Board of Health

Skokie Board of Health Thursday, April 11, 2024 7:00 pm Conference Room D&E, Village Hall, 5127 Oakton St MINUTES In attendance: Dr. Swapna Dave, Dr. Bruce Gaynes, Dr. Michael Gottesman, Margaret Keeler, Dr. Girijia Kalyan Kumar, Dr. Edward Linn (Chair), Dr. Kyungran Shim, Dr. Romil Sood, Patricia Urbanus, Irtaza Usman, Rohit Pandya, Dr. William Werner, Dr. Larry Williams, Sibyl Yau, Staff Liaison: Mike Charley Not in attendance: Maureen Hanlon, Juliet Haido, Heidi Nickisch Duggan, Jan Shiffman, Ruth Varma, Trustee James Johnson, Trustee Keith Robinson I. Call to Order @ 7:00 PM II. Approval of Agenda: Approved, first by Dr. Sood, second by Keeler III. Approval of Minutes: March 14, 2024 Meeting: Approved, first by Dr. Sood, second by Keeler IV. Rat Control Program: Cameron Hendricks, Environmental Health Supervisor: Cameron presented information on Health and Human Services’ (HHS) rat program. His presentation included: Recognizing signs of rat activity, navigating the process of requesting a property survey for rat burrows, understanding the methodologies employed in treating rat burrows and the essentials of post-abatement property maintenance practices. V. Board of Health Chair Report, Dr. Ed Linn: Dr. Linn reported that there have been human cases of H5N1 primarily in rural areas of the southwest, where the virus has transitioned from the poultry industry to cattle. The two documented human cases thus far have been individuals who had direct contact with these animals. It's important to note that transmission has been limited to very close contact with infected animals, and there have been no instances of human-to- human spread thus far. Regarding measles, Dr. Linn highlighted ongoing cases in the Chicago area, extending into the surrounding collar counties. Vaccination remains the cornerstone of prevention efforts. While vaccination rates in the Chicago area are commendably high, surpassing 95%, regional discrepancies exist, with some areas reporting lower rates. Dr. Linn underscored the presence of vaccine exemptions, allowing individuals to opt out of vaccination. Consequently, schools assume a critical role in monitoring student vaccinations and must remain vigilant to prevent disease transmission. Mike Charley noted that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been actively disseminating crucial information to school nurses, emphasizing their pivotal role in disease prevention. In Skokie, there have been no reported cases of measles to date. However, five residents have recently been identified as having been exposed to a confirmed case. HHS personnel have engaged with each of these individuals to ensure they are adequately protected against the virus. VI. Director’s Monthly Report, Mike Charley, Director of Health and Human Services: Mike Charley Doc#: 618775, Version:1  communicated that budget hearings are approaching. HHS’s hearing date is April 25 and the BOH’s budget hearing is May 1. HHS has a new Public Health Program Coordinator/Analyst and her name is Sher Lindo. Mike commented that the AARP Tax Program is ending on April 12. The program offers free income tax preparation for seniors and individuals with disabilities. HHS assists the AARP volunteers in scheduling and maintaining appointments. Mike provided a few updates on measles, including current case counts for Illinois (62 cases) and for the US (113 cases). VII. Ongoing/New Items of Business A. Special Events Sub-committee: Review Special Events Calendar: Mike Charley distributed a comprehensive event calendar to the Board of Health (BOH) members, detailing upcoming community events by date. Any involvement of the Health and Human Services (HHS) department in these events was clearly indicated on the calendar. Mike assured the BOH members that HHS would proactively reach out if additional assistance was required for any event. Furthermore, he encouraged BOH members who were interested in participating in and providing education at any event to directly contact him for coordination. B. Communications and Education Process: Dr. Dave relayed that a specialized sub- committee has been established to delve into the realm of cannabinoids. The group comprises Dr. Dave, Maureen Hanlon, Heidi Nickisch Duggan, and Dr. Williams. They unanimously agreed that inviting a subject matter expert to the upcoming meeting would be a prudent move. Dr. Linn took the initiative and reached out to Jerrold B. Leikin MD, a distinguished authority in cannabinoids and health. Dr. Leikin, who boasts expertise in toxicology, intensive care, and emergency medicine, expressed his willingness to present at the May BOH meeting. Furthermore, Dr. Linn shared his insights from a recent episode of "Backstory" on WGN, hosted by Larry Potash, which offered a captivating historical perspective on cannabis (https://wgntv.com/backstory/from-reefer-madness-to-big-business-cannabis- comeback-story/). Dr. Shim suggested the possibility of eventually extending the cannabinoid discourse to the public and trustees. Both Dr. Linn and Dr. Dave endorsed the notion, envisioning it as a future step once the BOH garners sufficient information to disseminate to the public. Dr. Williams highlighted the potential manifestation of psychosis symptoms associated with cannabinoid use, cautioning against misdiagnosing conditions such as bipolar disorder. He advocated for the inclusion of a behavioral health expert in future discussions. Adding to the conversation, Dr. Kumar pointed out the longstanding use of cannabis products by patients in the south and west sides. C. Youth Mental Health: Identification & Access to Care Webinar: Dr. Werner mentioned his recent participation in a webinar hosted by the Institute of Medicine of Chicago, which featured insightful presentations from various professionals including a behavioral health expert, a school nurse, and a psychologist. He noted that the webinar will soon be accessible online at no cost, with the link to be shared once available. During the discussion, Dr. Werner highlighted concerns about youth mental health in relation to social media usage. Additionally, Dr. Gaynes recalled a past presentation to Doc#: 618775, Version:1  the BOH on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), emphasizing its continued relevance to the current discourse on youth mental health. He suggested that another presentation on ACEs could be beneficial for the BOH. D. Future Discussions/Presentations: Dr. Linn noted that Dr. Gottesman has expressed interest in sharing what he knows about long-term care facility regulation. This will be discussed as a topic for a future BOH meeting. VIII. Public Comments: No Public Comment IX. Adjournment at 8:45 PM Next Regular Meeting: May 9, 2024 @ 7:00 p.m. Doc#: 618775, Version:1