Marin County Public Health Status Update for April 12, 2024, includes Milk, Dairy Cows, and Bird Flu; Help Us Design our Wastewater Monitoring System; The Buzz Stops Here; Radios for Disaster Communications in Novato; and COVID-19 Data Update.
The Marin County Public Health Status Update is published weekly to share news and resources related to pandemic response and recovery, emergency preparedness, and other public health priorities.
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Milk, Dairy Cows, and Bird Flu
As of April 11, cows in eight states have been infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), or H5N1. At least one human case has been connected to exposure to infected cattle. While no cases have been reported in local cows or humans yet, wild birds and poultry infected with HPAI have been detected in Marin. Because the milk of infected cows carries high levels of HPAI virus, the consumption of raw milk now carries greater risk than usual. Residents are reminded to drink pasteurized milk.
Help Us Design Our Wastewater Monitoring System
Monitoring local wastewater for spikes in substances like fentanyl and xylazine may provide an early warning system for preventing overdoses. Marin County Public Health is partnering with a team from the CDC to evaluate the usefulness of wastewater monitoring and requests the help of our community. Please take 5 minutes to fill out this survey, available in Spanish and in English. Your feedback will help shape the future of wastewater monitoring as a public health tool.
The Buzz Stops Here
Mosquitoes carry a variety of potentially serious diseases, including West Nile Virus. Recent heavy rains and flooding have increased mosquito breeding sites. The Marin Sonoma Vector Control District (MSVCD) is an independent agency dedicated to protecting residents from insect borne illnesses. MSCVD provides clear public messaging based on local conditions and mitigates vectors of disease. Visit their website for guidance to limit your risk for infection.
Radios for Disaster Communications in Novato
Cell phone function is not guaranteed in disasters. The Novato Community Response Team (NCRT) has identified hand-held radios as a critical tool for communication during times when cell phone communication is not possible. The NCRT radio network includes schools, community agencies, faith-based organizations, and the Marin Radio Communication Volunteers. The goal of this effort is to ensure communication lines between agencies remain open when they may be most critical.
COVID-19 Data Update
Below is a snapshot of local COVID-19 data. Find a more in-depth analysis of COVID-19 trends on the Marin Data & Surveillance webpage, our Data FAQ, or Marin County's Open Data Portal.
| Actively Circulating Variants | JN.1 |
|---|
| Marin County COVID-19 Hospitalizations | Today’s Report |
|---|---|
|
New Admissions Over the Past Week |
12 |
|
Hospitalized Patients |
4 |
|
ICU Patients |
0 |
| Settings Experiencing Outbreaks | Today’s Report |
|---|---|
|
Long-Term Care and Congregate Living Facilities |
2 |
|
Schools and Childcare |
0 |
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