Thursday, March 20, 2008
Surfer Staph?
Of lately, some concerns have been raised regarding recent infections surfers have been contracting in the Seaside area. Rumors of contaminated water and surfers hospitalized with staph and MRSA cases have left some folks surfing for answers and raising more questions. So what's going on here? I checked in with one Seaside affected surfer (foot pictured with lanced staph infection) and the local health and human services to find out more. Here's what I find out:
Currently, the health department has received very limited information regarding the recent infections (I was the first person to contact). This is in part due the the fact the these cases aren't necessarily "reportable" from an epidemiology perspective. Many doctors which see these cases do not culture the infections, so the type of staph infection (MRSA being an antibiotic- resistant strain and one of the worst) isn't reported to the health department. With limited information to link cases, it's extremely difficult to categorize this as an "outbreak", and at this point it's probably safest to say that this could have come from just about anywhere and is not an "epidemic" or "outbreak". If you or someone you know has had a recent infection, they themselves can report this to the health department and find out more information:
Clatsop County Health and Human Services 820 Exchange St, #100 Astoria, OR 97103 (503)325-8500. Additionally, attached below is a background fact sheet on staph and MRSA from the Hawaii Department of Health:
mrsa%5B1%5D.pdf
Currently, the health department has received very limited information regarding the recent infections (I was the first person to contact). This is in part due the the fact the these cases aren't necessarily "reportable" from an epidemiology perspective. Many doctors which see these cases do not culture the infections, so the type of staph infection (MRSA being an antibiotic- resistant strain and one of the worst) isn't reported to the health department. With limited information to link cases, it's extremely difficult to categorize this as an "outbreak", and at this point it's probably safest to say that this could have come from just about anywhere and is not an "epidemic" or "outbreak". If you or someone you know has had a recent infection, they themselves can report this to the health department and find out more information:
Clatsop County Health and Human Services 820 Exchange St, #100 Astoria, OR 97103 (503)325-8500. Additionally, attached below is a background fact sheet on staph and MRSA from the Hawaii Department of Health:
mrsa%5B1%5D.pdf
Monday, February 11, 2008
Surfrider Portland launches Astoria BWTF
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This fall the Surfrider Foundation Portland chapter moved their Blue Water Task Force to Astoria High School's Applied Science Center. Over the course of the first semester, Astoria High science teacher Tim Roth worked to get the lab up and running and develop the program into his cellular biology unit's curriculum. With the assistance of local volunteers, Astoria high school students will be running water quality samples for some of the most popular recreational beaches from Oswald West to Astoria. Volunteers are needed to help pick up samples! Water sampling is a fun and easy way to volunteer. Samples are collected on Monday mornings and dropped off at Cold Water Surf Shop by Noon. Contact and further volunteer information can be found at: http://www.surfrider.org/oregon/volunteers.html#PORTLAND. Major kudos to Mark "Finger" Taylor and Cold Water Surf for this great partnership!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
LNG Terminal in Astoria?
Surfrider volunteers on the north coast are working to oppose development of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal, pipeline, and other facilities within the Columbia River Estuary. There are currently four different proposals to establish import terminals. The proposed sites include Bradwood Landing, located on the Oregon side of the Columbia River at approximately River Mile 38 (see photo); Tansy Point, within the City of Warrenton, Oregon; and the east and west banks of the Skipanon River mouth, also within the City of Warrenton. A number of concerns about LNG have been raised including threats to: water quality, shoreline access, public safety, local economics, salmon populations, etc. Our last chance to influence the Clatsop County Planning Commission on the Bradwood Landing proposal is October 22, 2007. To read comments submitted to Clatsop County by local activists, please see first comment to this post. If you are interested in getting involved in this campaign contact cplybon@surfrider.org. For more info on the proposed project see http://www.co.clatsop.or.us/index.aspWednesday, May 23, 2007
Good News from Cannon Beach
The City of Cannon Beach has decided not to waive land use regulations that protect Oregon's ocean beaches from development. On July 31, a beachfront property owner in Cannon Beach filed a Measure 37 claim to construct a motel on top of beach sand dunes long protected by the Oregon Beach Bill of 1967. While parts of the claim were accepted, the city ruled against authorizing development west of the vegation line, thus preventing construction on top of the beach. Hopefully, this decision will set a precedent for rejection of similar Measure 37 claims that threaten the Oregon Beach Bill of 1967. Thanks to our north coast volunteers who submitted written comments and/ or provided pro bono legal support. You rock!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Northern Coast Activist Network Blog Launched
Surfrider Oregon is launching a blog for northern coast activist coordination.
