KCHD

The Kent County Health Department works to prevent disease, prolong life, and promote health across West Michigan.

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A nursing job with weekends off? Plot twist.

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Protect yourself from Lyme disease this season:

🕷️Use insect repellent with 10-35% DEET
🕷️ Wear long sleeves and pants in wooded or grassy areas
🕷️ Check yourself, children, and pets for ticks after spending time outdoors
🕷️ Remove any ticks promptly with tweezers

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Consuming thousands of mosquitoes a night, bats play an important role in our ecosystem - but they can also carry rabies.

It’s important to know what to do if one gets inside your home. To learn more, read our full press release here: https://t.co/L3dl8rz3SZ

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Swimsuit color is never a substitute for supervision, but it can help when seconds matter.

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In the May edition of our newsletter, released the second Wednesday of every month, learn more about:

➡️ Hantavirus
➡️ Local Lyme disease trends
➡️ Youth substance-use prevention
➡️ Water safety
➡️ Public health nursing

Read it by visiting 🔗 https://t.co/f8DjGHwx1c

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Walking through Michigan this time of year without EPA-approved insect repellent or sunscreen?

Might as well walk into Mordor without lembas bread or mithril.

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Most contaminants in water have no taste, color or smell. The only way you might know if you have a problem is to test your drinking water.

Peep the recommended schedule below! 🥤

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Over the past 50 years, vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives – not by accident, but because ordinary people made the decision to protect themselves, their children, and their communities from diseases like measles, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, and rotavirus.

[KCHD @KCHD]

In Kent County, Lyme disease cases have increased nearly 8x in the past five years, rising from 30 cases in 2020 to 237 in 2025.

A few simple steps can help protect you and your loved ones:

➡️ Check for ticks after spending time outdoors
➡️ Shower soon after coming inside

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Friendly reminder to empty any standing water that may have collected in things around the yard, and to check yourself (kids and pets, too) for ticks after spending time outdoors! ☔

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Here on Earth, protecting people and the environment goes hand in hand.

From tracking diseases to testing soil and water, our work helps keep communities healthy in more ways than you might expect.

More in our newsletter🔗 https://t.co/f8DjGHwx1c

Image: NASA/Reid Wiseman

[KCHD @KCHD]

Check your freezer for these dinosaur chicken nuggets, which may be contaminated with lead.

The batch was shipped to Walmart with a "best if used by" date of Feb. 10, 2027, a "lot code" of 0416DPO1215, and an "establishment number" of P44164.

🔗 https://t.co/Cqb3IrIOs3

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Blacklegged ticks (the ones that carry Lyme disease) are most active from March to November in Michigan.

That's why on Wednesdays (and Mondays and basically any day above freezing) we wear EPA-approved insect repellent with 10-35% DEET.

[KCHD @KCHD]

As spring travel picks up, so does the risk of #measles exposure. ✈️

We can all help prevent the spread:

✔ Check your family's immunization status
✔ Be fully vaccinated 2 weeks before travel

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Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been detected in a commercial poultry flock from Kent County. Follow the link below to read more:

🔗https://t.co/VJrDrUZTUk

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📧 Inside this month’s newsletter: an update on a pediatric flu death in Kent County, measles prevention for spring travel, tips for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day safely, a look at the “New Pyramid,” and more!

Read at 🔗 https://t.co/f8DjGHwx1c

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Throughout National Nutrition Month (March), we’ll share tips on:

🍎 Accessing healthy foods in our community
🍎 Building balanced meals into daily routines
🍎 Navigating nutrition info with confidence

More resources 🔗 https://t.co/859dbhJCq5

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🌼REMINDER: Daylight saving time begins this weekend on Sunday, March 8 — when the clocks "spring" forward and we "lose" an hour of sleep.

To minimize the impact on your mind and body, start shifting your bedtime 15 to 20 minutes earlier these next few days. #sleep #health

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Yesterday, we had the honor of celebrating the remarkable career and retirement of Joann Hoganson after nearly 20 years of dedicated service as our Community Wellness Division Director. 💙

Thank you Joann for your lasting impact and we wish you all the best in your next chapter.

[KCHD @KCHD]

This American Heart Month, we’re highlighting our WISEWOMAN program 🩵

Ready to take the next step towards a healthy heart?

Email 📧 [email protected] or call us 📲 at 616-632-7294 to enroll!