Board of Health discusses measles outbreak

The Whitman County public health officer updated the Whitman County Board of Health on Monday about preparation in the event measles were to come to eastern Washington.

Brad Bowman, Whitman County health officer, said if a measles outbreak were to happen in Whitman County, adult vaccines would be hard to find.

He said through private insurance, pharmacies have vaccines in stock, but through the state for anyone not insured, it can be a hang up.

"It's going to be a zero to 60 kind of thing, if it does happen here," Bowman said. "We're trying to get ahead the best we can."

He said there has not been a county in the state that has had a great solution.

Bowman said the health department is keeping in touch with community providers to best prepare them, and to get the latest information on the outbreak in western Washington.

"A small community where you will have a limited number of staff and nurses, that can be a big impact," he said.

Chris Skidmore, Whitman County environmental health specialist, also gave a report to the board about water system funding and health inspections.

Skidmore said group B water systems, those with fewer than 15 service connections and fewer than 25 people per day, do not have a high chance for funding.

There was $20,000 proposed for the program, Skidmore said.

"I haven't been on board with this," he said. "There's some liability considerations that are rather large that we could be taking on."

Skidmore said it would be better for a state engineer to inspect the plans for the water system rather than a local.

There were quite a few group B water systems installed several years ago and mostly went in small churches, he said.

Skidmore said earlier this year the health department had to shut down the Pullman taco truck, Taqueria Las Torres, due to health issues.

He said the department had them go through some compliance changes, they fixed the issues and they're back up and running now.

"I'm hoping we don't have any more issues with them."

The next Board of Health meeting is on July 15.