August 1, 2023
The Community Health Corner
Submitted by Stephanie Gutierrez
The National Extension Framework for Health Equity and Well-being recommends using community development strategies along with health literacy programs to ensure that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. The following resources help us improve well-being for all and achieve Healthy Kansas 2030 and Healthy People 2030 objectives.
Protect Yourself and Your Family from Mosquito Bites this Summer: Mosquitoes are common, flying insects that live in most parts of the world. There are over 3,700 known types of mosquitoes that can be found worldwide. Not all mosquitoes bite people or animals; however, some do, and bite reactions can include itching and swelling. Some mosquitoes can also be vectors that spread pathogens such as viruses and parasites to people and animals. Visit the CDC’s Mosquito Toolkit for ways to prevent mosquito bites and illnesses.
National Immunization Awareness Month: August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). Throughout this month, encourage those in your community to catch up on routine vaccinations by sharing the importance of following recommended immunization schedules throughout the lifetime. Visit the Immunize Kansas Coalition website for tools and resources such as social media toolkits, learning modules and vaccination schedules.
Tick Bite-Associated Meat Allergy: Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), also known as the red-meat allergy or the tick bite meat allergy. It is an emerging and potentially life-threatening allergic condition associated with tick bites. Evidence suggests that AGS is primarily associated with the bite of a lone star tick in the United States, but other kinds of ticks have not been ruled out. The CDC reports that between 2010 and 2022, there were more than 110,000 suspected cases of alpha-gal syndrome identified, with most occurring in the South, East, and Central United States. Please visit the CDC’s website to learn more about AGS, other tickborne diseases, and tick bite prevention.
For more information, contact Elaine Johannes, ejohanne@ksu.edu; and Stephanie Gutierrez, smgutier@k-state.edu.