Mattawa teen pregnancy high - Health District

EPHRATA - The Grant County Health District heard a report at its December meeting that the incidence of teen pregnancy in the county is "very high," with highest rates in Mattawa and Soap Lake.

The Health District's Shawta Sackett also reported that a grant request for teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases curriculum in schools has been written. The grant will be geared toward 6th-12th grade levels to increase teen knowledge in these areas.

"We should get a reply by the middle of January," she said.

Sackett said Grant County county ranked 5th in the state in 2010 in teen pregnancy rate.

In other public health issues, the Health District's Dr. Alexander Brzezny reported that the "very rare" rat bite fever has sprung up with seven cases in the Chelan-Douglas Health District. One of them involves a Grant County resident.

Rat bite fever is caused when an individual is bitten by a rat that carries disease in the mouth. Symptoms are similar to Scarlett fever, which has a quick onset with rash.

Rat bite fever is treated with antibiotics. The death rate is 10 percent when not treated.

Seasonal cases are increasing in types A and B influenza. Because the season has started earlier, it suggests that the season will last longer, Brzezny said, and the vaccine in use has appeared to match very well with the strain being seen.

Four new Pertussis (whooping cough) cases have been reported recently. One involves a 5-year-old from Mattawa who was fully vaccinated.

More than 70 percent of the cases have been in fully vaccinated individuals. This indicates that changes need to be made in the recommendations, Brzezny said.