Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 27, 2021

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, SutfinL1@michigan.gov

First mosquitoes of 2021 carrying Eastern Equine Encephalitis
virus found in Barry County
Michiganders urged to take precautions against mosquitoes

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan residents are being reminded by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to protect themselves from mosquito bites following the detection of the first Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)-positive mosquito pool of the year in Barry County.

The discovery in Barry County follows a report by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of an EEE-positive horse from Livingston County and underscores the need for both Michigan residents and horse owners to take precautions.

“These discoveries indicate that the EEE virus is here in Michigan and provides warning that residents could also become infected by a mosquito,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy director for health. “Michigan residents are urged to take precautions and protect themselves from mosquito bites as EEE is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S., with a 33 percent fatality rate among humans who become ill.”

EEE has a 90 percent fatality rate in horses that become ill, and infection in both people and animals occurs through the bite of an infected mosquito. EEE is not spread from person-to-person.

Signs of EEE include the sudden onset of fever, chills, and body and joint aches. Illness can eventually develop into severe encephalitis, resulting in headache, disorientation, tremors, seizures and paralysis. Permanent brain damage, coma and death may also occur in some cases.

This is the first year the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories has been performing testing on mosquitoes collected by local health departments and academic partners. To date, over 43,000 mosquitoes have been tested.

Residents can stay healthy by following steps to avoid mosquito bites:

• Apply insect repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET, or other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved product, to exposed skin or clothing, and always follow the manufacturer’s directions for use.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors. Apply insect repellent to clothing to help prevent bites.
• Maintain window and door screening to help keep mosquitoes outside.
• Empty water from mosquito breeding sites around the home, such as buckets, unused kiddie pools, old tires or similar sites where mosquitoes may lay eggs.
• Use nets and/or fans over outdoor eating areas.

“For horses, EEE is a serious but preventable disease,” said State Veterinarian Nora Wineland, DVM. “Positive mosquito pools can help to identify areas of risk. Horse owners should work with their veterinarian to develop a plan to protect their animals.”

To safeguard their horses, owners could take the following measures:

• Talking to a veterinarian about vaccinating horses against EEE.
• Placing horses in a barn under fans (as mosquitoes are not strong flyers) during peak mosquito activity from dusk to dawn.
• Using an insect repellant on the animals approved for the species.
• Eliminating standing water on the property-i.e., fill in puddles, repair eaves, and change the water in buckets and bowls at least once a day.
• Contacting a veterinarian if a horse shows signs of the illness: mild fever and stumbling, which can progress to being down and struggling to stand.

Additionally, West Nile virus activity in Michigan has increased in wildlife and mosquito populations. Health officials have identified 11 positive mosquito pools and 10 infected animals in the Lower Peninsula. No human cases of West Nile virus have been reported to date; however, a case has been reported in a horse from Midland County.

Mosquito-borne illness will continue to be a risk in Michigan until late fall when nighttime temperatures consistently fall below freezing.

For more information about mosquito-borne diseases, visit Michigan.gov/emergingdiseases.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 17, 2021

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, SutfinL1@michigan.gov

MDHHS urges Michiganders to continue routine screenings

LANSING, Mich. – Life-saving cancer screenings have experienced a significant decline during the pandemic, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noting an 87% drop in breast cancer screenings and an 84% decrease in cervical cancer screenings nationally in April 2020 compared to the five previous years. Screening disparities among low-income minority women were already evident prior to COVID-19 and the pandemic has intensified those disparities.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging Michigan women to resume these routine screenings. People in need of screenings can call MDHHS at 844-446-8727 to speak with a program specialist.

Screening tests are proactive measures and can help find cancer at an early stage before symptoms appear. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it can be to treat. Health screenings are also important in identifying risk factors a person may have for chronic disease. Women in Michigan can take charge of their health by working with a Health Coach and making healthy lifestyle choices. They can also take advantage of free support services to maintain their health.

“We are recommending women take advantage of screenings offered through MDHHS if they are not available to them through their primary care provider,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS. “Simple, proactive measures can catch cancer in its early stages and allow doctors to intervene before it progresses.”

MDHHS has openings for program-eligible women to receive free cancer and health screenings through two programs:

• The Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program provides free breast and cervical cancer screening services, statewide, to low-income women.
• The WISEWOMAN Program, available in select areas, helps participants understand chronic disease risk factors and make healthy lifestyle choices.

To learn more about these programs, call 844-446-8727 or visit Michigan.gov/cancer. For Spanish resources, call 800-379-1057.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 16, 2021

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, SutfinL1@michigan.gov

Michigan families urged to catch back up on routine
vaccines during Immunization Awareness Month

LANSING, Mich. – Vaccines are proven to protect people from serious diseases at every age. During Immunization Awareness Month, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are urging Michigan families to talk to their healthcare provider to ensure family members are up to date on all recommended vaccines.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some individuals missed routine checkups and vaccinations. With children going back to school and adults going back to the workplace, it is now more important than ever for everyone to get back on track with routine vaccinations.

National Immunization Awareness Month highlights the importance of getting all recommended vaccines throughout the lifetime. To help promote the safety of vaccines and ensure Michiganders get these potentially life-saving immunizations, Governor Whitmer has issued a proclamation declaring August 2021 as Immunization Awareness Month.

“Keeping Michiganders healthy and safe is my number one priority,” said Governor Whitmer. “I encourage everyone take this time to educate themselves on the importance of immunizations to protect our overall public health and keep our families safe. I particularly urge all Michiganders get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. The vaccine is out best defense against the virus and will keep you, your loved ones, and your community safe.”

“Vaccinating on time and following CDC’s recommended schedule is the best protection against serious diseases including COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A, cancers caused by HPV and measles,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS. “We have the power to protect not only ourselves, but our entire community when we vaccinate on time.”

Like many other states nationwide, Michigan saw a decline in vaccination coverage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to data from the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR), as of June 2021 only 54.7 percent of Michigan children 19 through 35 months of age were fully immunized with recommended vaccines.

MDHHS encourages Michiganders to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Interactive Vaccine Guide, which provides information on the vaccines recommended during pregnancy and throughout a child’s life. Adults 19 and older can take the CDC’s Adult Vaccine Assessment Tool to find out which vaccines they may need. It is important that all Michiganders are up to date on recommended vaccines.

August is also a critical time for those who are eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 disease, especially severe illness and death. For more information on COVID-19 vaccines and to find a vaccine near you, visit Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine.

During National Immunization Awareness Month, MDHHS joins the Franny Strong Foundation, with which it partners with on the IVaccinate campaign, and other organizations across the nation to spread the message that vaccines are one of the safest ways to protect health and lower risks for certain diseases and cancers.

MDHHS will be sharing information and resources on social media to highlight the importance of vaccines. Help us spread the word. Follow MDHHS on Facebook and Twitter (@MichiganHHS), and use #ivax2protect to share why you choose to vaccinate.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 10, 2021

CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MDHHS continues to increase community access to COVID-19 vaccines and
testing with 22 neighborhood testing and vaccination sites
Safe and effective vaccines are offered at convenient locations at no cost

LANSING, Mich. —  To increase access to the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, the Michigan Department of the Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is partnering with 22 neighborhood testing sites across the state to now offer COVID-19 vaccines in addition to testing.

The testing sites were the result of Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist’s COVID-19 Racial Disparties Task Force, and these efforts have helped flatten the early disparate outcomes for communities of color when it comes to COVID-19. In continuation of this collaboration, MDHHS is partnering with the neighborhood sites to make it easy and convenient for residents to get both vaccinated and tested. Neighborhood sites have provided 121,247 tests since their start.

“We know the best way out of this pandemic is through strong public health interventions like wearing masks, testing, and most importantly the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “These neighborhood and community sites provide crucial and convenient access to testing and vaccines to ensure all Michiganders have equitable access to stay healthy and safe.”

The safe and effective vaccines are free and no identification or insurance is required. Language interpreting services, including American Sign Language, are available and all sites are ADA accessible.

“MDHHS is doing a phenomenal job of working with churches, schools and other local sites to keep communities safe through robust testing and making vaccinations accessible,” said Pastor Marvin Miles of the International Gospel Center. “As a community, it is important that we combat these COVID-19 variants with safe and effective vaccinations that have been proven to work. This virus has hit home to many families, including mine, so we understand the importance of a community coming together in unity to combat this disease. We want people to be able to socialize and be in safe settings that helps their own mental health, because there is a mental health aspect to this.”

Vaccinations and testing are available on a walk-in basis. To view all upcoming clinics and locations, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 4, 2021

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, SutfinL1@michigan.gov

MDHHS issues updated COVID-19 school guidance
to help keep kids and educators healthy

LANSING, Mich. – Today, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued updated recommendations for schools designed to help prevent transmission of COVID-19 within school buildings, reduce disruptions to in-person learning and help protect vulnerable individuals and individuals who are not fully vaccinated.

The guidance has been updated to reflect the most current recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on masking and prevention strategies to help operate schools more safely. It includes guidance on assessing risk levels when making decisions about implementing layered prevention strategies against COVID-19.

“We are committed to ensuring Michigan students and educators are safe in the classroom, including those who may not yet be vaccinated,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS. “MDHHS is issuing this guidance to help protect Michiganders of all ages. We continue to urge all eligible residents to get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible as it is our best defense against the virus and the way we are going to end this pandemic.”

“Our students and staff need to be in schools as much as possible this year,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. “Following the informed guidance from national and state health experts will help keep our students and staff healthy and help maximize student learning.”

Prevention Strategies The most effective way to prevent transmission within school buildings, reduce disruptions to in-person learning and help protect people who are not fully vaccinated is to layer multiple prevention strategies recommended by CDC. All prevention strategies provide some level of protection, and layered strategies implemented at the same time provide the greatest level of protection.

The key strategies recommended by the CDC to keep schools safer are as follows:

1. Promoting vaccination against COVID-19 for eligible staff and students. Vaccination has proven incredibly effective as the leading public health prevention strategy.
2. Consistent and correct mask use
   1. CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all educators, staff, students and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.
   2. CDC has recommendations for proper use of masks.
   3. CDC’s order requires all persons – regardless of vaccination status – wear masks on public transportation, including school buses.
3. Physical distancing CDC recommends schools maintain at least three feet of physical distance between students within classrooms, combined with indoor mask wearing by students, teachers and staff, regardless of vaccination status. When it is not possible to maintain a three-foot physical distance, it is especially important to layer multiple other prevention strategies, such as indoor masking, screening testing, cohorting, and improved ventilation to help reduce transmission risk.
4. Screening testing identifies infected people, including those without symptoms who may be contagious, so that measures can be taken to prevent further transmission or outbreaks.
5. Ventilation
   1. Improving ventilation by opening multiple doors and windows, using child-safe fans to increase the effectiveness of open windows and making changes to the HVAC or air filtration systems.
   2. Avoiding crowded and/or poorly ventilated indoor activities (e.g., engaging in outdoor activities when possible).
   3. Open or crack windows in buses and other forms of transportation to improve air circulation, if doing so does not pose a safety risk.
6. Handwashing and respiratory etiquette: Promoting handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes.
7. Staying home when sick and getting tested
   1. Encouraging students and staff to stay home if sick or having COVID-19 symptoms.
   2. Encouraging students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, to get tested for COVID-19 if having symptoms or if they are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19.
8. Contact tracing in combination with quarantine: Collaborating with the local health department.
9. Cleaning and disinfection: Cleaning once a day is usually enough to sufficiently remove potential virus that may be on surfaces. Disinfecting (using disinfectants on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency COVID-19 webpage) removes any remaining germs on surfaces, which further reduces any risk of spreading infection. CDC has information on routine cleaning to help maintain healthy facilities.

The following factors should be used when determining mitigation strategies:

• Level of community transmission of COVID-19.
• COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the community and among students, teachers and staff.
• Use of a frequent SARS-CoV-2 screening testing program for students, teachers and staff who are not fully vaccinated.
• COVID-19 outbreaks or increasing trends in the school or surrounding community.
• Ages of children served in the school and risk associated with school, extracurricular and social activities.

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine

For more information about COVID-19 in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/coronavirus.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 2, 2021

CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Governor Whitmer declares August as National Breastfeeding Month
Native Breastfeeding Week is Aug. 8-14 and Black Breastfeeding Week is Aug. 25-31

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan is committed to encouraging a strong foundation for life in all infants by supporting breastfeeding mothers for the first year of their child’s life and beyond. As part of this commitment, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is declaring August 2021 as Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

“During Breastfeeding Awareness month this August, which includes Native Breastfeeding Week and Black Breastfeeding Week, we recommit ourselves to pursue equity for breastfeeding moms, including additional support and resources for Black and Native breastfeeding mothers,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “We are dedicated to broadening public understanding of the critical impact breastfeeding has on improving the health of infants and mothers and reducing infant mortality rates within minority communities.”

Breastfeeding provides countless benefits to the nursing infant including easy digestion, production of antibodies and reduced risk of infections and childhood obesity. It also offers faster recovery from birth and reduced risk for postpartum hemorrhage and uterine cancer to the breastfeeding mother.

Disparities in breastfeeding rates and other maternal and infant health outcomes are more evident for Black and Indigenous families than for other Michigan families. Increased efforts highlighting increased support for breastfeeding are part of Governor Whitmer’s Healthy Moms Healthy Babies initiative.

Ways to support breastfeeding include advocating for paid maternity leave and adequate pumping time while at work and school, and by bolstering Baby Friendly hospitals. National Breastfeeding Month is also a time to highlight under-resourced communities where families do not have equal access to support, care and education.

Although 86.9% of Michigan families initiate breastfeeding, only 58% are still breastfeeding at three months. Barriers, such as lack of access to supportive healthcare and childcare providers and lack of paid work leave, often lead to early weaning. Additionally, there are fewer lactation professionals from communities of color.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black infants are 20% less likely to have ever received breast milk than any other race. In Michigan, seven of every 1,000 babies born die by age one, and among Black babies, the number is more than double. Between 80 and 90 maternal deaths occur each year with Black women dying 2.4% more often.

“Proper nutrition for infants is critical for their growth and development, and it is important for hospitals, business, communities and coalitions to work together to provide consistent support for breastfeeding mothers in Michigan,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services chief deputy for health. “Supporting breastfeeding is about the health of our entire community, so it is important that businesses and communities implement policies and provide an environment that supports a family’s breastfeeding goals.”

Michigan is committed to improving outcomes for breastfeeding mothers and supporting community health workers such as community-based doulas and the WIC Peer Counseling support program help diversify lactation support and increase breastfeeding rates in local communities across the state.

The State of Michigan WIC program is celebrating National Breastfeeding Month with the theme, “Why WIC for Breastfeeding?”

WIC supports breastfeeding in the following ways:

• Free, unlimited access to lactation consultants and breastfeeding peer counselors.
• Training to all WIC staff to support prenatal and breastfeeding families.
• Breastfeeding clients get more WIC foods than non-breastfeeding clients, including canned fish, and are able to stay on the program longer.
• At 6 months, breastfed babies receive infant meats and more fruits and vegetables.
• Many WIC clinics offer telehealth appointments.
• WIC offers a breastfeeding warmline available seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 833-MIWICBF (833-649-4233).

For additional information, visit the Michigan Breastfeeding Network.