The Collin County Observer™

NBC KXAS - Planned Parenthood Attacked With Molotov Cocktail
By Greg Janda, KXAS- NBC TV
Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011, Updated 5:25 PM CDT

McKinney fire officials say an overnight blaze at a Planned Parenthood clinic was started by a "Molotov cocktail."

The health center on Eldorado Parkway was attacked Tuesday night around 10 p.m. Firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire and discovered a wine bottle filled with diesel fuel and a rag for a lighter.

Officials say the fire did damage to the exterior of the building, but did not penetrate the building. Investigation into the attack is still ongoing.

The clinic opened in 2008 and has been the site of multiple protests. This is the first serious attack at the location.

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CBS KRLD - Molotov Cocktail Hurled Through McKinney Planned Parenthood
By Matt Goodman, CBSDFW.COM
July 27, 2011 4:31 PM

MCKINNEY (CBSDFW.COM) – Someone hurled a glass bottle topped with a flaming rag and filled with diesel fuel through the front door of the McKinney Planned Parenthood offices just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, a spokeswoman said.

The attack left shards of glass littered in front of the office at 1720 Eldorado Parkway and charred the metal door, but Planned Parenthood staffers hurriedly cleaned the mess and still saw patients Wednesday.

“Since we’re seeing patients today and trying to do repair and cleanup as fast as possible, you may not get an idea of the damage done if you go by there today,” said Holly Morgan, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of North Texas.

The Molotov cocktail failed to make it into the actual clinic and no staffers or patients were there, Morgan said.

Though the McKinney location has been the center of controversy in the area since it opened in 2008, Morgan said the attack was unprecedented – none of the 28 north Texas locations have suffered something like this.

And though the McKinney Police Department still has not identified a motive, Morgan said the arson is even more upsetting because the targeted location does not offer abortion services.

“It’s really unfortunate because that site only provides preventative care,” she said. “But until we know from the police, until they figure out what happened, we can’t really say what the motivation was.”

The McKinney location offers preventive services such as breast and pelvic exams, as well as birth control, diabetes screenings, sexually transmitted infection tests, pregnancy testing and emergency contraception. News Radio KRLD reported picketers at the location earlier in the day.

McKinney police has not identified a suspect.

“Ninety-six to 97 percent of what we do –and that’s an audited number – every year for our patients is preventative health care. It’s breast and cervical cancer screening and well women visits,” Morgan said.

“We even give flu shots.”

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Link: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/texas-legislature/headlines/20110202-texas-businesses-serving-frail-warn-cuts-would-close-their-doors.ece

By ROBERT T. GARRETT / The Dallas Morning News - Austin Bureau
February 2, 2011

read this story at DallasNews.com (registration may be required)

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The needs of thousands of children and adults living with mental and physical disabilities are about to collide with the limitations of the Texas state budget.

Here in the wealthiest county in the state, where some folks would prefer to ignore the unpleasantness of mental or physical challenges, it will be interesting to see how this issue is prioritized by our legislators (including Senator Florence Shapiro who sits on the Finance Committee referenced below)and dealt with on the local level by our county leaders.

angellsmith

From a Collin County press release. Flu vaccination includes protection from both H1N1, and influenza A and B:

Collin County

HEALTH CARE ADVISORY: Nov. 30, 2010

Free flu vaccine for children available; adult doses for $10

(McKINNEY, Texas) - Collin County Health Care will be offering free flu vaccinations for children and discounted flu shots for adults during National Influenza Week, Dec. 5-11.

Flu shots will be administered at 825 N. McDonald Street, Suite 130, in McKinney, from 7:30 11 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. all week. Adult doses are $10 each, and cash or check is accepted.

The 2010–2011 flu vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus (swine flu) that caused so much illness last season.

If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)

National Influenza Vaccination Week was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as fostering greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season into January and beyond. The flu is a serious contagious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death.

Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.

People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older. Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.

Vaccination also is important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to high risk people.

Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for them should be vaccinated instead. For more information regarding the flu please visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/NIVW/index.htm.

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Link: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/frisco/stories/111610dnmetexide.2375dc7ae.html

November 16, 2010

By VALERIE WIGGLESWORTH and MATTHEW HAAG /The Dallas Morning News

read this article at DallasNews.com

The City of Frisco issued a press release also released from Exide: Exide will allow all Frisco residents free blood tests for lead.

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The following information is distributed from the City of Frisco's News and Information service.

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***The following information has been released by Exide Technologies, Inc.

Blood Lead Testing Now Available for Residents of Frisco, TX

Frisco, TX – (November 4, 2010) – Exide Technologies has announced that testing for blood lead concentration is now available for all residents of the City of Frisco, at no charge. Exide will be responsible for all expenses incurred for the blood draw and testing. Frisco residents interested in the testing must go to the office of Dr. Vicki B. Davis at 8680 East Main Street, Suite 1E, Frisco, TX, phone number: 972-377-2447. The blood testing can be done by appointment or on a walk-in basis. Please note that walk-ins may have to wait for staff availability. Citizens will be asked to confirm their residency prior to the testing. All blood samples will be sent by Dr. Davis to ACL Laboratories for a lead concentration analysis. Results obtained by ACL will be returned to Dr. Davis. She will contact residents to provide and discuss the results and answer any questions.

“We are offering this testing to all residents of the City of Frisco in order to provide peace of mind regarding blood lead levels,” said Don Barar, plant manager for Exide’s Frisco recycling facility. “I encourage any citizen who has a question about blood lead levels to take advantage of this testing.”

For questions regarding the testing, please contact either Dr. Davis or Susan Jaramillo at Exide, (203) 699-9133.

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Nonprofit clinic to treat the poor opens today in West Plano

October 6, 2010
By ED HOUSEWRIGHT / The Dallas Morning News

link to this article at The Dallas Morning News....

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - Panel Discussion

Tuesday, August 3rd – 7pm
Collin College McKinney Conference Center
2200 W. University Drive McKinney TX 75070

On Tuesday night, August 3rd at 7 pm, The Healthcare Committee of Collin County will host a Panel Discussion on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. This Educational Forum will provide some of the latest information and services for those needing support with Autism Spectrum Disorders (including Asperger’s Syndrome), intellectual disabilities and related conditions.

The panel includes:

• Gary Moore - President and Co-founder, nonPareil Institute
• Clay Boatright - President, ARC of Dallas and Vice President, ARC of Texas
• Nagla Moussa - President, Collin County Chapter of the National Autism Association (formerly Autism Society of Collin County)
• Charmaine Solomon - Chairman of the Board and Co-founder, My Possibilities
• Randy Routon - President, LifePath? Systems, MR Authority in Collin County

The Healthcare Committee of Collin County (HCCC) is a nonpartisan grassroots organization focused on ensuring access to quality healthcare for all residents in Collin County. Anyone with concerns about healthcare in this community is welcome to join and learn more about what services are available in Collin County and where we need to advocate for more.

This is the, I believe 4th in a series of panel discussions on the healthcare needs of Collin County residents. Previous discussions have focused on mental healthcare, mental illness in Collin County jails, and the role/future of the non-profit indigent clinics in the county. These discussions have all been very informative and have been well attended.

All meetings and presentations of the HCCC are free and open to the public.

Bill

Full disclosure: I am a member of the Leadership Team of the HCCC.

Sheriff Terry Box has asked the commissioners court to ratify a grant application for Bureau of Justice Assistance grant valued at up to $50,000.

The grant funds would be used by the Sheriff's Department, in collaboration with LifePath Systems, to design a "strategic collaberative plan to initiate systemic change for the identification and treatment of system-involved individuals with mental illness or co-occurring mental health or substance abuse problems."

According to Box, the end result of the planning process would be a "comprehensive jail diversion program that would include all facets of the criminal justice system and local mental healthcare providers".

The county would be expected to contribute $12,500 in matching funds.

The planning process is scheduled to be complete in September of 2011, and will allow the county to apply for and participate in another $450,000 of grant funds for implementation of a diversion system.

The costs of incarceration for mentally ill individuals is enormous. At any given time, a large percentage of the inmates in the county jail are receiving mental health medication or need to be. In fact, the Collin County jail is the largest provider of mental health service in the county.

LifePath Systems, the co-collaborator in the grant is a community-based, non-profit organization created specifically to help individuals and their families dealing with mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities and developmental delays. LifePath with funding from the NorthStar program provides much of the mental illness services to the county jail.

The Dallas Morning News published a story this weekend on Dallas' mental health diversion program. It's an interesting read.

The county is already funding a seperate study by the University of North Texas on the delivery of indigent mental healthcare services in Collin County.

Bill

Free H1N1 shots are being offered at Plano clinic

The Collin County Adult Clinic in Plano is offering free H1N1 shots to anyone 6 months or older. There are no residency or income restrictions.

The vaccinations are being offered in cooperation with the Collin County Health Department through at least the end of February.

Collin County Adult Clinic is at 2520 Ave. K, at the northeast corner of Avenue K and Park Boulevard.

Vaccination times are:
• Monday and Wednesday, 4 to 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Feb. 1, 3, 8, 10, 15 and 17, 4 to 7:30 p.m.
• Feb. 6, 13 and 20, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

You might be surprised to learn that the Collin County Jail is the largest provider of mental health services in Collin County.

The cost to our taxpayers and our society is enormous - and growing. What is the cost to our communities? What can be done to reduce recidivism, prevent offenses and keep our neighborhoods safe? What resources are available to see that treatment is available when appropriate?

The HealthCare Committee of Collin County (HCCC) is sponsoring a panel discussion on issues of mental illness in Collin County Jails.

Panelists for the discussion will be:

• Hon. Jerry Madden – District 67 TX House of Representatives; Vice Chair, House Committee on Corrections
• Hon. Chris Oldner – Judge, 416th District Court; Administrative Judge, Collin County District Courts
• Assistant Chief Deputy Randy Clark – Collin County Sheriff’s Office
• Dr. Xiaoyan Wu – Contracted Psychiatrist, Collin County Jail
• Janie Metzinger – Mental Health America (serving an 11 county area including Collin County)
• Jane O'Brian – Collin County Adult Probation
• Lynda Wynn Drain - local defense attorney, Master-Substitute Judge for Mental Commitment Hearings since 2008

The meeting will be held Tuesday, January 5, 2010 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Spring Creek Campus of Collin College, 2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, TX 75074 in Room C103. There is no cost, and the public is invited to attend and ask questions.

This will be the fourth major panel discussion hosted by the HCCC. Previous expert panels discussed the role and financing of non-profit clinics, the need and government resources for mental health care, and the county indigent health care program. These well attended panel discussions have featured expert panelists from state and local government, elected officials and private and non-profit care givers.

The Healthcare Committee of Collin County is a nonpartisan grassroots organization focused on ensuring adequate healthcare for all residents of Collin County. The purpose of the Committee is to encourage members and others to be educated on all aspects of healthcare as it pertains to Collin County residents. All are welcome.

More information can be found on their web site, www.collinhealthcare.org

Bill

In the interest of full disclosure: I serve on the Leadership Team of the HCCC.

Frisco city officials fear battery recycler's expansion plan would worsen lead levels

Tuesday, December 22, 2009
By MATTHEW HAAG and VALERIE WIGGLESWORTH / The Dallas Morning News
Staff writer Randy Lee Loftis contributed to this report.

"Frisco conducted a health risk assessment in 1994 and a follow-up in 1995 that focused on three families who lived a few blocks north of the lead smelter and east of the new City Hall. The studies found elevated levels of lead in three children but couldn't conclusively connect them to the plant's emissions."

"'I believe we may have the distinction of having the only wastewater treatment plant in the country that ever produced hazardous waste,' Purefoy said."

Thousands of people in the heart of Frisco are exposed to toxic lead pollution from a battery recycling plant that wants to expand production.

Exide Technologies Inc. operates the decades-old lead smelter that's flanked by Frisco's downtown, a high school and several neighborhoods and businesses. Its lead emissions make Collin County one of only 18 counties nationwide not expected to meet new, more stringent air-quality standards. It is expected to be the only such designation in the south-central United States.

Recent research shows that lead poses a greater risk to people than scientists once thought. And it's especially detrimental to children, who can suffer from learning problems, diminished IQs and brain damage.

Exide, whose plant is not in violation of current air-quality standards, responded to only a few specific questions. Exide also declined a request to make available Don Barar, its plant manager in Frisco.

The company issued a brief statement that said in part: "The desire and intent of Exide Technologies is to operate responsibly and in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements."

Frisco officials object to the production increase and are challenging Exide's plans through a trial-like contested case hearing with state regulators. Their letter to state officials says the expansion "will have a negative impact on the City and its residents."

Late this summer, Exide officials proposed spending more than $1.3 million to reduce the plant's lead air emissions in hopes of moving its application forward. The projects outlined in documents sent to the state would capture so-called fugitive emissions – the lead released through cracks in a building or by vehicle traffic leaving the plant.

But City Manager George Purefoy said, "I don't understand logically how they can increase production and not increase the amount of emissions going out of the stacks."

City grew up with plant

Frisco is in a unique position: Few, if any, burgeoning suburban cities nationwide have a lead smelter in the middle of town.

Gould-National Battery Inc. originally built the plant in 1964 on 55 acres along South Fifth Street with views of rolling prairies. At the time, the city's population was less than 1,900.

But Frisco grew up. Farmland has been eaten up by subdivisions. And the city's population has exploded to more than 106,000.

Exide Technologies acquired the plant in 2000. It's one of nine battery recycling plants worldwide operated by the company based in Milton, Ga. It employs 130 people.

The Frisco plant crushes used automotive and industrial batteries, uses heat to extract the lead and converts it into lead oxide to make recycled batteries. The process releases some of the lead into the environment.

A year ago, Exide submitted a request to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to allow the Frisco plant to break down more batteries. Finished lead production limits would increase to 500 tons a day, up from the current limit of 400 tons a day.

The commission is still reviewing the request. Officials there said they cannot comment on pending permits.

A key question remains unanswered: What impact would a production increase at Exide's plant have on already elevated lead-pollution levels?

In its application to the state, Exide said its production change wouldn't increase the plant's lead emissions, but it didn't offer any evidence.

Exide's 100-page application to Texas regulators didn't include an air modeling study – common in such applications – that estimates lead levels in the air around the smelter.

In addition, the map Exide sent to state regulators to show what's near the plant is so outdated that the Dallas North Tollway isn't listed. Neither are Pizza Hut Park, Frisco Square, Frisco High School and several newer neighborhoods.

Purefoy said the city didn't know about the expansion proposal until after Exide submitted it in October 2008. Later that month, Purefoy fired off an e-mail to Mayor Maher Maso after a meeting with Barar, the plant manager.

"I told him that the city was committed to reducing the emissions falling on our citizens every minute from the plant," Purefoy wrote. "And if Exide wasn't committed to the same goal, then the relationship between the city and Exide was taking a dramatic change of course."

Stricter standards

In November 2008, the EPA gave notice that the federal air-quality standard for lead emissions would become 10 times more stringent – from 1.5 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air to 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter.

"After being quiet for 15 years on the lead front, it's now a priority for the EPA," said Guy Donaldson, chief of the planning section for the agency's Region 6, which covers a five-state area that includes Texas. "It's happening now because the scientific evidence says you have health effects at these levels."

The new standard for lead, which wouldn't be enforced in Collin County until 2012, is the level expected to protect public health.

A monitoring station on Exide's property recorded violations of the 1.5 standard in 1985, 1989 and 1990. The plant, then operated by another company, received violation notices in 1989 and 1990. A year later, the EPA designated the facility a nonattainment area, meaning it violated air-quality standards. The area was declared back in compliance in 1999.

The new proposed nonattainment area is at least twice as big as the one designated in 1991.

'Any exposure is bad'

In recent years, the tools for measuring the effects of lead exposure in people have become more precise, allowing scientists to detect lower levels in blood and measure damage in greater detail.

"Lead is toxic even at the lowest levels we can measure," said Philip Landrigan, an international leader in public health and a pediatrician at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. "Any exposure is bad, but more exposure is worse."

Health effects are particularly acute in children, who breathe in more air than adults relative to their size. Lead exposure can cause learning disabilities, decreased growth, hyperactivity and brain damage.

In adults, high lead levels can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease. Pregnant women exposed to lead also put their unborn babies at risk.

While lead-poisoning symptoms aren't always apparent, Landrigan said, there could be some underlying health effects. The only way to know for sure is to test the amount of lead in a person's blood, he said.

Frisco conducted a health risk assessment in 1994 and a follow-up in 1995 that focused on three families who lived a few blocks north of the lead smelter and east of the new City Hall. The studies found elevated levels of lead in three children but couldn't conclusively connect them to the plant's emissions.

Purefoy, Frisco's city manager, said last month that he hopes to conduct a larger health study to determine any effects from lead.

read the rest of this informative article on The Dallas Morning News' website....

From a Collin County Department of Homeland Security press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 3, 2009
Contact: Pamela Nishimoto, Public Outreach Educator, (214)491-6855
HEALTH ADVISORY: H1N1 Influenza Vaccine



(McKINNEY, Texas) – Collin County Health Care Services is providing H1N1 vaccine for no charge at seven locations to individuals in the Texas Department of State Health Services’ (DSHS) high-risk priority vaccination groups, and for an administration fee at an additional 59 locations. There are currently 66 provider locations who have partnered with Collin County in order to facilitate ease of access to the vaccine for residents in the high-risk priority vaccination groups. This includes the addition this week of Celina Drug, two additional PrimaCare locations, seven Albertsons Pharmacies, and 13 Kroger Pharmacies.

To date Collin County Health Care Services has received a total of 20,953 doses of H1N1 influenza vaccine. Doses have been, and are being, distributed to: area hospitals, emergency medical workers, first responders, shelter populations, community clinics, and local area pharmacies. Each location is providing vaccine to individuals in the high-risk priority vaccination groups identified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and DSHS as initial recipients for the H1N1 vaccine. All individuals in these high-risk priority vaccination groups, listed in no particular order, are encouraged to get the H1N1 vaccine:

• Pregnant women;
• Household contacts and caregivers for infants younger than 6 months of age;
• All persons from 6 months through 24 years of age;
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel; and,
• Persons aged 25 years through 64 years of age with health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

Collin County individuals in the above listed CDC and DSHS high-risk priority vaccination groups are encouraged to check with their local medical provider to see if they have H1N1 vaccine available.

UPDATE: December 4, 2009
From Collin County Homeland Security -

Beginning Monday, December 7th, Collin County will be offering H1N1 vaccine to all Collin County residents.

Since receiving vaccine, Collin County has followed the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), offering the vaccine only to specific target groups while vaccine was in limited availability. However, vaccine is now widely available in both public and private sectors throughout Collin County and will be made accessible to all residents who desire to be vaccinated.

"Collin County individuals are encouraged to get vaccinated prior to holiday travel, as some areas are more severely affected by the H1N1 virus than Collin County."

Additionally, they may receive the H1N1 vaccine for no charge, while supplies last at:

• Children & Community Health Center of McKinney,
• Collin County Adult Clinic in Plano;
• Express Health in McKinney;
• PrimaCare locations in Frisco, McKinney, Plano and west Plano.

The 59 additional locations throughout Collin County currently providing H1N1 vaccinations to the CDC and DSHS high-risk priority vaccination groups for an administration fee include:

• Celina Drug;
• Texas Star Pharmacy;
• four Care Now locations;
• seven Albertsons Pharmacies;
• 11 Tom Thumb Pharmacies;
• 13 Kroger Pharmacies; and,
• 22 Walgreens Pharmacies.

The 66 Collin County locations include:

• Albertsons Pharmacies - All Collin County locations
  Hours of Operation: Varies by location
  Serving: Ages 18 to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Injectable
  Fee: $20
  Website: www.albertsons.com

• CareNow - Allen
  1218 W. McDermott, Allen, Texas 75013
  (972)390-9000
  Hours of Operation: Weekdays 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable
  Fee: $20
  Website: www.carenow.com

• CareNow – Frisco Preston
  5644 Preston Road, Frisco, Texas 75035
  (972)529-4545
  Hours of Operation: Weekdays 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable
  Fee: $20
  Website: www.carenow.com

• CareNow - McKinney
  809 N. Central Expressway, McKinney, Texas 75070
  (972)529-4500
  Hours of Operation: Weekdays 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable
  Fee: $20
  Website: www.carenow.com

• CareNow - Plano
  3821 W. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, Texas 75023
  (972)599-0077
  Hours of Operation: Weekdays 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable
  Fee: $20
  Website: www.carenow.com

• Celina Drug
  701 N. Preston Road, Suite #210, Celina, Texas 75023
  (972)382-2832
  Hours of Operation: Weekdays 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  Serving: Ages 8 to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Injectable
  Fee: $15

• Children & Community Health Center of McKinney
  120 S. Central Expressway #106, McKinney, Texas 75070
  (972)547-0606
  Hours of Operation: By Appointment
  Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Injectable
  Fee: No charge to high-risk groups
  Website: www.cchc-vim.org

• Collin County Adult Clinic - Plano
  2520 K Avenue, Plano, Texas 75074
  (972)423-4941
  Hours of Operation: Saturday, December 5, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable, Preservative Free
  Fee: No charge to high-risk groups
  Website: www.collincountyadultclinic.org

• Express Health – McKinney
  1505 Harroun Street, Suite C, McKinney, Texas 75070
  (972)548-2722
  Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable, Preservative Free
  Fee: No charge to high-risk groups
  Website: www.expresshealthnow.com

• Kroger Pharmacies - All Collin County locations
  Hours of Operation: Varies by location
  Serving: Ages 8 to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Injectable
  Fee: $10
  Website: www.kroger.com
  

• PrimaCare – Frisco
  7227 Preston Road, Frisco, Texas 75035
  (972)377-7878
  Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable, Preservative Free
  Fee: No charge to high-risk groups
  Website: www.primacare.com

• PrimaCare – McKinney
  1920 W. Eldorado Parkway, McKinney, Texas 75069
  (469)952-3737
  Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable, Preservative Free
  Fee: No charge to high-risk groups
  Website: www.primacare.com

• PrimaCare – Plano
  3304 Alma Drive, Plano, Texas 75023
  (972)424-6581
  Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable, Preservative Free
  Fee: No charge to high-risk groups
  Website: www.primacare.com

• PrimaCare – Plano West
  5076 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas 75023
  (972)424-6581
  Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable, Preservative Free
  Fee: No charge to high-risk groups
  Website: www.primacare.com

• Texas Star Pharmacy
  3033 W. Parker Road, #100, Plano Texas 75023
  (972)665-3129
  Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM; Saturday 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  Serving: Ages 6 months to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Intranasal Mist, Injectable, Preservative Free
  Fee: $19
  Website: www.pharmaciesplano.com

• Tom Thumb Pharmacies - All Collin County locations
  Hours of Operation: Varies by location
  Serving: Ages 8 to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Injectable
  Fee: $15
  Website: www.tomthumb.com

• Walgreens Pharmacies - All Collin County locations
  Hours of Operation: Varies by location
  Serving: Ages 8 to 64 years
  Vaccine Available: Injectable
  Fee: $18
  Website: www.walgreens.com/marketing/storelocator/find.jsp

Due to the limited vaccine supply nationally, the CDC and DSHS have recommended that specific high-risk priority vaccination groups receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine first. Once the demand for vaccine for these groups has been met, the CDC and DSHS will target additional high-risk groups and later the general population. Collin County is currently developing strategic plans to best serve the public’s health needs as future doses of H1N1 vaccine become available. Once additional vaccine is received, these plans will be implemented with H1N1 vaccine distributed countywide to serve high-risk groups identified by the CDC and DSHS.

Private providers in Collin County have received 96,135 doses of H1N1 vaccine as of the DSHS's November 19 weekly report. Individuals in CDC and DSHS high-risk priority vaccination groups are encouraged to contact their local health care provider to arrange for H1N1 vaccination appointments or seek services from one of the locations listed above.

For further information regarding H1N1 vaccine availability, the public is encouraged to utilize the following resources: Collin County website at http://www.co.collin.tx.us/ and the Collin County Facebook and Twitter sites; the DSHS Texas Flu Vaccine Locator at http://www.Texasflu.org; call the DSHS H1N1 information lines available by calling “2-1-1”; or, call the Collin County Health Care Services at (972) 548-5500.

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The county has distributed about 15,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine to several area clinics and pharmacies. According to their press release, the county said that the vaccine would be available to "high risk" citizens on Saturday, November 21. Since both my wife and I fall into the "high risk" category, we decided that we would go and get our shots.

First we tried the Walgreen's in Wylie. No luck there. We were told that no vaccine would be available until Monday -- at the earliest.

Then we tried the Prima Care in Plano. They had the vaccine, and they also had a huge crowd and a harried receptionist who informed us that we would be waiting "a long time" to get served.

I then figured we'd do better to try to use the telephone to see what would work best. First we tried the "211" number the county suggested we call. After answering a lot of geographic questions, like "Is Wylie in Collin County?", we were told that there was no Swine Flu vaccine available nearby.

I then called the Texas Star Pharmacy in Plano. They had the shots, but we were too late as they closed at noon. When I asked them what we'd need to bring to document that "high risk", they told me that they were offering the vaccine to everyone, without restriction.

We then called the Tom Thumb pharmacy, they had the shots, explained what forms we needed to fill out and 20 minutes later, we were both vaccinated. The cost to us was $15 each. (The county also pays the providers an additional $21 per shot.)

Out of curiosity, I called a few more designated providers. None reported the kind of long lines seen in Dallas County. There was some real confusion over eligibility, and not all locations had the vaccine available as promised.

It took us about 2 hours to find and get the shots. From what I've been reading of long waits and confusion in other counties, the distribution system the Collin County's Health and Homeland Security Departments set up worked better than many.

It was the first day for widespread distribution, and some confusion is to be expected. Hopefully, the glitches will be worked out quickly, and additional supplies of the vaccine will be made available on a continuing basis.

Bill

Want know where to find the vaccine in Collin County? Here is information from the county.

Correction:

December 1

I received this explanation on payments to providors from a spokesperson at the county:

"One clarification regarding your “Getting vaccinated in Collin County” post. Contracted providers in Collin County are only reimbursed for those vaccine doses they’ve received from the County, and are administering as part of the county’s medical services “safety net.” The reimbursable rate is $19.20 per dose (the regional Medicare dose rate). Providers who charge for their vaccination services do not receive any reimbursement from the County."

From a Collin County press release issued Friday:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Health Care Services
825 N. McDonald St. Suite 120
McKinney, Texas 75069
www.collincountytx.gov

November 20, 2009

(McKINNEY, Texas) -- Collin County Health Care Services received an additional 8,600 doses of H1N1 vaccine today from state health authorities, making more than 15,000 doses available this week to individuals who are in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control priority vaccination groups as listed below:

• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
• Health Care and Emergency Medical Services Personnel
• Persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years
• People ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems

Those who fall into the above priority groups and are interested in receiving the H1N1 vaccination can call one of the following locations beginning Saturday, Nov. 21:

• PRIMACARE-MCKINNEY
  1920 W. Eldorado Pkwy
  McKinney, TX 75069
  Mon-Fri (8am-9pm)
  Sat & Sun (8am-5pm)
  469-952-3737
  *Preservative-free available
• PRIMACARE-PLANO
  3304 Alma Dr
  Plano, TX 75023
  Mon-Fri (8am-9pm)
  Sat & Sun (8am-5pm)
  972-424-6581
  *Preservative-free available
• EXPRESS HEALTH-MCKINNEY
  1505 Harroun Street, Suite C
  McKinney, TX 75070
  Mon-Fri (8am-5pm)
  972-548-2722
• TEXAS STAR PHARMACY-PLANO
  3033 West Parker Rd.
  Plano, TX 75023
  972-519-8475
• Walgreen Pharmacies in Collin County
• Tom Thumb Pharmacies in Collin County

For future updates of H1N1 vaccine availability and locations, the public may call ‘211’ or 972-548-5500 (CCHCS main line). Also, the Texasflu.org website has posted a Flu Vaccine Locator, or residents can check the Collin County Facebook and Twitter sites through the Collin County website, www.colllincountytx.gov.

Collin County's Department of Homeland Security is responsible for running court house security, The Fire Marshall's office, the North Central Texas Fusion Center, and terrorism and disaster response.

On its web page, the Homeland Security Department lists another core function, "Developing and managing state and federal grant funding for emergency management, homeland security and bioterrorism programs."

It is in gaining and spending grant money, or as I'll call it OPM (Other People's Money) that the Homeland Security folks are masters.

According to a presentation given to the commissioners court earlier this year the DHS has managed to garner over $13 million in grant funds (OPM) since 2003.

UASI (Urban Area Security Initiative), SHSG (State Homeland Security Grant), and LETPP (Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention) grants were used for construction of the Fusion Center, law enforcement radios, phones and communication systems, and disaster preparedness programs.

The PHEP (Public Health Emergency Preparedness)is a grant from the Centers for Disease Control for Bio Terrorism and epidemiology. In 2006,2007 and 2008, the PHEP grant included a total of about $1 million for pandemic flu planning.

The PHER (Public Health Emergency Response) grant is a state grant for pandemic H1N1 flu response. This year, Collin County has already received a PHER grant of $707,309 to be used to plan for mass H1N1 immunizations. The commissioners court is expected to approve another PHER grant request for an additional $1,166,545 to be used to distribute the flu vaccine to targeted populations.

Collin County has applied for 15,500 H1N1 flu vaccine doses, 2,500 will be for critical response and infrastructure such as police and emergency workers. The balance is planned for distribution to uninsured, high risk citizens. To date, the county has only recieved 500 doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine. It is likely that the county will only receive about 6,000 doses before the end of the flu season.

Homeland Security had already been awarded over $1 million from 2006-2008 to plan for a flu pandemic. In addition, it received another $700 thousand dollars this year, and it says it need yet another $1.16 million in order to distribute the vaccine.

Since the federal and state government bear the cost of the vaccine itself, the county will spend no money to actually acquire the H1N1 flu vaccine. It will however spend almost $3 million in overhead costs to plan and execute the distribution of the flu shots.

That $3 million is all grant money or OPM.

If the county were to receive ALL the doses it has asked for, the OPM overhead cost of planning is over $190 per dose for distribution. If, as is the more likely scenario, it only gets 6,000 doses, the cost in OPM per dose will be $500.

So how complicated is the distribution?

Well, so far the county plans to send some doses to area hospitals for their staff, but most of the available vaccine would be allocated to the county's own health clinic and to other area clinics. The county has already made an agreement with the Collin County Adult Clinic to distribute up to 2,600 doses at a cost of $19.20 each. The county plans similar agreements with other local clinics.

Most of us in Collin county will get the vaccination from our personal physician. Your doctor will also get the dose for free from the federal government, and he will only be able to charge the insurance company somewhat less than $50. My doctor will offer the shot for a flat $20 fee. Collin County will be responsible for vaccinating critical staff as well as the indigent and uninsured.

Its only the flagrant use of OPM that permits this normally frugal county government to spend $500 on something that will cost it less than $20.

Collin County prides itself on its efficient use of taxpayers dollars. It has no similar attitude when it comes to spending OPM... even if that OPM is taxpayer's dollars.

The county's Homeland Security Department is expert at finding and spending huge sums of OPM grant funds, often with little result.

Bill

Frisco to consider health risk study of battery plant

Tuesday, October 20, 2009
By MATTHEW HAAG and VALERIE WIGGLESWORTH / The Dallas Morning News

Frisco's city officials and state regulators agreed Monday to look into doing a health risk study related to lead emissions from a battery-recycling plant in the city's center.

The commitment comes as concerns grow about health effects from lead pollution from the Exide Technologies plant, just south of downtown.

A year ago, Exide submitted an application to state regulators to increase production at the plant, which is on Fifth Street and near several neighborhoods. The city is protesting the permit and has filed a request for a contested-case hearing, which is a legal proceeding similar to a civil trial.

Recently, state regulators gave notice that an area around the plant is not expected to meet the new, more stringent federal air quality standards for lead that go into effect in Collin County in 2012. The non-attainment area is expected to be the only one in the south-central U.S.

On Monday, Frisco Mayor Maher Maso and City Manager George Purefoy drove to Austin to discuss the smelter with Mark Vickery, executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The agency oversees the company's operations and is reviewing its application to expand.

Article highlighting application

The meeting, which had been planned for some time, came a day after a Dallas Morning News article highlighting Exide's application and the proposal for non-attainment.

Exide officials declined to comment for the article, saying they couldn't discuss pending applications.

The company has said in documents that a production expansion won't increase lead emissions.

The plant's lead emissions comply with current federal air quality standards, but its emissions make Collin County one of only 18 counties nationwide not expected to meet new, more stringent air quality standards.

No amount of lead exposure is safe, but it's especially detrimental to children, who can suffer from learning problems and brain damage.

Maso said at the start of a town hall meeting Monday night that the discussion with Vickery went well, but he didn't elaborate. Exide was not listed on the agenda, which limited what city officials could say.

Maso said future meetings will be planned to discuss the plant.

"Rest assured we are monitoring it and are on top of it," Maso said.

He noted that the city has been working on the issue for a while.

"I personally don't feel Exide has been responsive to our city," Maso said. "This isn't just a Frisco issue."

He said after that meeting that some residents have demanded that the plant be closed.

"I'm not sure I disagree with that," he said. "If they won't be open and transparent, they have no place in Frisco."

The health risk study, if approved, would be the first in the city since 1995, when a study identified three children living north of the plant with elevated lead levels in their blood. The study could not conclusively connect those levels with the plant's emissions.

The city had handouts available at the town hall meeting that included copies of the city's protest letter and a map with a one-mile and two-mile radius around the plant. The packet also included a format for residents interested in filing their own protest with state regulators.

Maso said people living within a mile of the plant have standing to protest, but he also urged others outside that area with concerns to send one in.

Protest letter

The city's sample protest letter included the following statements:

•"I am adversely affected because the documented degradation of air quality in the vicinity of the Applicant's facility has had a negative impact on me and my family."

•"An increase in the amount of allowable emissions will significantly impact me and my family."

•"My family has been adversely impacted by harmful particulates and odors from the Applicant's facility."

•"Withdrawal of the application will resolve my immediate concerns although I believe Exide's lead emissions are having a negative long term health effect on me and my family."

A summary of the city's meeting with TCEQ also stated that Vickery "agreed to further research the methodology used to determine the designated non-attainment area for the new EPA lead standards and Exide's specific permit amendment."

Exide seeks to boost finished lead production limits to 500 tons a day, up from the current limit of 400 tons a day. TCEQ is reviewing the request.

Built in 1964, the plant crushes old automotive and industrial batteries, uses heat to extract the lead and converts it into lead oxide to make recycled batteries. In the process, some lead is released into the environment.

A few months ago, Exigent proposed spending more than $1.3 million to upgrade the plant's pollution control in hopes of moving its application forward. The upgrades would help trap so-called fugitive emissions – the lead released through a crack in a building or by a truck leaving the plant.

In November 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency gave notice that the federal air quality standard for lead emissions would become 10 times more stringent – from 1.5 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air to 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter.

The plant's current lead emissions are projected to exceed the 0.15 lead standard, according to state data.

read more at the Dallas Morning News.....

==============
Also see: DMN - Frisco officials fight plans to expand lead smelter

The Dallas Morning News Plano blog reports:

Plano bat tests positive for rabies; Third recently
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009
Matthew Haag/Reporter The Dallas Morning News Plano Blog

We've gotten word from the city of Plano that another bat has tested positive for rabies. It's the third such case of rabies in the city the past month. Plano's Animal Services workers found the bat on Riverside Drive in northwest Plano and sent it to an Austin laboratory for tests.

"It is believed that no people or pets were directly exposed to the bat before Animal Services removed it," according to a city news release.

You might remember that the city reported the first case of a bat with rabies in late August, also in northwest Plano. A few weeks later, the city reported a second case, in the southeastern part of the city.

Those who receive a bat bite should wash the affected area immediately and seek medical attention, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends. For further information, call Plano's Animal Services department at (972) 769-4360.

link to the Plano Blog....

From a Collin County press release:

HEALTH ADVISORY: Sept. 8, 2009
Contact:Christie Hix, R.N., 972-548-5500

Seasonal flu vaccines for adults now available; children's doses to arrive later

(McKINNEY, Texas) -- Collin County Health Care began offering seasonal flu vaccinations for adults only beginning today. These are the regular flu vaccinations offered every year at this time for people 19 and older. Vaccinations for children will be available at a later date, and vaccinations for the H1N1 virus (swine flu) will not be available until later in the year.

For seasonal flu shots for adults, vaccinations will be offered Monday through Friday from 8 to 11 a.m., and 1 to 4 p.m., at the county’s immunization clinic, 825 N. McDonald St., in McKinney.

Medicare Part B and Texas Medicaid are accepted, and health officials remind patients to bring Medicare or Medicaid cards to the clinic. For those who do not have Medicare Part B or Medicaid, the cost for the adult vaccine is $20. Cash and checks are accepted. Payment can be made with cash or check. Please wear short sleeves if possible. To be certain that supplies are on hand as flue season progresses, please call the Collin County Health Care Services office at 972-548-5500.

For more information on seasonal flu and vaccinations, please log on to www.collincountytx.gov and type “Influenza information” into the search box.

Plano, Richardson to spend $200,000 to make new police gun range safer, quieter

Wednesday, August 26, 2009
By THEODORE KIM / The Dallas Morning News

Plano and Richardson are planning more than $200,000 in upgrades to a newly constructed police gun range after experts deemed it potentially unsafe and too noisy.

The cities decided to pursue the improvements in the wake of tests revealing that airborne lead levels violated federal law during the most intense shooting sessions.

The $2.7 million enclosed facility, which serves both cities as a training ground, opened last September in southeastern Plano next to a former shooting range.

But Plano closed the new facility several weeks after it opened over concerns that the lead-laden dust generated from gunfire was not dissipating.

One officer reported developing a sore throat during a shooting session, officials say.

The facility also became the source of noise complaints from neighboring residents.

Plano Police Chief Greg Rushin ordered the range closed last fall "out of an abundance of caution."

Officers have used a shooting range in McKinney? in the interim.

The departments plan to install fans to improve the facility's airflow, as well as clean the range more frequently and monitor the level of lead in the blood of its employees.

Moreover, officers will switch to ammunition that features lead-free primers – the tiny, explosive caps that allow bullets to fire.

Ventilation issues are hardly unique to Plano's range.

Police departments from Florida to New York have grappled with similar problems, especially at indoor shooting facilities.

Those departments have taken similar steps to improve air quality and protect the health of police officers.

read more....

==============
Bill comments:

Murphy residents will be anxious to see if the noise issues are truly resolved. In the short time the range was open, I heard of numerous noise complaints from residents over a mile away.

The police were shooting everything from pistols to machine guns at that range.

Bill

The Collin County Observer has learned that the county is due to receive federal stimulus grants totaling over $707,000 earmarked to coordinate planning and distribution of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine and/or anti-virals.

The grant funds will allow the county to react to any decision by the federal government to initiate a mass vaccination campaign. The county will be able to use the money for planning, recruitment of staff, contractors or volunteers that will actually do the vaccinations or dosing of anti-viral medications, and staging of supplies needed. However, while the county can plan and get a system organized, it can not implement any mass vaccinations unless and until the federal government issues a declaration of need.

The grant will cover costs for vaccinating "target population groups". The state defines the target groups as:

• pregnant women
• people living with a baby under 6 months old
• healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
• all people from 6 mos. to 24 years of age
• persons aged 25 - 64 with chronic medical conditions

The vaccine would be available in mid-October and provided at no cost to hospitals, pharmacies, medical providers and Collin County. It is unclear how many doses will be available under this program. Recent media coverage has focused on an anticipated shortage of vaccine, especially early in the flu season.

The $707,000 grant represents Collin County's portion of a $17.8 million dollar Public Health Emergency Response (PHER) program that the State of Texas is distributing to local health departments statewide.

The county is in the process of filing the needed paperwork in Austin, and final acceptance of the program by the commissioners' court is expected in mid-September.

Bill

WFAA TV reports -

Fathers who lost loved ones work to change 911 system

11:19 AM CDT on Friday, June 12, 2009
By SHELLY SLATER / WFAA-TV

Watch Video Coverage

When you call 911 you expect help, but there are no federal standards for training 911 dispatchers.

Now a Collin County man who blames the 911 system, in part, for his son's death is asking why not?

Michael Cantrell is teaming up with a new friend who knows his pain.

Nathan Lee's wife, Denise, was kidnapped and murdered in Florida.

She called 911 and so did a witness, but the call was never dispatched. Police never knew she needed help.

Tragedy brought the two fathers together.

Cantrell's son, Matthew, accidentally hanged himself in their backyard soccer net.

The family's call to 911 heeded little help.

Dispatchers gave no medical advice and then transferred the call, wasting precious minutes they believe could have saved their son.

"We've kind of built a long distance friendship over the last couple of months," Lee says of Cantrell.

And now, with the same motivations, the two men are pushing for federal standards for 911 operators.

"Like federal air traffic controllers, it's a federal mandating thing, but for some reason 911 isn't," Lee said.

"It's not magic," says Cantrell, "when you call 911 that everything is going to go smoothly."

The men are appealing to the federal level to create a uniform 911 system.

Currently, regulations can vary by state, even by county.

Lee says that's not good enough.

"In my eyes you truly are the first line of defense for homeland security," Lee told a group of emergency professionals. .

From better training to better equipment, the hope is to eliminate error.

read more and watch video....

Previous CCO coverage:

Family sues City of Murphy over tot's death, CCO, May 21, 2009

The law suit filed May 19, 2009 - Cause No. 6:09-cv-225

Revisiting the Cantrell tragedy - Murphy 911 and emergency response times CCO, December 14, 2008

Murphy City Manager's report on toddler death clears officer's actions CCO, November 18, 2008

Cover up in Murphy? Is city telling the real story of toddlers death? CCO, November 17, 2008

Collin County
Health Advisory: Swine Influenza

As of late Wednesday, May 6th, 2009, the H1N1? (swine flu) case count for Collin County is:

Confirmed Cases: 3
Probable Cases: 7

Meanwhile, Collin County Health Care Services (CCHCS) would like to share the following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control released Tuesday afternoon:

• As of today, school closures are not advised for a suspected or confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1) and, in general, are not advised unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school’s ability to function.
• Schools that were closed based on previous interim CDC guidance related to this outbreak may reopen.
• Students, faculty or staff with influenza-like illness (fever with a cough or sore throat) should stay home and not attend school or go into the community except to seek medical care for at least 7 days even if symptoms resolve sooner.
• Students, faculty and staff who are still sick 7 days after they become ill should continue to stay home from school until at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved.
• Students, faculty and staff who appear to have an influenza-like illness at arrival or become ill during the school day should be isolated promptly in a room separate from other students and sent home.
• Parents and guardians should monitor their school-aged children, and faculty and staff should self-monitor every morning for symptoms of influenza-like illness.
• Ill students should not attend alternative child care or congregate in settings other than school.
• School administrators should communicate regularly with local public health officials to obtain guidance about reporting of influenza-like illnesses in the school.
• Schools can help serve as a focus for educational activities aimed at promoting ways to reduce the spread of influenza, including hand hygiene and cough etiquette.
• Students, faculty and staff should stringently follow sanitary measures to reduce the spread of influenza, including covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or coughing or sneezing into their sleeve if a tissue isn’t available), frequently washing hands with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer if hand washing with soap and water is not possible.

Also, Plano Independent School District officials announced to day that the three schools closed earlier due to concerns over swine flu will now reopen on May 6.

For a complete copy of the above-referenced document, please see the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/K12_dismissal.htm. For up to the moment information on this public health concern, please visit: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu and www.dshs.state.tx.us/swineflu. CCHCS health advisories and updates can be viewed at: http://www.co.collin.tx.us/.

Note: Plano schools closed for swine flu will re-open today

Bill

=================================

Health Care Services

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

May 5, 2009

HEALTH ADVISORY: H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu)

(McKINNEY, Texas) – As of late Tuesday, May 5th, 2009, the H1N1 (swine flu) case count for Collin County is:

Confirmed Cases: 3
Probable Cases: 4

Collin County Health Care Services (CCHCS) would like to share the following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control that was released Tuesday afternoon:

• As of today, school closures are not advised for a suspected or confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1) and, in general, are not advised unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school’s ability to function.
• Schools that were closed based on previous interim CDC guidance related to this outbreak may reopen.
• Students, faculty or staff with influenza-like illness (fever with a cough or sore throat) should stay home and not attend school or go into the community except to seek medical care for at least 7 days even if symptoms resolve sooner.
• Students, faculty and staff who are still sick 7 days after they become ill should continue to stay home from school until at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved.
• Students, faculty and staff who appear to have an influenza-like illness at arrival or become ill during the school day should be isolated promptly in a room separate from other students and sent home.
• Parents and guardians should monitor their school-aged children, and faculty and staff should self-monitor every morning for symptoms of influenza-like illness.
• Ill students should not attend alternative child care or congregate in settings other than school.
• School administrators should communicate regularly with local public health officials to obtain guidance about reporting of influenza-like illnesses in the school.
• Schools can help serve as a focus for educational activities aimed at promoting ways to reduce the spread of influenza, including hand hygiene and cough etiquette.
• Students, faculty and staff should stringently follow sanitary measures to reduce the spread of influenza, including covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or coughing or sneezing into their sleeve if a tissue isn’t available), frequently washing hands with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer if hand washing with soap and water is not possible.

For a complete copy of the above-referenced document, please see the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/K12_dismissal.htm.

For up to the moment information on this public health concern, please visit: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu and www.dshs.state.tx.us/swineflu.

CCHCS health advisories and updates can be viewed at: http://www.co.collin.tx.us/.

=================

Collin County Health Advisory: Swine Influenza

As of Monday morning, May 4, 2009, this is the count on Swine Influenza from Collin County’s health authority:

Confirmed Cases: 1
Probable Cases: 3
Schools Closed: 3

Health authorities confirmed the first local case of Swine Flu, a 14-year-old Plano middle school student, after test results were verified by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control last week.

According to Collin County Health Care Services and the Plano Health Authority a student at Wilson Middle School is the only confirmed case of H1N1? Influenza, with two more “probable” cases in the county under investigation by health authorities.

The Plano Independent School District announced Sunday, May 3, that Barron Early Childhood School and Sigler Elementary School will be closed until May 18, due to a few strong probable cases of Influenza A H1N1? virus (swine flu). Wilson Middle School, originally schedule to be closed until May 11, will also remain closed until May 18.

The two-week closures are based on U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommendations because children are likely to be infectious for about 7–10 days after the onset of illness.

Residents are advised to take a few preventative measures to protect themselves against this respiratory disease.

Collin County Health Care Services (CCHCS) is working closely with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to provide guidance for the public and health providers.

For Collin County buildings, our Facilities Management staff is taking extra precautions in sanitizing public, employee and common areas to help lessen the spread of Swine Flu Housekeeping personnel will clean all areas with a disinfecting solution several times during the work day, as well after their regular hours routine.

Collin County Epidemiology, Health Department, and Homeland Security staff members will continue to provide updates and guidelines for health care providers, and school administrators. We will continue to update this page daily until public health concerns over Swine Flu subside.

read more....

As of late Friday afternoon, May 1, 2009, this is the count on Swine Influenza from Collin County’s health authority:

Confirmed Cases: 1

Probable Cases: 3

Schools Closed: 1

Health authorities confirmed the first local case of Swine Flu, a 14-year-old Plano middle school student, after test results were verified by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control earlier today.

According to Collin County Health Care Services and the Plano Health Authority a student at Wilson Middle School is the only confirmed case of H1N1? Influenza, with two more “probable” cases in the county under investigation by health authorities.

Residents are advised to take a few preventative measures to protect themselves against this respiratory disease.

Collin County Health Care Services (CCHCS) is working closely with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to provide guidance for the public and health providers.

For Collin County buildings, our Facilities Management staff is taking extra precautions in sanitizing public, employee and common areas to help lessen the spread of Swine Flu Housekeeping personnel will clean all areas with a disinfecting solution several times during the work day, as well after their regular hours routine.

Collin County Epidemiology, Health Department, and Homeland Security staff members will continue to provide updates and guidelines for health care providers, and school administrators. We will continue to update this page daily until public health concerns over Swine Flu subside.

Read more on the Collin County Swine Flu website.....

Update to the update: May 3, 2009 8:19 PM

The Dallas Morning News reports that two more Plano ISD schools will close due to possible swine flu infections. Plano ISD officials announced Sunday that Barron Early Childhood School and Sigler Elementary School are closed until May 18.

The DMN's article also mentions two probable cases of swine flu at Thomas Hicks Elementary School in Frisco. Thomas Hicks Elementary is in the Lewisville ISD, which has already closed all its campuses.

See Plano ISD closes two more schools because of probable swine flu cases, The Dallas Morning News, May 3, 2009

Bill

Collin County Health Care Services
825 N. McDonald? St. Suite 130
McKinney?, Texas 75069
www.collincountytx.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2009
HEALTH ADVISORY: Swine Influenza

(McKINNEY, Texas) – No confirmed cases of swine influenza A virus have been reported in Collin County as of late Wednesday afternoon, April 29, 2009.

Epidemiologic investigations being conducted by Collin County Health Care Services (CCHCS) are ongoing. We are also diligently working with physicians throughout the county to respond to this ongoing public health concern.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the outbreak of disease in people caused by a new influenza virus of swine origin continues to grow in the United States and internationally. Today, CDC reports additional confirmed human infections, hospitalizations and the nation’s first fatality from this outbreak. The more recent illnesses and the reported death suggest that a pattern of more severe illness associated with this virus may be emerging in the U.S. (See Table below)

Some useful resources for persons who have questions regarding swine flu are as follows:

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has activated a hotline for people to call with questions about swine flu. The hotline is available from 7 am to 7 pm and can be reached by dialing 1-888-777-5320.

• The CDC can be reached by phone at 1-800-CDC-INFO, or by email at cdcinfo@cdc.gov
• For updates on Collin County’s website, please visit our News and Advisory link on the CCHCS web page at http://www.co.collin.tx.us/healthcare_services

To protect against becoming sick, take the following steps:

• Cover your cough!—Make sure to cough or sneeze into a tissue or sleeve to prevent the spread of germs
• Wash your hands!—Thorough hand washing with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs; Alcohol based hand sanitizers are also recommended when soap and water are not available
• Keep hands off!—Germs are easily spread from person to person or person to surfaces when you touch your eyes nose or mouth first
• Sick? Stay home!—Staying home from school or work when you are ill helps prevent the spread of illness

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
(As of April 29, 2009, 11 a.m. ET)

International Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
See: World Health Organization

April 30 5:45 PM UPDATE:

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
April 30, 2009

HEALTH ADVISORY: 1st Swine Flu case confirmed; two probable cases being investigated

(McKINNEY, Texas) – Health authorities confirmed the first local case of Swine Flu, a 14-year-old Plano middle school student, after test results were verified by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control earlier today.

According to Collin County Health Care Services and the Plano Health Authority a student at Wilson Middle School is the only confirmed case ofH1N1 Influenza, with two more “probable” cases in the county under investigation by health authorities.

For updates and more information on a local and national basis, please logon to www.collincountytx.gov.