the county is second in the state for cases of gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Health workers in the county are encouraging anyone who has had unprotected sex or multiple partners, either heterosexual or homosexual; who has shared needles; or who exchanges sex for money to get tested. To identify the infection, a blood sample is drawn. If the test if positive, the infection is easily treated with antibiotics.

The disease starts with a small, painless sore, called a canker (pronounced shanker), which goes away. About two weeks after that, a reddish blotchy rash can appear. In the final stage of the disease, the bacteria invade internal organs, including the brain, and can cause death.

Killer tomatoes? The feds say yes

A recent outbreak of salmonella bacteria infections has been linked to uncooked tomatoes, the Food and Drug Administration is reporting. The result is a voluntary recall of all fresh raw tomatoes in many states, including Michigan. Two Michigan residents have fallen ill from the tainted tomatoes. Local eateries have been pulling the tomatoes off the shelves, but local farmers are capitalizing on the outbreak. The Lansing State Journal reported last week that farmers in local farmer markets were advertising that their tomatoes were grown in Michigan and not contaminated. Friday came word that Michigan was not the source of the deadly outbreak. The feds still haven’t figured out what the source of the bacterial contamination is.

HIV rates increasing, state says

The Michigan Department of Community Health has revealed some startling statistics about HIV in Michigan. From the press release last week:

The rate of new diagnoses among 13- to 24-year-olds in Michigan almost doubled between 2002 and 2006 (from 5.7 to 9.7 cases per 100,000) with most of the cases occurring among those age 20 to 24 years old at diagnosis. Of the 13- to 24-year-olds diagnosed with HIV/AIDS between 2002 and 2006, 76 percent are African American and 48 percent are African-American males having sex with males.

“We cannot afford to become complacent with HIV and AIDS in Michigan,” said Janet Olszewski, director of the MDCH, regarding the new stats. “Because of the availability of medicines to treat this illness, many individuals believe AIDS is a thing of the past, but it is still a public health threat that we need to double our efforts to eliminate. In particular, we need to increase prevention efforts among youth and specifically tailor these programs to those at highest risk.”

In addition to the new stats, officials in Isabella, Midland and Bay counties are contending with a mini-outbreak of the virus. Two cases were found in Bay County, one in Midland County and another in Isabella.

“Our investigation shows these cases are related to each other and coming from high-risk behaviors,” Joel Strasz, public health services manager for Bay County, told the Saginaw News.

In comparison, last year Midland counted two new infections of HIV, while Bay counted four.

Friday, June 27, is National HIV Testing day, and new Centers for Disease Control recommendations say any person who is sexually active should be tested for the virus annually. HIV testing is generally free and confidential.