Spring is when the North Shore Health Department starts to see an increase in reports of animal bites to humans.  People may get rabies when they are bitten by an animal that is sick with the disease. Although local residents get their pets immunized against rabies, in Wisconsin, skunks and bats are the most likely animals to carry the rabies virus.  From 2005-2010, 120 bats tested positive for rabies in Wisconsin.  Rabies also has occurred in our state in dogs, cats, foxes, raccoons and livestock. In 2009 and 2010, Bayside and Fox Point residents submitted five animals to the health …

As part of the annual report, we total the cases of reportable communicable diseases in our five community service area.  Wisconsin requires health care providers to report certain diseases such as hepatitis, diarrheal illnesses, sexually transmitted infections, pertussis (whooping cough), invasive streptococcal infections, and tuberculosis, among others. Health care providers reported 297 cases of diseases.  In addition to the reportable diseases, there were 19 animal bites and 77 cases of head lice.  Fox Point and Bayside had 47 cases of reportable diseases in 2010. Public health nurses …

Brad Simerly, sanitarian for the North Shore Environmental Health Consortium, has been busy in all six participating communities, including Bayside and Fox Point, since he came to the job in December. Brad remarked, “Bayside and Fox Point is a very happening area.  There are lots of choices for people, from burritos to a dog wash, to a children’s play area.” Fox Point has seven swimming pools, 17 restaurants, and nine retail food stores which are licensed and inspected by the health department.  Bayside has two swimming pools, three restaurants and three retail food stores. Since January, …