IOW A
D E P A R T ME N T
Iowa Health
AUGUST 2003
OF
P U B LIC
H E A L TH
focus
WWW.IDPH.STATE.IA.US
Iowa sees third human West Nile case
By Kevin Teale, Communications Director
O
n August 1, a
third human case
of West Nile Virus was been identified in
Iowa. The Central Iowa
man, in his 70’s, was
never hospitalized and is
recovering at home. Last
month, a Northeast Iowa
man in his 70s followed
by a Western Iowa
woman in her 40s were
the first Iowa cases to be
reported.
Birds in 39 counties have
have tested positive for
West Nile Virus activity in
2003. Testing on the
birds is conducted by the
University of Iowa Hygienic Lab.
West Nile was found in
every county last year,
either in a human, animal
or mosquito. It is mainly
transmitted through the
bite of a mosquito that
has picked up the virus
while feeding on a WNVinfected bird. Last year,
Iowa had 54 human
cases of West Nile Virus,
including two fatalities.
West Nile has now been
found in over a third of
counties statewide this
year. “We certainly would
encourage Iowans to get
outdoors and enjoy Iowa,
but at the same time take
steps personally to limit
your exposure to mosquitoes, ” said (Continued on
page 2)
JEL Summit - Students rally against big tobacco during the
fourth annual Just Eliminate Lies (JEL) Summit on the Iowa
State University campus last month. Over 500 teens from
80 of Iowa’s 99 counties gathered to take a STAND against
the tobacco industry, See article on page 6.
Leadership meetings to be held
Inside this issue:
By Mary Mincer Hansen, RN, PhD, Director
I
n previous Focus articles,
I have mentioned the importance of the Transformation of Public Health initiative, spearheaded by Julie
McMahon and Tom Newton.
Its aim is to help us, the Iowa
Department of Public Health,
and our partners chart a
course for delivery of public
health services in Iowa.
These are challenging
times that require efficient
and effective use of available resources. One way
to improve our efficiency
and effectiveness is by
creating a shared leadership agenda for public
health, developed and
supported by collaboration/partnership (Continued
on page 3)
Dr. Hansen
DEET guidelines for
children
2
Public Health Conference
4
Smoke-free smorgasbord
5
Dr. Lohff heads for
Vermont
5
JEL Summit
6
Dr. Cort Lohff, assistant Iowa
state epidemiologist. “Use insect repellent with DEET. Keep
skin covered as much as possible when outdoors and avoid
being outside at dawn and
dusk when mosquitoes are
most active.”
The public should also eliminate the places where mosquitoes breed, such as old tires
and flower pots. Mosquitoes
can also breed in bird baths, so
the water in them should be
changed once or twice a week.
Once West Nile is confirmed in
a county this year, residents no
longer need to collect dead
birds for testing. However, locations of dead birds should
still be reported to local public
health agencies, or the state tollfree West Nile hotline 866-WNVIOWA (1-866-968-4692).
As of August 1, 13 states including
Iowa reported human cases of West
Nile virus for a total of 69 cases and
three deaths. The deaths occurred
in Alabama and Texas. For up-todate information nationally see
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/we
stnile/index.htm.
Guidelines for DEET use on children
A
ccording to the Centers for
Disease Control, no definitive
studies exist in scientific literature about what concentration of
DEET is safe for children. No serious illness has arisen from use of
DEET when used according the
manufacturer’s recommendations.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that a cautious approach is to use products
with a low concentration of DEET,
10 percent or less, on children aged
2 - 12.
Most guidelines cite that it is acceptable to use repellents containing
DEET on children over 2 years of
age. Other experts suggest that it is
acceptable to apply repellent with
low concentrations of DEET to in-
Page 2
fants over 2 months old. Repellent
products that do not contain DEET
are not likely to offer the same degree of protection from mosquito
bites as products containing DEET.
Non-DEET repellents have not necessarily been as thoroughly studied
as DEET, and may not be safer for
use on children.
•
Do not allow young children to
apply insect repellent to themselves; have an adult do it for
them. Keep repellents out of
reach of children.
•
Do not apply repellent to skin
under clothing. If repellent is
applied to clothing, wash treated
clothing before wearing again.
Always follow the recommendations
appearing on the product label.
Using repellents on the skin is not
the only way to avoid mosquito
bites. Children and adults can wear
clothing with long pants and long
sleeves while outdoors. Mosquito
netting can be used over infant carriers. Finally, it may be possible to
reduce the number of mosquitoes in
the area by getting rid of containers
with standing water that provide
breeding places for the mosquitoes.
•
When using repellent on a child,
apply it to your own hands and
then rub them on your child.
Avoid children's eyes and mouth
and use it sparingly around their
ears.
•
Do not apply repellent to children's hands. (Children tend to
put their hands in their mouths.)
Leadership meetings to be held
From the Director
Continued from page 1
between the Iowa Department of
Public Health and local public
health providers.
Myself and the department’s executive team developed a draft
leadership agenda during a twoday retreat This leadership
agenda used comments and suggestions provided during Julie and
Tom’s Transformation of Public
Health meetings in the spring.
To share this agenda with you, our
local partners, I have arranged for
6 meetings across the state, one
in each of the bio-terrorism re-
gions. Please see the accompanying map that shows these regions.
.
The meeting will take place from
10:00 a.m.- 1:00p.m. on the following dates:
September 5 - Ottumwa
September 15 - Ames
September 25 - Storm Lake
October 7 - Cedar Rapids
October 9 - Charles City
I will send out an e-mail next week
to all local public health departments with specific details regarding the location of these meetings
Please join the executive team
and me at one of the meeting locations and share your suggestions and vision for delivery of
public health services in Iowa.
September 30 - Red Oak
Iowa’s Public Health and Healthcare
Bioterrorism Planning Regions*
Page 3
Public health conference to be held this month
By Kara Berg, Iowa Health FOCUS Editor
T
he Governor’s Conference on Public Health,
also known as Barn Raising IV will be held August 14
and 15 at Drake University. The
conference targets those who
work in the health fields or who
recognize the vital importance
of the health sector to the stability and economic security of
their communities.
First day activities will center on
health care reform and other
health policy issues. Dr. F.E.
Thompson, Jr., M.D., deputy
director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) will discuss “Emerging
and Infectious Diseases.” Former Governor Robert Ray and
Henry Simmons, MD will speak
on half of the National Coalition
on Health Care, of which they
serve as chair and executive
director respectively.
Also on day one, a panel
chaired by Richard Boxer, MD
of the National Health Policy
Council will discuss “The State
of Health in America.” The
panel will consist of leaders of
nationally known organizations
such as John Rother, director of
Policy and Strategy, American
Association of Retired Persons
(AARP); Andrew Stern, president, Service Employee International Union (SEIU); and Barbara Blakeney, president,
American Nurses Association
along with Dr. John Redwine,
primary care physician from
Sioux City and former Republican
State Senator and Assistant Majority Leader. Dr. Robert Freeman,
Senior Director, for AstraZeneca,
will complete the line up of panel
presenters.
In the afternoon, Democratic presidential candidates Governor Howard Dean, Senator John Kerry,
Senator John Edwards, Senator
Robert Graham, Senator Carol
Mosely Braun, Representative Dick
Gephardt, and Representative Dennis Kucinich will speak on health
care issues.
The second day of the conference
will bring together cutting edge experts to expand participants’ knowledge, introduce new tools and resources, and share successful program models through 36 breakout
sessions. Some of the workshop
topics covered in these sessions
include concentrated animal feeding operations, obesity, bioterrorism, tobacco, the role of the community in health care, substance
abuse, child care, and many more.
Conference keynoter for day two
is Dr. Irwin Redlener, Associate
Dean of the Mailman School of
Public Health at Columbia University and co-founder and president
of the Children’s Health Fund, who
will speak on medically underserved children. Dr. Martin Collis,
an exercise physiologist will cap
the day with a presentation on
healing and humor.
For more information on conference speakers, workshops, or to
view the conference via web cast
go to
www.thehealthconference.org.
Web casting of most of day one
and portions of day two will be
available at this web address for
up to a month following the event.
For general conference information, contact Louise Lex, Ph.D.,
Iowa Department of Public Health,
at 515 281-4348 or e-mail at
llex@idph.state.ia.us. Day two of
the conference is made possible
in part by a major contribution
from The Wellmark Foundation.
Page 4
Smoke-Free Taste of Iowa Smorgasbord to be held
By Keven Arrowsmith, Division of Tobacco Use Prevention and Control
T
he Division of Tobacco Use
Prevention and Control is hosting a smoke-free Taste of Iowa
Smorgasbord on Thursday, August
14, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the
Ola Babcock Miller Building, East
12th and Grand Avenue, Des Moines.
The event is a part of the Governor’s
Conference on Public Health, Barn
Raising IV.
Iowa restaurants that are completely
smoke-free will be providing food for
the reception. The reception will also
honor Iowans who volunteered for
rescue and recovery efforts at the
World Trade Center and the Pentagon, following 9/11.
“We are looking forward to showcasing Iowa restaurants that offer a
smoke-free dining experience,” said
Threase Harms-Hassoun, program
director for the Division of Tobacco
Use Prevention and Control.
“Exposure to secondhand smoke is
an important issue for public health
because each year, over 500 people
in Iowa die from exposure to secondhand smoke and research shows that
it is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States, following smoking and alcohol abuse.
The restaurants participating in this
event should be commended not only
for providing a smoke-free dining experience for their patrons, but a
smoke-free workplace for their employees as well.”
The Division of Tobacco Use Prevention and Control is working with community partnerships and other partners across the state to reduce Iowans’ exposure to secondhand
smoke by educating the public on the
negative health effects of secondhand
smoke and creating smoke-free public
places. As part of the division’s efforts
to educate the public, they created
new television commercials that focus
on secondhand smoke.
“We have many customers who have
dined at the finest restaurants in the
world and they expect a smoke-free
environment,” said David North, executive chef, David’s Milwaukee
Diner, Hotel Pattee of Perry. “Being
smoke-free raises the level of quality,
and enhances the dining experience
for everyone.”
Restaurants participating in the
smoke-free Taste of Iowa Smorgasbord include: Iowa Bakery Café, Art
House, Varsity Café, and Sodexho
Catering, Des Moines; Le Café, West
Des Moines; Raul’s Mexican Food,
Clive; Linen Closet, Algona; Hickory
Park, Ames; Tulip Tea Room, Pella;
Zuber’s Restaurant, Homestead; Devotay, Iowa City; Hotel Pattee, Perry;
and Leaning Tower of Pizza, Ankeny.
IDPH’s Lohff chosen for Vermont epi position
By Kara Berg, Iowa Health FOCUS Editor
I
owa Department of Public Health
(IDPH) Assistant
State Epidemiologist Dr. Cortland Lohff will
become the new
state epidemiologist for Vermont this month.
He describes his
new position as
Dr. Cort Lohff
being similar to
that of IDPH’s State Epidemiologist
Patricia Quinlisk, with whom he’s
worked closely for the past four years.
He will head the infectious diseases
epidemiology unit, which includes
acute disease epidemiology, immunization, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV. He will provide
consultation on infectious disease
Page 5
issues, work with the media, and be
involved in policy issues.
“I have learned a lot from the staff
here and the people are great to work
with, says Dr. Lohff. “I have been here
through a time of many changes, including new staff and new programs,
with bio-terrorism issues being the
main area of focus.”
On Dr. Lohff’s leaving, Director Mary
Mincer Hansen praised Dr. Lohff’s
passion for public health.
“Vermont is very fortunate to get Dr.
Lohff,” she said. “He has been a tremendous asset to the department in
his roles as chief for the Center for
Acute Disease Epidemiology and as
the assistant state epidemiologist. He
has also had a leading role in the bioterrorism program. Cort’s leadership
has been outstanding and his passion
for public health extraordinary. Dr.
Lohff will be missed, however I wish
him the best of luck, and thank him for
his hard work, dedication, and commitment to public health and our department.”
Mary Jones, director of the Division of
Epidemiology, EMS said, “It has been
a pleasure to have the opportunity to
work with Dr. Lohff. His dedication
and commitment to public health is
extraordinary. I wish him the best of
luck in his new position.”
Dr. Quinlisk also expressed her sentiment by saying, “It has always a
pleasure working with Cort. His quiet
confidence, integrity and professionalism – tempered by a sense of humor
– always came through.”
Good luck and congratulations, Cort!
Teens take a STAND at annual JEL summit
By Keven Arrowsmith, Division of Tobacco Use Prevention and Control
O
ver 500 teens from 80 of
Iowa’s 99 counties gathered on the Iowa State
University (ISU) campus July 15
to 17 to take a STAND against
the tobacco industry, during the
fourth annual Just Eliminate Lies
(JEL) Summit.
As part of the requirements by the
state legislature, the youth attending elected a new JEL president.
Thomas Oldham, a senior from
Lincoln High School in Des
Moines, was chosen to be the
group’s third president. Oldham
has been involved with JEL since
its
March on Tobacco JEL teens march
against tobacco on the
ISU campus in July.
During the youth summit, students participated in student-led
sessions on media
advocacy, street marketing, and tactics
used by the tobacco
industry. Around 500
teens participated in
the event.
creation in 2000.
Jacklyn McEachran, a senior from
Ames High School, was elected for
a fourth year on the State Commission on Tobacco Use Prevention
and Control. McEachran is the only
member of JEL to have served on
the commission since its inception.
Jay Brandt, a freshman at Luther
College in Decorah, was elected to
a three-year term on the commission. Brandt is a past member of the
JEL Executive Council.
“During the summit, students participated in student-led sessions on
media advocacy, street marketing,
and tactics used by the tobacco industry to attract youth into using
their products,” said Oldham. “We
concluded with a march across the
ISU campus and a rally. Everyone
left the summit feeling charged and
motivated to educate their peers and
stand up to the tobacco industry.”
“This year’s summit was a great
success,” said Randi Huffman, JEL
coordinator. “The support and response we have received throughout Iowa has been tremendous. JEL
and the Iowa tobacco control effort
would not be where it is today without the work of the teens from
across Iowa.”
JEL and other tobacco use prevention and control activities are funded
by the State of Iowa from the Master
Settlement Agreement with the tobacco industry and administered by
the Iowa Department of Public
Health.
Page 6
Trans fatty acids to be included on food labels
By Susan Pohl, M.S., R.D., Bureau of Nutrition
I
n July, the Food and Drug Administration moved to provide
consumers with information crucial to their health. Beginning January 1, 2006, the nutrition labels on
your favorite foods will be required
to include information on the trans
fatty acid content. Food manufacturers will no doubt be adopting the
new nutrition label sooner. They
may also choose to reformulate
products with healthier fats to help
consumers meet the goal of reducing trans fat acids in their diets.
Trans fatty acids are formed when
an unsaturated fat is hydrogenated
to produce a more solid form. Stick
margarine is an example of this type
of product. Trans fatty acids are
hidden in a number of other products such as crackers, baked
goods, salad dressings, fried foods,
cookies and candies. While most
trans fats are found in processed
foods containing hydrogenated fats,
small amounts of trans fatty acids
occur naturally in butter, milk products, cheese, beef, and lamb. For
example, a tablespoon of stick margarine contains 2.8 grams of trans
fat, while an equal amount of tub
margarine contains 0.3 grams and
and butter contains 0.6 grams.
“Trans fats,” the chosen term for
trans fatty acids, will be added to
the nutrition label because research
has shown that trans fatty acids increase LDL “bad cholesterol” and
lowers HDL “good cholesterol,” which
in turn increases the risk of coronary
heart disease. Before this research
was conducted, consumers believed
that using margarine was better than
using butter, lard and other animal
fats. Current recommendations are
to decrease both saturated and trans
fats, and increase the use of polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated
fats in the diet.
The FDA predicts that health care
costs and lives will be saved as a
result of this ruling. The food industry will incur a one-time cost of $140
to $250 million dollars. On the other
hand, as many as 1,200 heart attacks could be prevented annually
and up to $1.8 billion per year in
medical costs could be saved.
What can you do right now? It is
very likely you are consuming trans
fatty acids without being aware of it.
While some fat is needed in the diet
to aid in the absorption of fat soluble
vitamins (A, D, E and K), support
brain growth and produce hormones, trans fatty acids are not essential to any functions of the body.
The nutrition label will continue to
be an asset during this transition.
To determine if a food product contains trans fat, look for “shortening”,
“partially hydrogenated vegetable
oil” or “hydrogenated vegetable oil”
in the list of ingredients. Replace
stick margarine with tub margarine
and oils, limit intake of baked goods
and processed foods. Also, select
foods low in saturated fats. If you
have been limiting saturated fats,
found naturally in meats and dairy
products, continue to do so by
choosing lean meats and low fat
dairy products. Read the labels of
all processed foods to determine if
they are high in saturated fats. Becoming knowledgeable about the
foods you eat can be a first step in
making healthier lifestyle choices.
Come see us at the Iowa State Fair
T
he Iowa Department of Public Health is hosting a booth at the Iowa State Fair, August 7-17. It is located at the
south side of the Varied Industries Building in the 600 aisle. Our display highlights our mission statement,
“Protecting and promoting the health of Iowans.”
IDPH programs are highlighted daily and the Medical Examiners Office has an interactive “CSI” type of display. IDPH
volunteers will staff the booth for the run of the fair from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
There are all kinds of cool giveaway items, and brochures. Some of the giveaways include sun block samples, pens,
pencils, magnets, temporary tattoos, child development wheels, and healthy recipe cards. We have information covering
such hot topics as West Nile virus and the chicken pox vaccine. So, come see us!
Page 7
IDPH submits Bioterrorism Continuation Grant
By Mary Jones, Director of Epidemiology, EMS, & Disaster Operations
T
he Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) submitted
a comprehensive continuation grant application to the Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and to the Health
Resources Services Administration (HRSA) in July 2003.
The continuation application, when
awarded, will provide over 17 million dollars of funding for public
health, hospitals and EMS for upgrading preparedness for and response capabilities to bioterrorism,
other outbreaks of infectious disease, and other public health
threats and emergencies. The
IDPH anticipates receiving award
notices no later than August 31,
2003.
Public health and healthcare
emergency preparedness requires
that local, regional and state partnerships be solidified among multiple emergency response agencies
to enable a collective statewide
systematic response with seamless interaction. Public health
emergency planning also requires
a unifying jurisdiction-wide planning and response strategies.
Funding from this continuation application will b utilized to achieve
these goals. Additionally, public
health and healthcare emergency
preparedness activities need to be
coordinated closely with public
safety and emergency management agencies.
Multiple partners from local and
state agencies participated in development of the application culminating with approval from the
CDC and HRSA subcommittees,
the director of IDPH and the Iowa
Homeland Security and Emergency Management (IHSEM) director. The duration of the cooperative agreement is August 2003
through August 2004.
Funding CDC
% of Total
Funding
Total Funding
Local public health agencies
21%
$2,644,609
CDC regions
20%
$2,504,515
IDPH
21%
$2,669,579
Shared Capacity
21%
$2,594,892
UHL
17%
2,188,378
100%
$12,601,973
TOTAL
Funding HRSA
Hospitals
$1,452,596
HRSA
Regions
$1,173,500
DPH
$1,239,778
UHL
EMS
Poison
Control
IA-DMAT
TOTAL
$235,000
$1,000,000
$113,000
$222,750
$5,436,624
Page 8
CDC Application Participants
Organization
Representing Name
Organization
Bret Voorhees
Steve Zimmerman
Wade Travis
Lucinda Parker
EMD
Connie Gilbert
EMD
CDC Region 1
Karen Fread
CDC Region 2
Ron Osterholm
CDC Region 3
Linda Drey
I-ALPHA
Frances Sadden
DPHAC
Thomas O'Rourke
Mike Pentella
Bonnie Rubin
UHL
IA Poison
Control Center Dr. Ed Bottei
Grinnell Regional Public
Health
Cerro Gordo County
Public Health
Siouxland Health
District
Siouxland Health
District
IPCC
Johnson County Public
Health
Cedar County Public
Health
CDC Region 6
Rick Fleshin
IPHA
UNI Global Health
Dr. Michele Yehieli Services
Chris Atchison
CDC Region 4
Wilma Perrin
CDC Region 5
Kim Dorn
Buchanan County Public
Health
UICPHP
Union County Public
Health
Marion County Public
Health
The above table identifies participants actively involved in
the writing of the applications.
Page 9
Name
Organization
Art Spies
IA Hospital Assn
Dave Hickman
Dr. Ed Bottei
Mercy Medical Center
IA Poison Control
Center
UIHC
Mercy Medical
Center
Jeff Gauthier
UIHC
Matt McGarvey
Mercy Medical Center
HRSA Region 4
Robin Olson
Jennie Edmundson
Hospital
IA Hospital Assn
Mercy Medical
Center
Iowa Poison
Control Center
IA EMS Assn
Grinnell Regional
Suzanne Cooner Medical Center
Cerro Gordo County
EMS
Dennis Ostrem
Newton Fire
Roger Heglund
Department
HRSA Region 2
Tom Craighton
Franklin General
Hospital
UHL
Mike Pentella
UHL
HRSA Region 1
UHL
Ralph Wilmoth
Amy Marlow
Organization
Representing
Black Hawk County
Public Health
IPHA
I-ALPHA
UI Center for
Public Health
Preparedness
HRSA Application Participants
IA Health System Ann Herring
Bonnie Ruben
UHL
Mike Pentella
Mercy Medical
Center
Keith Wachter
IA Health System -Lab
UHL
Mercy Medical Center Lab
IA Health System Kirk Phillips
IA Health System
IA/NE Primary
Margaret Richey IA/NE Primary Care
Care Assn.
Ted Boesen
Assn
HRSA Region 5
HRSA Region 6
Tim Schroeder
Ann Streller
HRSA Region 4
Robin Olson
Connie Gilbert
Jack Briggs
EMD
Mercy Medical Center Centerville
St Lukes
Jennie Edmundson
Hospital
EMD
Bioterrorism Grant Forum to tell all
DeAnne Sesker, Division of Epidemiology, EMS, & Disaster Operations
P
ublic health agencies, hospital,
county emergency management,
EMS, local boards of health and
county boards of supervisors are invited
to attend a forum on September 17 at
the Iowa State Center in Ames to learn
about the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention and Health Resources
and Services Administration Grants
submitted this month by Iowa Department of Public Health for potential funding.
Last year, IDPH was awarded $12.5
million from both grants to begin the
planning phase for a coordinated bioterrorism response. “This year has seen
growth beyond our expectations,” says
Mary Jones, division director of Epidemiology, EMS and Disaster Operations.
“Local public health agencies have
worked very hard in developing new
relationships, writing plans and attending numerous meetings. All of this has
been above and beyond their current
job responsibilities.”
In writing the ’03-‘04 grant, local response partners were brought in to assist in the process. Karen Fread, director of Grinnell Regional Public Health
says, “the grant planning process was a
partnership of local and state representatives striving to develop a plan to have
all of Iowa better prepared. If local public health is not prepared, it would be
difficult for the state to meet needs
quickly in any type of disaster.”
The local level was represented in each
of the focus and priority planning areas,
which included planning and assessment, epidemiology and surveillance,
laboratory, risk communications, surge
capacity, education and training, EMS,
and information technology.
“Bringing in all of the local partners to
the grant forum who will be benefiting
from the dollars allocated at the local
level should have first-hand knowledge
of what this grant means to them,” says
Jones. “We all need to work together if
we need to respond to a normal emergency in Iowa as well as a terrorist
event so why not plan, prepare and
practice in the very same fashion. “We
have been practicing this model at the
state level and have proven its success.
That is why we are inviting our partners
at the local level to give them the information that they need to continue this
model.”
The grant forum will consist of a plenary
session in the morning, including messages from Dr. Mary Hansen, director of
the Iowa Department of Public Health
and Ellen Gordon, administrator and
director of Iowa Homeland Security and
Emergency Management. Also included, will be an overview of the findings of the Needs Assessment conducted earlier this year as well as other
funding sources and budget issues. The
afternoon will be chock-full of information with three breakout sessions covering focus areas and priority planning
areas from which participants can
choose.
For more information about forum, call
DeAnne Sesker at 515 242-5037.
Iowans improve nutrition and exercise habits
By Ruth Litchfield, ISU Extension
W
ho lost 23.5 tons of weight
while traveling 2.6 million
miles in only five months?
…12,000 Iowans who participated in
Lighten Up Iowa in 2003.
Nearly 1,400 teams of friends, work
colleagues, community members, youth
and others took up the challenge to improve their nutrition and become more
physically active. They tracked their
mileage while walking, biking, running,
exercising and engaging in other activities. They also ate more fruits and vegetables. The effort paid off with a total
weight loss of over 47,000 pounds.
“Iowans literally have made strides to
improve their health through nutrition
and physical activity,” according to Ruth
Litchfield, Iowa State University Extension nutrition specialist. “Yet, there is
still room for improvement.”
A sample of teams participating in
Lighten Up Iowa from January to June
were surveyed about their health habits,
including nutrition and physical activity,
before beginning and after completing
the program, Litchfield said. Prior to
Lighten Up Iowa
•
•
•
76 percent of those surveyed did
not meet the “5 A Day” recommendation of eating five servings of fruit
and vegetables a day. After the
program this dropped to 62 percent.
54 percent of those surveyed did
not participate in regular exercise
(three or more times per week).
After the program, only 29 percent
reported not participating in regular
exercise.
65 percent of those surveyed consumed two or more servings of refined foods on a daily basis. After
the program only 46 percent reported eating refined foods at this
frequency.
According to Tim Lane of the Iowa Department of Public Health, “Lighten Up
Iowa is a lighthearted and fun way to
address a serious public health issue.”
The 2.6 million miles logged by participants is the equivalent of 108 trips
around the earth, or one Lighten Up
Iowa team of eight making approximately 14 trips together.
Lighten Up Iowa is presented by the
Iowa Games in partnership with Iowa
State University Extension and the Iowa
Department of Public Health. Another
round of Lighten Up Iowa is scheduled
to start Jan. 5, 2004. For more information, check
http://www.lightenupiowa.org.
Page 10
Working together to conquer cancer
Kerry Finnegan, American Cancer Society, Midwest Division
C
ancer exacts a terrible toll
on Iowa, year after year.
This year an estimated
15,300 Iowans will be told they
have cancer and approximately
6,400 will lose their lives to this
disease. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that research
advances have brought us to the
point where cancer is no
longer the automatic
death sentence it once
was. More than half of
those in Iowa diagnosed
with cancer will survive,
and each year the number of cancer survivors
in the state grows.
But Iowa has an opportunity to save more of
our fellow citizens from
the consequences of
cancer by using already proven techniques for cancer
prevention, early detection, treatment and quality of life practices
and to continue as an active participant in cancer research.
To unveil the new comprehensive
cancer plan to reduce the cancer
burden in Iowa, the Iowa Consortium for Comprehensive Cancer
Control will conduct a free seminar
on October 1. Changing the Face
of Cancer in Iowa… Yours, Mine &
Ours will be presented at the Renaissance Savery Hotel in Des
Moines, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
impact of cancer on the state.
Their report, The Face of Cancer
in Iowa, led to the formation of the
Iowa Consortium for Comprehensive Cancer Control consisting of
more than 100 individuals representing 50 agencies and organizations across the state. The Consortium chose as its first priority to
create a comprehensive, statewide cancer plan that would have
broad support and participation from cancerconcerned organizations throughout the
state and would dramatically change the
“face of cancer” in
Iowa. The plan includes 50 strategies for
addressing critical cancer problems in Iowa
over the next three
years. It also prioritizes
six of these for implementation beginning in July 2003.
… Working together to conquer cancer
Those interested in learning more
about cancer control and helping
fight the disease in Iowa are encouraged to pre-register by calling
515 309-3315. In addition to preIowa can significantly change the
senting the plan, strategies to imcourse of cancer through organiprove Iowa’s cancer prevention
zations from the private, government and the not-for-profit sectors and control efforts will be adworking together in a comprehen- dressed, while focusing on cancer
sive, statewide approach to cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, quality of life and research.
control – something that hasn’t
happened, until now.
In 2001, the Iowa Legislature commissioned a detailed study of the
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The goals for Iowa’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan include
preventing cancer from occurring,
diagnosing the disease in early
stages, treating cancer with the
most appropriate therapy and assuring that the quality of life for
cancer patients is the best it can
be.
For more information about
Changing the Face of Cancer in
Iowa… Yours, Mine & Ours, call
515 309-3315 or e-mail
cfurne@trainingresources.org.
Siouxland Grant Writing Workshop
Scheduled for October
By Stephanie Perry, Corporate Communications Coordinator, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota
W
hether you are a novice or
experienced grant writer,
you will want to attend the
Siouxland Grant Writing Workshop
Oct. 28 & 29, at the Marina Inn in
South Sioux City, Neb.
“The workshop will have two tracks
– one for those just learning how to
write grants, and another for seasoned grant writers who want to
take their skill to the next level,” explained Jane Schadle, director of
strategic relations for The Wellmark
Foundation, one of the sponsors of
the workshop.
Ron Mirr, an Iowa City, Iowa-based
consultant who has assisted school
districts and health and human service agencies obtain and manage
more than $65 million in grant funds
since 1989, will lead Grant Writing
101.
Patty Wolfe Hasselbring of Concordia, Mo., will lead Grant Writing 201
for experienced grant writers. As a
trainer and consultant, she has provided assistance to hundreds of local, state, national, and international
organizations in long-range planning, project planning and management, supervisory skills, creating
and managing change, and program
management and evaluation.
The three-state workshop is sponsored by the following organizations:
Avera Health
Iowa Office of Rural Health
Iowa Department of Public Health
Nebraska Health and Human Services: Office of Rural Health
Siouxland Chapter of Fundraising
Professionals
Sioux Valley Health Foundation
South Dakota Department of Health
Office of Rural Health
The Wellmark Foundation
The cost of the workshop is $55 for
one day and $85 for two days. A
detailed agenda with registration
information will be available later
this month.
Rural Iowa hospitals to get help
By Kevin Teale, Communications Director
T
he Small Rural Hospital Improvement (SHIP) Grant Program provided up to nearly
ten thousand dollars in funding to
each of 71 rural Iowa hospitals in
the past year. The money was used
to improve quality and patient safety
by making greater investments in
computers, software and technical
assistance.
Rural hospitals qualify for the program if they have 49 or fewer beds.
The grant program was established
in 2002 through the federal Office of
Rural Health Policy and administered through the state Office of Rural Health. In Iowa, the Office of
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Rural Health is in the Bureau of
Health Care Access in the Iowa Department of Public Health
In Iowa, 71 percent of the funds
were spent by hospitals to comply
with the provisions of the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). Training opportunities, minor equipment updates
and modifications to office work stations and surroundings were made
to train hospital staff and assure
patient privacy.
Quality improvement accounted for
22 percent of funds. Hospitals used
it to reduce the potential for medical
errors, support quality and improve
performance through computer upgrades and staff training.
The Iowa Office of Rural Health
submitted a second application to
participate in this program beginning again in the fall. The coordinator for the Office of Rural Health,
Kathy Williams, estimates that 76
Iowa hospitals will qualify for these
funds. The amount is expected to
remain close to the same as the
previous year. Funding for the upcoming year is expected to be announced this October.
Epidemiology Notes
From the Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology, Iowa Department of Public Health, 1 800 362-2736 (24-hour number)
Iowa's Regional Epidemiology
Program: We are pleased to announce the hiring of two new epidemiologists - Donna Schneider
and Joshua Yoakam - to fill the
two vacant positions in our regional epidemiology program.
Donna will be assigned to region 3
(northwest Iowa) and Joshua to
region 4 (southwest Iowa).
Donna has been employed at the
department as a Disease Prevention Specialist (DPS) in northwest
Iowa, and Joshua has most recently worked for the City of Wichita (Kansas) as a Sanitarian and
has a master’s degree in public
health from the University of Kansas. Both join our current cadre of
regional epidemiologists that include Carmily Stone (region 1),
Matt Hobson (region 2), Elizabeth
Miller (region 5), and Tricia Kitzmann (region 6).
Rodent Rabies: We were consulted regarding the risk of rabies
from a prairie dog bite. This animal was a wild captured prairie
dog, not raised in captivity. CDC
records indicate there have been
two rabies-positive prairie dogs
since records were established. In
1960, Nebraska reported a positive
prairie dog and in 1986 Wyoming
reported a positive specimen. Accordingly, we obtained additional
history and the mother of the child
bitten indicated the animal was a
"ground squirrel" that later was released by a playmate.
We recommended no anti-rabies
treatment. The overriding consideration in this incident is that there
never has been a human case of
rabies from a rodent bite. Also,
there has never been sustained
transmission of rabies in any small
rodent species. Bats are an exception to this generalization and do
sustain rabies transmission and in
turn pose risk of exposure to humans.
Sentinel Influenza Surveillance:
We are currently recruiting for influenza sentinel providers for the
2003-2004 influenza season. All
interested providers should contact
Iowa's influenza surveillance state
coordinator, Sarah Brend, at 515242-5114 or at
sbrend@idph.state.ia.us by midAugust.
Fall EPI Training for Local Public Health Practitioners and
ICPs: Please note the change in
the date of the Mason City training
from Oct. 15 to Oct. 13 and note
that the date for the Cedar Rapids
training has been finalized:
09/23: Southwestern Community
College - Creston
09/30: DMACC - Ankeny
10/01: Indian Hills Community
College - Ottumwa
10/13: Mercy Medical Center Mason City
10/23: Western Iowa Tech Community College - Cherokee
10/30: Kirkwood Community College - Cedar Rapids
Obtaining Past Issues
Back issues of Iowa Health FOCUS are available on the Iowa Department
of Public Health web site at www.idph.state.ia.us. The link is under Quick
Links on the right side of our home page under Publications & Data.
Page 13
Worth Noting
Center for Health Workforce Planning Web Site - Check out the center’s web site at www.idph.state.ia.us
(Link to Programs, then “W” to access the Center.) This site provides information about current funding opportunities at the federal and state levels, scholarships and loans for faculty and student, surveys, resources for
high school students, committee activities, reports and newsworthy events. The site is designed to link visitors to Center staff and a wide array of national and state resources.
Side Notes
Des Moines University Fall Classes -The Division of Health Management’s Master of Health Care Administration and Master of Public Health programs are ideal for the working adult or for students entering directly
from an undergraduate institution. Classes are offered in a flexible, non-traditional evening and weekend format. The majority of our students work full time during the day and take classes at night. This enables students to directly utilize the classroom material and apply real-world knowledge to their education.
Applications continue to be accepted for fall 2003! Classes start September 2 for a degree in Public Health or
Health Care Administration. Call 515 271-1364 for visit www.dmu.edu/dhm.
Deputy State Epidemiologist/Medical Director
Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology (CADE)
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Epidemiology, EMS, and Disaster Operations is actively seeking a physician (M.D./D.O.) to serve as full-time medical director for the Center of Acute Disease
Epidemiology (CADE) and Deputy State Epidemiologist.
The successful candidate will provide medical leadership and oversight to investigations of infectious disease
and other acute disease outbreaks, clusters, or individual cases working closely with a team of six regional
(field) epidemiologists, 2 master’s level epidemiologists, a nurse epidemiologist, and a public health veterinarian. Will serve as a liaison with local public health practitioners, medical personnel, other state and federal
agencies during epidemiological investigations and respond as appropriate. Additionally, may provide epidemiological and medical consultation to other areas in public health. Will be responsible for preparing reports,
making recommendations for prevention and control measures and publishing findings of unique public
health importance and may include media relations. The successful candidate will provide medical and epidemiological oversight for bio-emergency planning and response activities for CADE. This will include assistance
with program development, implementation and response during a threatened or actual public health emergency/disaster.
The successful candidate will report to the Division Director of Epidemiology, EMS and Disaster Operations
while having a direct working relationship with the director of the state public health department, state public
health medical director and state epidemiologist.
Page 14
Location: Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines, Iowa
Qualifications: Minimum of Medical Doctor (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) with experience and expertise in
infectious diseases and epidemiology. Must be licensed or eligible to be licensed to practice medicine in the state in
Iowa. Prefer master’s degree in Public Health, Health, Health Management or related field.
Job Classification (physician)
Annual Salary Range: $78,000 - $200,699
By September 1, 2003 Submit Letter of Intent and Resume to:
Iowa Department of Public Health
By September 1, 2003 Submit Letter of Intent and Resume to:
Iowa Department of Public Health
Attn: Personnel Office, 6th Floor
Lucas State Office Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
msams@idph.state.ia.us
Additional Information: Contact the Personnel Director Mary Sams by phone at 515 281-6222 or e-mail at
msams@idph.state.ia.us
Iowa Department of Public Health is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
Iowa Dept. of Public Health
Lucas State Office Building
321 E. 12th Street
F O C U S E d ito r: K a ra B e rg
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
Phone: 515 281-5787
Check out our web site
at www.idph.state.ia.us
Page 15
W h a t w o u ld y o u lik e to s e e in Io w a
H e a lth F O C U S ? S e n d y o u r
s u g g e s tio n s fo r fu tu re a rtic le s ,
le tte rs to th e e d ito r, a n d u p c o m in g
e v e n ts o r to a d d n a m e s to th e
m a ilin g lis t b y e -m a ilin g u s a t
k b e rg @ id p h .s ta te .ia .u s .
