Current Information
Public Comment
INVITATION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Southeast Utah Health Department is accepting public comment for the following regulation for 30 days beginning June 21, 2021 and ending July 21, 2021.
The regulation will be adopted under the authority of the Southeast Utah Board of Health. It can be viewed on our website at www.seuhealth.com or the State’s Public Meeting Notice website, www.pmn.utah.gov under interlocal (under Government). It will also be available from the front desk clerks at each office in our district.
Public comment is open for 30 days and may be made directly to Orion Rogers, Environmental Health Director, at orogers@utah.gov or 435-259-5602.
Job
Openings
Administrative Clerk
Application
The Southeast Utah Health Department (SEUHD) is hiring an Administrative Clerk for the Moab office to perform clerical duties. The position is full-time (32 hours/week) Monday-Thursday with full benefits including State retirement. Starting wage is $15.00/hr. Graduation from high school plus two years of related experience and/or education is required.
DUTIES: Immunization clinic client data intake, process Vital Records certificates, receipting and depositing of money, obtain notary public certification and other duties as assigned.
Must have excellent customer service skills, be professional and courteous to arriving and departing clients and to all incoming calls.
Must be able to operate a personal computer and learn various software such as VISION, eClinical, Pelorus, and software related to Word, spreadsheets, etc. Ability to communicate effectively both with oral and written material, highly organized, and develop effective working relationships with co-workers and the public. Periodic exposure to communicable diseases. Mental application utilizing memory for details, emotional stability, and creative problem solving.
Drug test and background check is required. Must be able to verify work eligibility through the Federal E-Verify System and have a valid Utah driver’s license and a good driving record. Please send your application, resume and cover letter to SEUHD, P.O. Box 800, Price, UT 84501, Attention Delia or email to: dpaletta@utah.gov Contact: Delia 435-636-1152.
Open until filled.
Health Educator
The Southeast Utah Health Department is hiring a Health Educator to perform complex public contract work by designing and conducting community health education programs. Health Educator will be responsible for the development and implementation of prevention-oriented public health education programs including tobacco prevention education and cessation, intentional and unintentional injury prevention, diabetes, physical activity, nutrition and obesity, chronic disease prevention and Opioid Prevention.
DUTIES:
Prevention Education: Develop and present effective health education on smoking and smokeless tobacco use, nutrition, physical activity, self-esteem, injury prevention, health screenings, and early detection of health problems.
Smoking Cessation: Provide smoking cessation programs in schools and the community using current cession methodologies.
Injury Prevention: Develop and implement health education programs to reduce the incidence of intentional and unintentional injuries.
Diabetes: Work with local providers to refer to diabetes education classes. Give instructions related to diabetes health.
Must be a non-smoker and non-tobacco user. Position will be based out of our Moab office. Must be available for periodic evening and weekend presentations and activities; be able to carry audio-visual equipment and educational materials; be available for occasional overnight travel. Work environment will consist of offices, schools, stores, health fairs, public meeting places, etc.
STATUS: Full-Time (32 hours/week) with benefits.
WAGES: $16-18/hour depending on experience.
EDUCATION: Graduation from a college or university with a degree in Public Health Education, Community Health Education, Public Health, LifeStyle Management, or a closely related field is preferred. Must be familiar with Microsoft Office programs.
Drug test and background check is required. Must be able to verify work eligibility through the Federal E-Verify System and have a valid Utah driver’s license and a good driving record. Please send your application AND resume to SEUHD, P.O. Box 800, Price, UT 84501, Attention Delia or email to: dpaletta@utah.gov Contact: Delia 435-636-1152.
Open until filled.
Mosquitoes
West Nile Virus Positive
For Immediate Release
September 8, 2020
Grand County, UT
West Nile virus has been found in a mosquito trap near the North end of Moab. Please take extra precautions while outdoors by using mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and making sure to have good window screens or use a screened tent if sleeping outside.
If a person is infected by West Nile virus, the risk of serious disease is low. Most of those affected will have a mild to severe flu-like illness with muscle aches, fever, rash, and headache that usually lasts a few days but can last months. Less than one in a hundred will get meningitis or encephalitis. Those at greatest risk of serious disease are those with weakened immune systems, diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease. The elderly are at greatest risk for severe complications.
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Prevention
Although not all mosquitoes carry disease, people should avoid mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and long pants that are brightly colored. Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients DEET: Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and Icaridin outside the US), IR3535, Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), Para-menthane-diol (PMD), 2-undecanone. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women. It is especially important to prevent mosquito bites by having good window screens or by using a screened tent if sleeping outside. Additionally, drain all the standing water around your property, keep roof gutters clear of debris, ensure that all door and window screens are in good repair, and keep weeds and grass cut short.
Algal
Blooms
Scofield Reservoir - June 16, 2021
Algal Bloom Confirmed at Scofield Reservoir
Recreators asked to take steps to protect themselves while recreating on the water
Scofield, Utah – Health officials have confirmed a cyanobacteria bloom, or harmful algal bloom, at Scofield Reservoir. Residents visiting Scofield Reservoir are asked to follow all posted warnings.
The SEUHD encourages everyone recreating at or on Scofield reservoir to be alert to the signs of a harmful algal bloom and avoid those areas as much as possible.
Initial sample results indicate the presence of microcystis algae, which is known to make toxins. There is not currently any evidence of toxins in the water.
ABOUT HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS
Harmful algal blooms appear when stagnant, nutrient-rich water warms up in the summer and becomes the ideal breeding ground for cyanobacteria — commonly known as blue-green algae. Under these circumstances, bacteria can reproduce quickly, and begin to produce cyanotoxins that most commonly cause skin irritation and gastrointestinal illnesses, although some toxins can cause liver, neurological or respiratory problems.
Even in the absence of these toxins, the cyanobacteria can cause gastrointestinal distress and skin irritation. These blooms can also pose serious health risks to pets, and livestock.
Take Steps to Protect Water Recreation
Utah’s waters offer unparalleled recreational opportunities and are generally safe. Water recreators, however, can take a few simple steps to protect themselves, their families, and their pets while enjoying Utah’s waters:
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Visit habs.utah.gov before heading out to check water conditions
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Follow all posted warnings
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Don’t swallow water when swimming
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Avoid areas of scum when boating
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Wash hands with clean water before eating or preparing food
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When fishing, clean fish well and discard the guts
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Don’t let pets drink from scummy water
Recognize the Signs of a Bloom
Because cyanobacteria blooms can appear quickly — sometimes in hours — and shift locations based on weather conditions, water recreators are asked to avoid:
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Water that resembles spilled paint, antifreeze, or grass clippings
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Surface scum or film
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Discolored or streaking water
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Green globs on or below the surface of the water
For concerns about possible human exposure, call Utah Poison Control at 800-222-1222, or your physician. For concerns about possible animal exposure, contact a local veterinarian. For concerns about possible livestock exposure, contact the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food at 801-538- 7100. To learn more about harmful algal blooms, or to report a bloom, visit habs.utah.gov.
About Algal Blooms
Harmful algal blooms occur when normally occurring cyanobacteria in the water multiply quickly to form visible colonies or blooms. These blooms sometimes produce potent cyanotoxins that pose serious health risks to humans and animals.
Although most algal blooms are not toxic, some types of cyanobacteria produce nerve or liver toxins. Toxicity is hard to predict in part because a single species of algae can have both toxic and non-toxic strains, and a bloom that tests non-toxic one day can be toxic the next.
Note: The HABs monitoring season ended on October 31, 2019. Warning Advisories are being removed from waterbodies. The Utah Department of Health and local health departments have determined that the health risk from HABs from primary contact recreation drops with the onset of colder temperatures.
The close of the monitoring season and removal of advisories doesn’t mean HABs are no longer present. HABs can persist throughout the fall and winter and can pose a potential threat to humans and pets. It’s important to recognize the signs of a bloom and take appropriate precautions. Recreators are advised to stay out of the water and avoid any contact with water or scum if they suspect a harmful algal bloom. Hunters and fishers should clean waterfowl and fish well and discard all guts.
Carbon
County
Carbon County Sheriffs Office
Address:
240 W. Main St.
Price, UT 84501
Phone:
435-636-3251
Emery
County
Emery County Sheriffs Office
Address:
1850 N. 550 W.
Castle Dale, UT 84513
Phone:
435-381-2404
Grand
County
Grand County Sheriffs Office
Address:
25 S. 100 E.
Moab, UT 84532
Phone:
435-259-8115