Lincoln Board of Health
Meeting Minutes
May 6, 2009
PRESENT: Frederick Mansfield, M.D., Chairman
Arnold Weinberg, M.D.
Diane Haessler, R.N.
Elaine Carroll, Secretary
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The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. The minutes from the March 4, 2009 meeting were approved as written. The next scheduled meeting will be June 10, 2009.
Informal Discussion:
H1N1 (Swine) Flu – Maureen Richichi, School Nurse, came before the members to update them on what has been happening at the school regarding the Swine flu. She said that after the confirmed case of a student at the school complex, the school custodians scrubbed all surfaces over the weekend and an outside company came in to further clean the buildings. A letter went out to all the parents informing them of what was done. She said that the student had not been in the school after school vacation but the superintendent felt that cleaning the school would ease parent’s minds. She also went through the classes to reassure students and reinforce proper hygiene. The student’s family was asked to stay home, which they did and he has since returned to school. Dr.
Weinberg said that it was initially reported that there were 500 cases of Swine Flu in Mexico City with 160 deaths but even today there have been less than 30 deaths in people in their late teens and 30’s. He said that it appears that the elderly are not getting ill, which may be because they have some immunity. Dr. Weinberg said that this is unlike the 1918-1919 outbreak, which killed a lot of people. There was also a 1976 minor outbreak at Fort Dix where 100 people were ill and there was panic in the country because it was in the spring. Millions of people were given a vaccine and there were more cases of a reaction to the vaccine than the flu. The number of cases in the United States has increased. The outbreak is basically in the Northern Hemisphere and could spread to the Southern Hemisphere next. The 2 deaths have occurred in a woman who had lung and heart problems and a 23 month old from Mexico, who also had other medical
problems. Dr. Weinberg said that they are trying to keep people out of the emergency room and telling people to stay home if ill and call their doctor. The feeling is to not close schools, which would send students to the malls or gathering at each other’s houses but to stay home if feeling ill. Dr. Weinberg said that it is turning out to be relatively mild for healthy people and the H1N1 strain was in the last vaccine given. Dr. Weinberg said that hand washing is essential but wearing a face mask was not effective. He also said that the anti-virile effect of the sun would also help. There was a discussion about vaccinating school aged children. Maureen said that about half of them had been vaccinated this year.
Donelan’s Market – The members discussed the renovations at Donelan’s and the fact that there did not appear to be many people in the store during renovations. Stan Sosnicki has said that the necessary changes that he required of them had been done and he was satisfied that they had done everything according to the approved plan.
Communicable Disease Reports – The members reviewed the latest reports from the State and discussed the fact that deer ticks have already begun to show up.
East Middlesex Mosquito Control – Dr. Weinberg said that he has been attending the meetings for the East Middlesex Mosquito Control and will have a report for the members at the next meeting.
Bills Paid – Three bills were paid: Eliot Community Human Services in the amount of $1,250 (third quarter payment); Commonwealth of Mass., East Middlesex Mosquito Control in the amount of $2,500 (fourth quarter payment); Staples Credit Plan in the amount of $8.49 (for yellow paper for Haz. Waste notices).
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There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elaine M. Carroll
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