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LISBON -- The Columbiana County Health District is urging residents who aren't vaccinated for measles to get vaccinated.
"Vaccination and herd immunity does exist and it does save lives," board member Dr. Kimberly Jackson said.
Health Services Administrator Amanda Amato reported during a recent county health board meeting that there are no cases of measles in Columbiana County or surrounding counties, but there are three cases in the state of Ohio.
The health district has the vaccine, which is administered in two parts and has a 97 percent protection rate against measles. Amato was sending out information to local doctor offices.
She also reported on COVID numbers, noting that they're nearly identical to last February's total, with 114 this year from Feb. 1 to Feb. 21 and 115 last year for the same time period.
For the flu, Amato said at this time last year there were zero hospitalizations and this year there have been six hospitalizations.
The health district has both the COVID and flu vaccines available, along with test kits for COVID. Call for an appointment at 330-424-0272.
In other business, Environmental Director Laura Fauss noted that it's been one year since the water sampling started in East Palestine in the wake of the train derailment and chemical fire.
Out of 1,200 samples taken, there were 104 detections, but only four exceeding limits and none were connected to the train disaster.
Health board member Linda Garwood asked how long the department would be collecting water samples in the East Palestine area, but Fauss said at this point, she doesn't know yet. For now, they'll keep collecting samples.