Welcome to the
Madison County Health Department

To protect, promote and improve the health of our community

Serving Madison County, KY

Richmond
859-623-7312
Berea
859-986-1192

mchd@madisoncountyhealthdept.org

On-line scheduling is NOT available. Please call our clinics to schedule appointments.

Hours of Operation

Clinic
Mon, 8AM-6PM
Tues-Thurs, 8AM-4:30PM
Fri, 8AM-12PM

H.A.N.D.S.
Mon, 8AM-6PM
Tues, 9:30AM-6PM
Wed-Thurs, 8AM-4:30PM
Fri, 8AM-12PM

Environmental, MEPCO and Administration
Mon-Fri 8AM-4:30PM

After Hours

Public Health and Environmental Emergencies Only

859-623-7312 option 8

Our Latest Tweets

Kentucky Residents Affected by National Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pre-Cut Melon
Public advised to discard pre-cut melon immediately

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Apr. 15, 2019) – The Department for Public Health (DPH) announced today that 16 Kentuckians have tested positive with a strain of Salmonella Carrau that has been linked by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to pre-cut melon including cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew. DPH is advising that the public should discard any pre-cut melon or fruit salads that contain pre-cut melon.

Caito Foods from Indianapolis, IN distributed the melon products. Caito Foods issued a recall notice on Friday, April 12th for all pre-cut melon products distributed in the U.S. The label may not clearly indicate that the melon product is from Caito Foods so consumers should discard and not purchase, eat, sell or serve any pre-cut melon products at this time. This recall does not include whole melons. The FDA’s website has a list of stores and states where the recalled products were sold - https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm635948.htm.

Cases have been diagnosed in several states. No deaths have been reported in this outbreak, however, there is a higher than normal hospitalization rate for Salmonella infection. For more information on this investigation, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/Carrau-04-19/index.html.

Healthcare providers across the state are being notified of the outbreak and are being advised to be alert for patients experiencing acute diarrheal illness, which could be associated with Salmonella infection. Appropriate testing and investigative work will need to be completed to determine which cases are outbreak-associated. Salmonella infection is an extremely common infection in the Kentucky so lab testing is needed to confirm if an illness is linked to this outbreak.

“Exposure to Salmonella bacteria can be debilitating and potentially life-threatening, especially for small children and individuals with weakened immune systems,” said Dr. Jeff Howard, DPH commissioner. “Anyone experiencing signs or symptoms of illness should seek medical care and clinicians should be aware of this ongoing outbreak to ensure suspected cases receive testing and investigative follow-up. All Salmonella cases should be reported to the local health department.”

Symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. These symptoms usually develop 12-72 hours after being exposed to the bacteria. The illness usually lasts 4-7 days and most healthy individuals recover without antibiotic treatment. State health officials are working with staff at local health departments in the counties with suspected or confirmed cases.

If you believe you have experienced symptoms of illness that could be associated with this Salmonella outbreak, please consult your health care provider or your local health department.

Number of E. Coli cases in Madison County Increases

Madison County Residents asked to be aware of symptoms

The Madison County Health Department is investigating 3 cases of E. Coli caused illness in the county. The 1st case was reported last week and two additional cases have been reported this week. Of the 3 cases, one was an adult and the other two were children.

During an online meeting yesterday, the Kentucky Department of Public Health reported the state has now seen 44 cases of the food-borne illness. And reports the following state-wide information:

44 lab-confirmed cases from 24 counties (Across the state from Pike County to Carlisle County)
Age range 1-81, (median age 18)
Sex - Female 25, Male 19
Hospitalized cases – 6, that equals 14% of the cases
Cases have also been reported in Ohio, Tennessee, and Georgia
State public health officials in conjunction with local health departments are working diligently to identify the source of the outbreak.

MCHD PIO Jim Thacker says the health department wants the public to be aware of the symptoms of E. Coli infection and seek immediate medical care if they suspect infection. The most common symptoms are severe stomach cramps and diarrhea. Some people vomit or have a fever, but these are less common. Sometimes the diarrhea turns bloody after 3 or 4 days. These symptoms usually go away by themselves after 5 to 7 days.

As far as preventing the illness, the most important things to remember are that these germs can only make you sick if you swallow them, and that the germs are killed by thoroughly cooking high risk foods and removed by thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water. Follow the tips below; if you make them your habits, you can help prevent E. Coli infections—as well as other diseases:

Avoid unpasteurized dairy products (such as raw milk or non-aged cheese made from raw milk) and unpasteurized juices (like fresh apple cider).
Always cook meat thoroughly. It is best to use a thermometer, as color is not a very reliable indicator of “doneness”. Ground beef should be cooked until the center is 160 º F.
Do not put cooked meat or other prepared food on a dish or cutting board that held raw meat.
Avoid swallowing water when swimming or playing in lakes, ponds, streams, and swimming pools.
Always wash your hands with soap and water after going to the bathroom or changing a diaper. Wash them again before touching or eating food. You should also always wash your hands after contact with animals or the environment where they live.

Click here for a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page about E. Coli.

CARES

If you come to the Madison County Health Department's Richmond Clinic, you might see the staff wearing a new button. We've started a new CARE (Cardiovascular Assessment, Risk reduction and Education) program.