Alice Williams-Root

What is known is that 5 to 10 new HIV continue to be reported annually in Sutter County, said Alice Williams-Root, a nurse with the Sutter County Health Department who works with Westlake.

More than 30 people have been recommended for treatment with preventive medicine after it was announced Tuesday that a Sutter County woman is believed to have the potentially fatal meningococcal disease, said Alice Williams-Root, a county public health nurse and communicable disease controller. Old train tracks being uprooted John Walker loves collecting and studying old photographs of railways to fuel his fascination with trains.

A few good men asked to toe the South line

More than 30 people have been recommended for treatment with preventive medicine after it was announced Tuesday that a Sutter County woman is believed to have the potentially fatal meningococcal disease, said Alice Williams-Root, a county public health nurse and communicable disease controller. Old train tracks being uprooted John Walker loves collecting and studying old photographs of railways to fuel his fascination with trains.

A few good men asked to toe the South line

More than 30 people have been recommended for treatment with preventive medicine after it was announced Tuesday that a Sutter County woman is believed to have the potentially fatal meningococcal disease, said Alice Williams-Root, a county public health nurse and communicable disease controller.

Alice Williams-Root, Sutter County public health nurse and Collaborative member, described the challenges in knowing just how many people have HCV given California's poor surveillance system.The system requires-but does not enforce-physician reporting of diagnosed cases.She highlighted ongoing work to improve the system, noting that the California Conference of Local Health Officers is reviewing recommendations to make HCV laboratory reporting mandatory.

As a precaution , those who have had close contact , such as those who might have shared eating utensils with the woman , should consult their primary care physician to determine whether they need preventive medication , said Alice Williams-Root , communicable disease controller at the Health Department.

The name of the woman could not be released due to confidentiality regulations , Williams-Root said.

The woman was admitted into Rideout Memorial Hospital on Monday with acute symptoms.The results were presumptively confirmed at the hospital lab Tuesday afternoon , and specimens will be forwarded to the state Department of Health Services Public Health Laboratory for final confirmation , said Williams-Root.

We don't feel that the public in general is at risk and only a small number at the function will be at risk , said Williams-Root , explaining that the disease is not spread easily.We know there will be widespread concern and questions.We wanted to get that information out so people know we're responding to it , investigating it and we're taking an active approach , but it's not a panic situation..

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The state Department of Health Services suggested the county Health Department recommend that those who have had close contact be treated , Williams-Root said.A preliminary estimate was that about 10 or 20 people at most may be truly at risk and need preventive medication , she added.

The Health Department is doing an investigation and expects to contact those who are considered at risk , Williams-Root said.The department is encouraging those who have questions or concerns to consult with their physician or the department.

It is advised that anyone who attended the church social and exhibits the following symptoms should contact their family physician immediately : high fever , headache , stiff neck , nausea/vomiting , sensitivity to bright light , confusion , sleepiness and rash , according to a press release issued by the Sutter County Human Services Department.

Those who do not have a medical provider should contact the health department in their county of residence.

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It cannot be contracted by just sitting next to someone or by hugging , only by saliva or respiratory secretions , said Williams-Root.

Alice Williams-Root, PHN, MCAH Director P.O. Box 1510 (mailing address)Yuba City, CA 95992 1445 Veteran's Memorial CircleYuba City, CA 95993 (street address)(530) 822-7215 (general information)(530) 822-7215 ext. 227 (Williams-Rootl)

Alice Williams-Root RN, PHNE-mail: awilliamsroot@co.sutter.ca.us

Meningitis generally attacks younger people , normally between the ages of 2 and 18 , said Alice Williams-Root , communicable disease coordinator for Sutter County Health Services.

Only one of every 100 , 000 American residents every year suffer from Invasive Meningococcal Infection , or meningitis , she said.The infection usually attacks the spinal cord or the brain , and sometimes the blood.

Williams-Root said she didn't know whether the meningitis contracted by Norris is different from the strain diagnosed in two teen-agers who died recently in Folsom.

This in some ways tends to attack younger , healthier people , Williams-Root said.We're not quite sure why that is..

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The bacterium is carried in liquid droplets , like saliva , Williams-Root said.Thus , it can be spread when youths drink from one another's cups , or even when speaking closely , face-to-face.

If your son and my son were to drink from the same cup , and my son had meningitis , it would be highly unlikely that the other would attract an infection , said Amerjit Bhattal , public health nurse with Sutter County's immunization program.

Symptoms include severe headache , fever , vomiting and a stiff neck.