Choze Powell

It’s been more than two years since public health officials began battling a hepatitis A outbreak in Michigan, and as of Nov. 7 the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is reporting 905 cases. In comparison, the state recorded 327 cases 2011-2015.  Although weekly counts have slowed from 15-20 cases per week to about three cases a week, numbers are still above average and public health officials continue to urge vaccination. This outbreak continues to have a high hospitalization rate, with 726 people hospitalized (80.2 percent) and 28 deaths.  “Our local health department partners have been instrumental in slowing this epidemic through outreach efforts and vaccination clinics targeted towards high risk individuals,” said Dr. Eden Wells, MDHHS chief medical executive. “With vaccine available, all residents are encouraged to discuss their risk factors with their doctor or local health department.”  Those with a history of injection and non-injection drug use, homelessness or transient housing, incarceration and men who have sex with men (MSM) are thought to be at greater risk of contracting the disease “This has been the largest person-to-person hepatitis A outbreak in Michigan’s history,” Wells said. “It’s imperative that Michigan residents get vaccinated to protect themselves and prevent the further spread of this outbreak in Michigan communities. Talk to your health care provider to see if you are at risk of getting hepatitis A.”  Getting vaccinated, practicing good hand washing and avoiding sex with infected partners are ways to prevent getting infected. The hepatitis A vaccine is available at local pharmacies, through healthcare providers and at local health departments.  Vaccination clinics have been held at local health departments, homeless shelters and venues popular with the MSM population in an effort to go where these populations are likely to be present.More than 268,000 doses of vaccine have been administered in outbreak jurisdictions. In addition,emergency departments have been screening for hepatitis A and offering vaccination. Hepatitis A is a serious, highly contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is found in the feces (poop) of people with hepatitis A and spread by eating contaminated food or water, during sex or by living with an infected person.

Hepatitis A symptoms can include:

For more information about hepatitis A, including a calendar of vaccination clinics, visitMichigan.gov/hepatitisAoutbreak.

Hunting is a valued way of life in Michigan. Hunters play an important role in wildlife conservation and management while contributing more than $2 billion to the state economy and supporting 25,500 direct jobs.  According to State Senator Phil Pavlov, more than 90 percent of hunters purchase a deer license. Last year, nearly 575,000 deer hunters harvested about 376,000 deer.   The Michigan departments of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Natural Resources (DNR) are reminding hunters of the ‘Do Not Eat’ advisory for deer taken within approximately five miles of Clark’s Marsh in Oscoda Township. The advisory is due to high levels of PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) found in a single deer taken about two miles from Clark’s Marsh, which borders the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB). PFOS is one type of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) chemical.  The State of Michigan took samples from 128 deer across Michigan to test for PFAS. One of those deer, taken near Clark’s Marsh, came back with elevated levels of PFOS which resulted in the ‘Do Not Eat’ deer advisory. The advisory encircles the five-mile radius around the Wurtsmith base property and covers what the DNR has estimated to be the expected travel range of deer living in or near the Marsh. The area covered by the deer consumption advisory issued can be described as:  From Lake Huron west along Aster Street, west on Davison Road, north on Brooks Road, east on Esmond Road, north on Old US 23, north on Wells Road, west on River Road, north on Federal Forest Road 2240, north on Lenard Road, north on Indian Road, and East on E. Kings Corner Road (along the county line) toward Lake to Lake Road, to Lake Huron (map attached). Michigan residents should not eat any deer that came from within five miles of Clark’s Marsh. In addition to the Clark’s Marsh deer advisory, MDHHS continues to recommend not eating kidneys or liver from any deer because many chemicals including PFAS can accumulate in their organs.The advisory does not apply to cattle, chickens, or other livestock raised in the area. It is not expected livestock are drinking water from Clark’s Marsh.  While PFAS testing is not possible locally, the State of Michigan did confirm three labs that will analyze PFAS samples from deer tissue at the individual’s expense. The State does not endorse or recommend any lab. Contact the following labs for information on the cost and how to send deer tissue:

• Vista Analytical Laboratory, 916-673-1520, vista-analytical.com
• Battelle, 781-681-5565, battelle.org
• GEL Laboratories, LLC, 843-556-8171, gel.com

On Oct. 19, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued the U.S. Air Force with a violation notice for PFAS contamination in the waters of Clark’s Marsh near Oscoda, the second violation notice issued to the U.S. Air Force this year for this site.  The DEQ has found the Air Force to be in violation of Part 31 under the water resources protection section of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. Under the violation notice, the DEQ is requiring the Air Force to increase pumping and treatment of contaminated groundwater at the base and to increase the size of the capture zone of the PFAS plume coming from from the WAFB. In January, the DEQ issued the Air Force with a violation notice for failing to meet a 2017 deadline to start-up a second granular activated carbon filtration system at the WAFB to address discharges of PFAS-containing groundwater to the Au Sable River and Van Etten Creek.  PFAS are chemicals that are in Class B fire-fighting foam that was used at the Air Force base near Wurtsmith and other sites in Michigan. These chemicals are also found in stain and water repellants, personal care products, and many other consumer goods. Some health studies have linked PFAS to health issues such as thyroid disease, increased cholesterol levels, impaired immune system function, reproductive issues, high blood pressure in pregnant women, and increased chance of kidney and testicular cancers.  A deer that has been exposed to PFAS may not show any signs or symptoms of being sick.  If you see a deer that appears to be sick, contact the DNR hotline at 800-292-7800. If you have health related questions contact MDHHS at 1-800-648-6942.  In Michigan, to date, only fish and deer have been sampled for PFAS. The State of Michigan is creating a plan to sample more deer for PFAS, as well as further exploring contamination in other wildlife such as turkey and waterfowl.  For more information about PFAS in wild game and fish, visit Michigan.gov/pfasresponse and go to the Fish and Wildlife button. For more information about wild game consumption, visitMichigan.gov/eatsafegame and go to the Eat Safe Wild Game button.

This year the Port Huron Parks and Recreation Department will be working with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and PCC Community Services to support foster families and low-income families in St. Clair County through child-specific Christmas gift donations.  Michigan has approximately 13,700 children in foster care.  Those interested in helping with the cause can visit the Recreation Department to pick up a child assignment and gift bag. The child assignment will include the child’s age and wish list of items they hope to receive. Gift bags are $1 each to offset the cost of the bag.  The gift drive is now open and bags must be returned to Palmer Park full of purchases by December 3 so gifts can be delivered in time for Christmas.  The Recreation Department is located at 2829 Armour Street, Port Huron, MI. Office hours are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and it has extended hours on select Wednesdays and Thursdays. For more information call the department at 810-984-9760.

The person who was killed as a result of two separate crashes yesterday has been identified. According to St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon, 70 year old Lawrence McDaid of Port Huron was killed while standing in a ditch on the north side of westbound I-69 Tuesday morning.  McDaid was travelling westbound on I-69 near Stapleton Road in Riley Township yesterday morning, shortly before 8:30.  He lost control due to slippery conditions, slid into the ditch on the north side of the freeway, rolling the trailer.  He and his passenger, 67 year old Gary McDaid, also of Port Huron, got out of the vehicle and stood near the truck.  A friend who was following McDaid, 64 year old David Heyer of Clyde Township pulled over to help and got out of his vehicle. A third vehicle, a 2005 Nissan Altima, driven by MacKenzie Pearce of Komoka, Ontario, lost control in the same area, slid into the ditch and struck Lawrence and Gary McDaid and Heyer.  Lawrence McDaid was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, while Heyer and Gary McDaid were transported by Tri-Hospital EMS to McLaren Port Huron Hospital.  Neither Pearce, nor a passenger in her vehicle, 23 year old Nathan Auld of London, Ontario was injured.  The crash remains under investigation.  At this time, alcohol is not believed to be a factor.  Emmett Township Fire and Rescue and Michigan State Police also assisted at the scene of the incident.  The trailer involved had been initially reported as a horse trailer, but was actually a travel trailer.

One person is dead and another injured following two separate crashes on westbound I-69 Tuesday morning.  Deputies were called to a rollover crash east of Stapleton Road in Riley Township shortly before 8:30 Tuesday.  A truck hauling a horse trailer had lost control on the slippery road and slid into the ditch on the north side of the road, causing the truck and trailer to roll over.  The two occupants of the vehicle got out and were waiting for a tow truck, when another vehicle lost control and slid into the same ditch, striking both people standing there.  One person was killed when he was pinned between the trailer and the car.  The second person standing in the ditch suffered what are believed to be non- life threatening injuries.  Deputies are still at the scene of the crash and as of 9:20 a.m., one lane of westbound I-69 in that area is closed to traffic.  Emmett Township Fire and Rescue, Michigan State Police and Tri-Hospital EMS are assisting at the scene.  No further information is available at this time.

The Port Huron Northern Drama Club will be presenting The Addams. Family, a new musical comedy, in the PHN Performing Arts Center on Krafft Road in Port Huron.  The Addams Family is a musical comedy  based upon The Addams Family characters created by Charles Addams in his single-panel gag cartoons, which depict a ghoulish American family with an affinity for all things macabre. Although numerous film and television adaptations of Addams’ cartoons exist, the musical is the first stage show based on the characters.  Performances are Thursday, November 15, Friday, November 16 and Saturday, November 17 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, November 18 at 2 p.m.  Tickets general seating and may be purchased at Port Huron Northern or at the door.  Cost of admission is $8 for students and seniors and $10 for adults.