Public Health in Marion County is committed to the Core Public Health functions of assessing status of Marion County residents, policy development to meet Marion County residents needs, and assurance that the public health needs of Marion County are met.

For further information about Public Health Services please call 573-221-1166. Click a link below to for more information on a service listed.

Immunizations
effective June 1,2004 the Marion County Health Department and Home Health Agency will have a charge of $5.00 administration fee per injection. The exception to this policy is that some adult immunizations are provided at our cost. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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WIC (Women, Infants & Children)
The WIC program works to improve the health of women, infants and children up to five years of age. It offers nutrition education and assistance to purchase nutritious foods. In addition, WIC offers health screenings, breastfeeding promotion and support, referrals to health care providers or social service agencies and assess risk the participant may have. See below to see if your families meet income guidelines. If you do meet the guidelines please call the Marion County Health Department at (573) 221-1166 for an appointment.

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Tuberculosis Program
Tuberculosis skin testing is provided at a nominal fee, unless you are a contact of a diagnosed case of tuberculosis. Medication for treatment of tuberculosis is provided with a physician order in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Environmental Health
The Environmental Public Health program is responsible for the following:

• Inspection of food service facilities, daycare centers and lodging establishments.
• Training food service workers and managers on safe handling of food and the Marion County Food Code.
• Collaborating with realtors, homeowners and waste water treatment installers regarding Marion County Waste requiring Marion County Waste Water Ordinance.
• Educating people about lead hazards, mold, rabies, and radon.
• Evaluation of private water supplies and waste water treatment systems.
• Investigating complaints that may indicate a public health problem.

For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Vital Records
Certified copies of birth certificates for anyone born in the State of MIssouri after 1920, and certified copies of death certificates for anyone whose death occurred in the State of Missouri after 1980 can be issued by the Marion County Health Department and Home Health Agency. Effective August 28, 2004 the cost of certified birth certificates increased to $15.00 per copy. Certified death certificates increased to $13.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Proper picture identification is required. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Pregnancy Test
Pregnancy testing is available at a nominal fee for those whose income is over poverty guidelines. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Temporary Medicaid
Temporary Medicaid is a program for pregnant women which allows immediate Medicaid coverage for outpatient prenatal care. Applicant must meet financial guidelines. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Emergency Preparedness
Emergency preparedness information for a natural disaster that can occur, such as a winter storm, tornado, flood or earthquake can be obtained by contacting us. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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BioTerrorism
Current information on BioTerrorism may be obtained by contacting the following numbers and websites:

CDC - Emergency Number 770-488-8802
CDC - Emergency Chemical and Biological Hotline 770-311-8802
CDC - Public Inquire Numbers 404-639-3534 or 800-311-3435
CDC - Bioterrorism Website: www.bt.cdc.gov

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Communicable Disease
Communicable disease surveillance and case investigation is conducted according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services guidelines. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Maternal and Child Health
Maternal Child Health Programs help improve the health of infants, children, and women in Marion County. The main focus of this program is: Reduce intentional and unintentional injuries among infants, children and adolescents. The other focuses of this program are: Reducing obesity among children, adolescents and women, as well as preventing and reducing smoking among adolescents and women. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Safe Kids Northeast Missouri
Safe Kids Northeast Missouri is a part of a worldwide effort to reduce unintentional injury to children less than 14 years. Child passenger safety technicians are available throughout the community to help parents learn how to correctly install the child's car seat. Education/Information to the public is also available on unintentional injury prevention related to: Fire/Burn, Poison, Motor Vehicles, Pedestrians, Falls/Jumps, Choking, and other safety related issues. For more information, please call 573-221-1166 or visit our Safe Kids web site.

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School Health
Consultation is provided upon request to public, private and parochial schools on school age children health issues. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Health information is provided on sexually transmitted diseases and blood testing for HIV and Syphilis. Public health nurses collaborate with local physicians and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to prevent serious medical problems and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. This program is completely confidential. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Childcare Health Consultation
On site health and safety consultation, training for child care providers, education and consultation for family members of children in child care and Health Promotion programs for children in early childhood settings. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Case Management
A public health nurse will assist in finding services or understanding health risk is offered for high risk infants, children, and pregnant women who meet income guidelines. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Office Visits
Office visits are offered free of charge for monitoring blood pressure and other services under a physician guidance or order. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Bureau of Special Health Care Needs Service Coordination
The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services provides services for children and adults with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and birth defects through the Bureau of Special Health Care Needs. The services available from SHCN depend on the condition or illness of the individual. To be eligible for SHCN services, you must be a resident of Missouri, have a special health care need and meet medical and/or financial eligibility when required. There are no financial eligibility requirements for service coordination.

SHCN includes services for children and adults. The programs offered through SHCN include:

• Hope Program (Referred to in Missouri State Statute as "Crippled Children's Service". Ages birth to 21
• Healthy Children & Youth (HCY) Administrative Case Management. Ages birth to 21.
• Adult Head Injury. Ages 21 to 65.
• Physical Disabilities Waiver (PDW) Administrative Case Management. Ages over 21.
• Service Coordination. All ages.
• Family Partnership. All ages.

For current information and publications, visit the web site at www.dhss.mo.gov/SHCN or contact the Marion County Health Department at 573-221-1166.

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Health Education
Health Education Programs are available upon request for businesses, community groups, employee wellness plans, schools, churches and other organizations in Marion County. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Chronic Disease Prevention Program (CDPP)
This program addresses physical activity, nutrition, tobacco and substance abuse. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP)
This Coalition focuses on education and prevention of substance abuse among middle–school aged children. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Childhood Environmental Lead Screening
Blood testing is free of charge to all children with Medicaid ages 6 months to 6 years. Environmental evaluations are provided to children with elevated blood levels. For more information please call 573-221-1166.

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Ticks and Tick-Borne Disease
In the United States, ticks are responsible for more human disease than any other insect. Tick-borne diseases are also known as zoonotic diseases. A zoonotic disease is an infectious disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans. Ticks are very effective transmitters of disease because they take blood meals from a large variety of small and large mammals, reptiles, and birds.

At least six different human tick-borne diseases have been reported in Missouri. These include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Q-fever, Lyme and Lyme like disease, and the southern tick-associated rash illness.

If you find an attached tick, it should be removed promptly. The longer it is attached the greater the risk of infection. There are many “old wives tales” about how to remove a tick. However, to reduce the chance of disease transmission, correctly using tweezers or a commercial tick removal tool is preferred. The key to using tweezers correctly is to position the tips of tweezers around the area where the tick’s mouth parts enter the skin. Then use a slow, steady motion when pulling the tick away from the skin. After removing the tick, disinfect the skin with soap and water or other available disinfectants.

Signs and symptoms of tick-borne disease can vary among individuals. General symptoms include a sudden high fever, severe headache, muscle or joint aches, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Other symptoms to be aware of include a rash or pus filled wound that appears at the site of a tick bite or a spreading rash that follows a tick bite. If these symptoms occur after a tick bite or exposure to tick habitat, inform your health care provider of the tick exposure.

Ways to protect yourself from tick bites include:

• Avoiding tick infested areas
• Wearing light colored clothing. This makes it easier to see ticks crawling on your clothes.
• Use chemical repellants with DEET, Picaridin, or permethrin. Adults should apply repellants to children and avoid putting the repellants on the child’s hands, eyes, and mouth.
• Check your body and your child’s body for ticks. Favorite areas for tick attachment include: under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, back of knees, in and around the hair, between the legs, and around the waist.

For more information on ticks and tick-borne disease go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/list_tickborne.htm
http://www.dhss.state.mo.us/TicksCarryDisease/

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