Local health concerns postpone cleansing efforts
EL CENTRO — Taking Back Main Street, a community cleanup program was postponed Saturday owing to public safety concerns.
The street sweeping initiative was organized by Bryan Walker, owner of Shaolin Kung Fu Five Animals martial arts school. He was notified by El Centro city staff that as a precautionary measure, since the recent Hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego and Los Angeles, it is prudent to delay clean-up of downtown streets and alleys.
“It makes sense,” said Walker. “We don’t want to get anybody infected. Until residents have a chance to get vaccinated, we don’t want to take a risk.”
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease caused by a virus spread person-to-person that can result from not washing hands after using the restroom.
As recently reported in the Press, the Imperial County Public Health Department is investigating a suspected Hepatitis A case locally that could be linked to the San Diego outbreak.
Local officials stressed the case could not be confirmed, yet an individual suspected of carrying the disease is being treated at a local facility. ICPHD described the individual as a middle-aged homeless person who arrived from San Diego last week. Stephen Munday, county health officer, remarked ICPHD staff started vaccinating individuals who may have been exposed to prevent the spread of Hepatitis A in Imperial County.
Current Efforts of ICPHD
As of Saturday, there is still no positive confirmation on the suspected case investigated here, noted Maria Peinado, ICPHD public information officer. The department is sharing information with partner agencies that have contact with the homeless. On Wednesday, ICPHD had a vaccination event in Niland in partnership with county Behavioral Health Services and did 40 vaccinations.
ICPHD is getting calls from shelters about where to access the vaccine. The department has limited quantities of vaccines, but is providing them at vaccination-specific events. Vaccines can also be received at pharmacies, community clinics and health care providers.
Organizations looking for vaccines for staff should call their occupational health care provider for more information. Homeless shelters looking for vaccines for their residents should contact the department’s infectious disease supervisor. The department has posted the information to its Facebook page.
ICPHD has monitored the situation since the first reported outbreak in San Diego, and will continue to provide immunizations to Imperial County’s at-risk individuals while also monitoring the homeless.
Retailer Initiative
During a merchant led tour of downtown in June, Walker addressed city officials, informing them he was coordinating with Central Union High School and Southwest High School to recruit students needing community service hours for graduation to help sweep downtown streets.
“I was all set with trash containers and brooms,” said Walker. “I was going to do this last month, but I thought to wait until kids settled back into school. City staff will let me know when it’s appropriate to reschedule a clean-up.”
A few from Southwest arrived early Saturday eager to pitch in. Julissa Rascon, mother of Joshua Andres, an eighth grader at Wilson Jr. High School also appeared.
“We’re disappointed because it was supposed to be every third Saturday and Joshua could have completed his community hours doing this,” said Rascon. “But I understand. I’ve been reading about Hepatitis A.” Added Joshua, “I had to get up early Saturday, but I can see we need to stay safe.”
The Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for anyone who has had close contact with the homeless. ICPHD has already provided free vaccinations in El Centro and Calexico. Vaccinations can still be effective within two weeks of exposure, they noted.
Other precautionary measures recommended are: persons should use their own towels, eating utensils and toothbrushes, avoid sharing food, drink or cigarettes, wash hands with soap and water before preparing food, after using a restroom and avoid sexual contact with infected individuals.
Walker said he will continue to inform the public of the clean-up. “We’re shooting for the third Saturday in October, he said. “I’ll keep posting on Facebook.”