County Health Department

A rabid beaver may have attacked two people at Loch Raven Reservoir last weekend, but area public health officials say there has been no increase in rabies infection rates among humans or animals. "We're not seeing anything noticeable," said Gary Thompson, rabies coordinator for the Baltimore County Health Department. Cases of human infection are extremely rare, with only a few reported each year nationwide, according to federal health experts. The last human death in Maryland was in 1976 when a bat bit someone, state health officials say. Physicians and hospitals are required to report animal bites to county and state health departments.

In their fourth year of attracting suburbanites to the country with friendly animals, farm machinery, fresh air and family fun, organizers of Howard County's Farm/City Celebration are adding a focus on healthy living to this year's two-week schedule of events. New attractions include a family walk at Clark's Elioak Farm in Ellicott City, sponsored by the county Health Department; a Walk in the Woods at Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville; and a program at the Glenwood library for adults to learn about rain gardens.

Man sought in sex assault of teen Police asked yesterday for the public's help in identifying a man wanted in the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl yesterday morning in the Bowleys Quarters area of Baltimore County. The attack took place about 7:45 a.m. as the girl walked to her bus stop on Clarks Point Road near Bowleys Quarters Road, according to county police. A man grabbed the girl at knifepoint and demanded money. When the girl said she had none, the man dragged her into a wooded area off Clarks Point Road and sexually assaulted her, police said.

Free health fair to be held March 17 The Howard County Muslim Foundation will sponsor a free Community Health Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 17 at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. More than 30 physicians, dentists and other health care professionals will provide information and clinical tests, including blood tests; mammograms; cancer screening; blood pressure monitoring; and screening for stroke, vision and glaucoma. Dental screening will also be available. Door prizes are planned.

Joining the parade of local governments that have put their mental health services in private hands, Howard County has hired the Sheppard Pratt Health System to provide psychiatric treatment to up to 700 patients previously served by the county Health Department.County officials hope the shift -- effective Feb. 1 -- will be a more cost-effective way of providing psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and licensed counselors for the county's children, adolescents, adults and the elderly.

About three dozen Annapolis High School students -- concerned they have been exposed to bacterial meningitis that killed their classmate over the weekend -- sought advice from nurses in the school yesterday who were searching for anyone who had close contact with the girl.Cara Margaret Petrini, a junior, died of the disease at 6: 45 a.m. Saturday at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. As health department nurses interviewed students and counselors comforted grieving students, school officials were annoyed and wondering why the health department had not notified them Friday when it became apparent the teen-ager had the disease.

Travis Blake, a senior at Chesapeake High School, was in critical condition last night at North Arundel Hospital in Glen Burnie with bacterial meningitis, hospital officials said.His illness comes two weeks after an Annapolis High School junior died of the disease, but county health department officials say that there is no connection between the two cases."We're dealing with a different strain of the organism," said Frances Phillips, the county's chief health officer.Cara Margaret Petrini, 16, died of the disease April 10.Blake is a center on the school's basketball team.

About three dozen Annapolis High School students -- concerned they have been exposed to bacterial meningitis that killed their classmate over the weekend -- sought advice from nurses in the school yesterday who were searching for anyone who had close contact with the girl.Cara Margaret Petrini, a junior, died of the disease at 6: 45 a.m. Saturday at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. As county health department nurses interviewed students and counselors comforted grieving students, school officials were annoyed and wondering why the health department had not notified them Friday when it became apparent the teen-ager had the disease.

The county hopes second-graders will open wide and say "aaahhh" this year for a little dentistry that won't hurt them a bit.In a pilot program that begins this month, the county Health Department is encouraging parents of second-grade pupils to have their children's teeth sealed with a plastic coating that helps prevent decay.Health Department officials are sending letters and brochures to parents of children in all county elementary schools explaining what a sealant is, how it is applied and how it will benefit their children.

The state's top environmental official has chastised Howard County officials for allowing developers to build too densely near two reservoirs and has suspended the county health officer's authority to approve plans.Jane T. Nishida, secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), has expressed concern about the "cumulative impact" on the Triadelphia and T. Howard Duckett reservoirs, which are on the Patuxent River at the border with Montgomery County.State regulations require that homes be built on lots of at least 2 acres within 2,500 feet of reservoirs to curb the impact of septic systems and wells.

An isolated Harford County farm will remain under quarantine through the end of this month after a horse stabled there tested positive for the rabies virus and was euthanized, officials said. The county health department will observe all animals at the Churchville farm before lifting the 45-day quarantine on Aug. 31. The horse, which arrived at the farm in May, manifested striking changes in behavior in mid-July. On the recommendation of the health department, the animal was taken to the University of Pennsylvania veterinary facility in New Bolton, which diagnosed the rabies infection.

Healthy diet program at 8 supermarkets County residents can learn about eating for good health during Good Food for Good Health Weekends at local supermarkets. Health educators will answer questions about nutrition and distribute free low-fat recipes and other information for eight weekends. The weekends are sponsored by the Anne Arundel County Health Department's Learn to Live program and will be available at the following stores: * Lauer's Supermarket, 8095 A Edwin Raynor Blvd., Pasadena, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 8. * Lauer's Supermarket, 8479 Fort Smallwood Road, Pasadena, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 13; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 14; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 15. * Graul's, 1388 Cape St. Claire Road, Annapolis, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 20; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 21; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 22. * Graul's, 607 Taylor Ave., Annapolis, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 27; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 28; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 29. * Box 'N' Save, 7931 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd.

A health day is scheduled for Sunday Healthy Howard Day, a day of outdoor physical activities, health education and screenings, will be held from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Sunday at Centennial Park in Ellicott City. Games, crafts, performances and a Healthy Kid Zone specifically designed for children are also planned. The event is presented by We Promote Health and supported by County Executive Ken Ulman, the Howard County school system, Howard County Health Department, Howard County Chamber of Commerce, Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, Howard County General Hospital, the Columbia Association, the Y of Central Maryland and the Horizon Foundation.

Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold sharply criticized Gov. Martin O'Malley yesterday for striking down a bill that would have required the state to reimburse the county for a $100,000 investigation that found cancer-causing metals in private wells in Gambrills, calling the governor's veto an "offensive and irresponsible anti-environment action." The veto - O'Malley's only one among 745 bills this year - was a stunning defeat for county officials, whose eight-month investigation helped persuade the Maryland Department of the Environment last summer to fine Constellation Energy and the operator of the 80-acre site $1 million and ordered them to clean up fly ash contamination.

WIC to supply only BPA-free products As a result of recent warnings about the hazards of some chemicals used in manufacturing plastic products for babies and children, the Howard County Health Department has decided to only supply products free of BPA, or bisphenol-A, to participants in its WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program. The county's WIC program, which serves about 2,900 clients a month, is believed to be the first in Maryland to enact a BPA-free policy. BPA is used to make polycarbonate, a clear, rigid plastic used in baby bottles, "sippy" cups, teethers, food and drink packaging, water bottles, toys and other impact-resistant products.

Howard County has the highest median household income in Maryland and third highest in the nation, but 6,478 county families collected 288,000 pounds of free food distributed through the nonprofit Community Action Council during the past fiscal year. The average price of a new house in the county in October was $458,725, but the month before, about 460 people in Howard were homeless or on the verge of it, a survey estimated. Starting tomorrow, up to 20 homeless people can stay at night in the church-run cold-weather shelter that moves from place to place each winter.

A Towson University student is being evaluated for a possible case of tuberculosis, Baltimore County health officials said yesterday. The 19-year-old man is no longer on campus and will not return until the completion of testing and any treatment, officials said. University and county health officials said they have no reason to believe that anyone else was exposed to the disease. University officials alerted students, faculty and staff to the possible case through a mass e-mail yesterday, said Carol Dunsworth, Towson's director of university relations.

In their fourth year of attracting suburbanites to the country with friendly animals, farm machinery, fresh air and family fun, organizers of Howard County's Farm/City Celebration are adding a focus on healthy living to this year's two-week schedule of events. New attractions include a family walk at Clark's Elioak Farm in Ellicott City, sponsored by the county Health Department; a Walk in the Woods at Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville; and a program at the Glenwood library for adults to learn about rain gardens.

THE ISSUE: -- A former Howard County health inspector says the county has been too lenient with food outlets that have chronic cleanliness problems. Officials deny that but agree that more aggressive action might be needed against some chronic offenders. Do you think the county Health Department does enough to protect the public from insects, rodents and food-handling problems in supermarkets and restaurants? There is room for improvement To an extent, yes, I think the county Health Department is doing enough to protect the public from insects, rodents, and food-handling problems (aka sanitation concerns)

A rabid beaver may have attacked two people at Loch Raven Reservoir last weekend, but area public health officials say there has been no increase in rabies infection rates among humans or animals. "We're not seeing anything noticeable," said Gary Thompson, rabies coordinator for the Baltimore County Health Department. Cases of human infection are extremely rare, with only a few reported each year nationwide, according to federal health experts. The last human death in Maryland was in 1976 when a bat bit someone, state health officials say. Physicians and hospitals are required to report animal bites to county and state health departments.