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Health Official Details Top OC Dept. Status

Natalie Jablonski

Oneida County's Public Health Department is ranked among the elite few following an accreditation process.

In an annual report to the county board, Assistant Director Carl Meyer said the health department is only one of 31 agencies to get this type of national accreditation. He says the department had to meet rigorous standards to achieve the designation, something that is rare...

".....there are currently five in the state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin is leading the nation in accredited health departments. We're the first in the northern region and the first in the nation....."
 

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is  a major concern  in Oneida county. The report indicates 131 cases of whooping cough were reported in 2013 with 29 cases confirmed. In 2012 there were 110 confirmed cases. In 2013  there were also 84 reported cases of Lyme disease.
Meyer says pertussis is preventable by getting the D P T  vaccination...

"....however, not everybody has that, and it's not required. In public health we are having to make efforts providing education and awareness because many people are in an anti-vaccination mentality and that is why, nationwide we are seeing a rise in vaccination-preventable diseases...."

In Oneida County, 93.5 percent of school-age children were in compliance with required vaccinations.  Across the county, 78 percent  of children are up-to-date with required vaccinations by their second birthday.

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