scholarly journals A large salmonellosis outbreak associated with a frequently penalized restaurant

1993 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Luby ◽  
J. L. Jones ◽  
J. M. Horan
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Local Health Department ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Food Handlers ◽  
Salmonella Infection ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
South Carolina Department ◽  
Offensive Odour

SUMMARYBetween January and June 1990, Restaurant A in Greenville, South Carolina repeatedly failed local health department inspection and was repeatedly sanctioned. In September 1990, two persons, hospitalized with salmonellosis after attending a convention catered by Restaurant A, contacted the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. We inspected Restaurant A, interviewed food handlers, and surveyed by telephone persons from every sixth business attending the convention. Of 398 persons interviewed, 135 (34%) reported gastroenteritis. Nine had culture-confirmed salmonella infection. People who ate turkey were 4.6 times more likely to become ill than those who did not eat turkey (95% confidence interval 2.0, 10.6). We estimate that of 2430 attendees, 824 became ill. Sanitarians judged Restaurant A's kitchen too small to prepare over 500 meals safely. The cooked turkey was unrefrigerated for several hours, incompletely rewarmed, and rinsed with water to reduce its offensive odour prior to serving. Stronger sanctions may be needed against restaurants that repeatedly fail local health department inspection.

Health in Action: Evaluation of a Participatory Grant-Making Project in East Harlem

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 910-917
Author(s):  
Christina I. Nieves ◽  
Judy Chan ◽  
Rachel Dannefer ◽  
Cinthia De La Rosa ◽  
Carmen Diaz-Malvido ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
New York ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Local Health Department ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
East Harlem ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Decision Making Processes

Decision-making processes that include resident input have been shown to be effective in addressing community needs. However, few examples discuss the role of a local health department in leading a participatory decision-making process. In 2016, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene implemented a participatory grant-making process to allocate grant funds to community organizations in East Harlem. Findings from the evaluation suggest that a participatory grant-making process can be an effective way to include community member as decision makers. It can also build capacity among organizations and foster meaningful community engagement with a local health department.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Wastewater Epidemiology: A Model to Estimate Infected Populations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Steven McMahan ◽  
Stella Self ◽  
Lior Rennert ◽  
Corey Kalbaugh ◽  
David Kriebel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Mass Rate ◽  
Seir Model ◽  
Additional Tool ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
South Carolina Department ◽  
Wastewater Samples

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDWastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) provides an opportunity for near real-time, cost-effective monitoring of community level transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater can identify the presence of COVID-19 in the community, but methods are lacking for estimating the numbers of infected individuals based on wastewater RNA concentrations.METHODSComposite wastewater samples were collected from three sewersheds and tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. A Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed (SEIR) model based on mass rate of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the wastewater was developed to predict the number of infected individuals. Predictions were compared to confirmed cases identified by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control for the same time period and geographic area.RESULTSModel predictions for the relationship between mass rate of virus release to the sewersheds and numbers of infected individuals were validated based on estimated prevalence from individual testing. A simplified equation to estimate the number of infected individuals fell within the 95% confidence limits of the model. The unreported rate for COVID-19 estimated by the model was approximately 12 times that of confirmed cases. This aligned well with an independent estimate for the state of South Carolina.CONCLUSIONSThe SEIR model provides a robust method to estimate the total number of infected individuals in a sewershed based on the mass rate of RNA copies released per day. This overcomes some of the limitations associated with individual testing campaigns and thereby provides an additional tool that can be used to better inform policy decisions.

scholarly journals Water-Level Trends in Aquifers of South Carolina

2014 ◽  
pp. 10-18
Author(s):  
Scott V. Harder ◽  
Joseph A. Gellici ◽  
Andrew Wachob
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
Resource Assessment ◽  
The United States ◽  
United States Geological Survey ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
The South ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
South Carolina Department

Groundwater levels are examined to document and evaluate short- and long-term trends observed in each of the major aquifers in the State. Data are compiled from groundwater-monitoring networks maintained by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The data are used in the support of groundwater management and allocation, assessment of droughts, groundwater-flow modeling, and resource assessment. Hydrographs from approximately 170 wells are reviewed with periods of record ranging from 1 to 56 years.

scholarly journals A Case Study in Watershed-Based Plan Development and Implementation for the May River Watershed in Bluffton, South Carolina

2014 ◽  
pp. 19-25
Author(s):  
Kimberly W. Jones ◽  
Ronald Bullman
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
River Watershed ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Beaufort County ◽  
The Town

The Town of Bluffton, South Carolina was a one square mile coastal village until it experienced exponential growth in the early 2000s, and today is approximately 54 square miles. Until this recent growth, few sources of possible impairments to water quality were recognized within the watershed, and even fewer within close proximity to the river itself. In 2007, the Town was told by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) that fecal coliform levels in the May River headwaters were increasing and in 2009 the river received a shellfish harvesting classification down-grade. In response to this down-grade, the Town of Bluffton, with Beaufort County and stakeholders, committed to take action to restore shellfish harvesting in the river and to prevent further degradation to the river. Following the U.S. EPA (EPA) guidelines for developing watershed plans, Town staff worked for nearly a year with consultants, Beaufort County, topic experts and local residents to develop the May River Watershed Action Plan which was adopted by Town Council in November 2011.

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