Youth nicotine use declining
Fewer teens are vaping now after an all-time high in 2017 according to El Paso County Public Health.
Chickenpox reported at The Classical Academy
El Paso County Public Health (EPCPH) said reports of chickenpox have been received from The Classical Academy and officials are working with the school.
Health officials brace for ‘very real possibility’ of measles outbreak in under-vaccinated Colorado
As an outbreak has infected nearly 200 people in Texas and a second death has been confirmed in New Mexico as of Friday, measles vaccination rates in some parts of Colorado have dipped well below the rate required for community immunity.
El Paso County Public Health executive director to step down after 25 years
EPCPH Executive Director Susan Wheelan announced she will retire effective March 3 after a 25-year career with the agency. Wheelan joined EPCPH as an environmental health specialist in 1999 and rose through the ranks, assuming the agency’s top job in February 2019.
EPCPH: Jenkins MS students affected by pertussis outbreak
Jenkins Middle School families with children in the seventh grade received a notice from El Paso County Public Health confirming a whooping cough, or pertussis, outbreak. Jenkins Middle School students were recently relocated to Russell Middle School and Doherty High School due to a temporary building closure.
Homeowners urged to test homes for cancer-causing radon
Air Quality Program Manager Duane Dominguez urged residents to test their homes for radon during National Radon Action Month. Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas that can be found in high levels in nearly 50 percent of Colorado homes. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
What’s going around right now? Health department on stomach, respiratory illnesses
El Paso County Public Health Co-Medical Director Dr. Bernadette Albanese noted that four main illnesses are currently circulating, including flu, RSV, COVID-19 and Norovirus. She noted this is typical for this time of the year. Dr. Albanese explained the symptoms of these illnesses and how to avoid them.
Business First Look: Pikes Peak Rising
New resources and programs are improving mental health outcomes in El Paso County including GRIT and Pikes Peak Rising 360. University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Professor Dr. Charles Benight and EPCPH Executive Director Susan Wheelan discussed the collaborative efforts.
Teen vaping down nationally and locally, officials are still concerned with use in schools
Colorado teen vaping is down by over 15 percent when comparing 2023 to 2019. Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership Program Manager Jennifer Lange said that tobacco use is still a huge concern in our community, as it alters the brains of youth and makes them more susceptible to addiction and mental health problems.
What we know: Colorado Taylor Farms distribution center under onion recall
An outbreak of E. coli across several states appears to be connected to meals eaten at McDonald’s. EPCPH officials discussed the difficulty of tracking outbreaks and the work being done to keep the public safe.