District Advisory Council Meeting Set for March 20

The Clermont County General Health District Advisory Council will hold its annual meeting at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in the conference room of the Engineer’s Office, 2381 Clermont Center Drive. This meeting is held each year under the provisions contained in Section 3709.03 of the Ohio Revised Code. Agenda items include:

  • Appointing a Board of Health Member
  • City of Milford’s health services contract for 2026
  • 2026 Public Health Budget
  • Presentation of  Clermont County Public Health’s 2024 Annual Report

The District Advisory Council is composed of the chairperson of each township, the mayor of each village, and the president of the Board of County Commissioners. All Township Trustees, Village Mayors, Vice Mayors, Council Members, and the entire Board of County Commissioners are invited to attend the meeting to hear about Clermont County Public Health’s accomplishments in 2024 and directions for 2025 and beyond.

For more information on how to become a Board of Health member or more information about the District Advisory Council, visit https://ccphohio.org/dac/.

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Public Hearing – Local Air Pollution Control Regulations

Image of a persons hand writing the words Public Notice in black ink on a white background

August 22, 2024

Public Notice

This notice is to inform all interested parties of the proposed revisions of the Local Air Pollution Control Regulations being considered by the Clermont County Board of Health.  A public hearing will be held at the Public Health Office, 2275 Bauer Road, Batavia, OH 45103 at 3:30pm on September 11, 2024. The proposed revisions of the Local Air Pollution Control Regulations are as follows: Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3704 and Ohio Administrative Code 3745-14 through 3745-24, 3745-31, 3745-73, 3745-76, 3745-77 through 80, 3745-100 through 104, 3745-107, and 3745-110-114 are hereby incorporated by reference as the Clermont County Health District Local Air Pollution Control Regulations. Proposed revisions will be effective November 1, 2024. If you would like to provide written comments, please submit them to ccph@clermontcountyohio.gov prior to that date.  If you have questions, please contact (513)732-7499.

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Clermont County Public Health investigating a potential case of measles

February 20, 2024

BATAVIA, Ohio – Clermont County Public Health is investigating a potential case of measles in the county. Public Health is working with the individual and their healthcare provider to gather more information.

“We want to be extra cautious and make sure our residents know the signs and symptoms and how to protect themselves from measles,” said Health Commissioner Julianne Nesbit. “The best thing you can do is to stay up to date on your vaccines and stay home when you’re sick.”

Measles has been present internationally and in the U.S. in 2024, including in Ohio.

Measles is a highly contagious virus. It can spread from one person to another by coughing or sneezing. The virus can live for up to two hours in the air after an infected person leaves the area and can infect other people who breathe the contaminated air or touch infected surfaces.

People infected with measles can spread the virus to others before showing symptoms. Symptoms usually appear 7-14 days after a person comes in contact with the virus.

Measles symptoms include:

  • rash (typically lasts 5-6 days)
  • high fever (up to 104°F or higher)
  • runny nose
  • red, watery eyes

You are considered protected against measles if:

  • you were born before 1957
  • you have already had measles
  • you have had two doses of the measles (MMR) vaccine

The MMR vaccine is a routine vaccine that requires two doses. Children can get their first dose at 12 months and typically get their second dose between 4 and 6 years old. If you have received two doses of the MMR vaccine for measles, your chances of getting it are very low. After two doses, the vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles.

If you don’t know whether or not you’re protected, ask your healthcare provider for your vaccination record.  

Public Health does not provide testing or treatment for measles. If you have symptoms, stay home, avoid contact with others, and call your healthcare provider. Do not show up in the waiting room without contacting the staff first, in case you are contagious.

For more information about measles, visit https://www.cdc.gov/measles/

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Public Health partners with Grant Career Center to employ career tech student

BATAVIA, OH – Clermont County Public Health and Grant Career Center are partnering to employ a career tech student. The idea for the partnership came after Amanda Myers, Operations Manager with Clermont County Public Health, attended a workshop at Grant last summer about employing career tech students. “I had no idea that Ohio’s minor labor laws allowed career tech students to enter the workplace similar to an adult,” said Myers. “I knew this was something we could use to help support our staffing needs.”

Brandon Hoeppner, the Information and Technology Instructor at Grant Career Center, said, “When I saw the job posting, I knew I had a student that would be a great fit, so I called Amanda.” The student, Annabelle Terrell, followed the same applicant and interview process as other candidates and was chosen to fill the position and started working for Clermont County Public Health in August.

The partnership allows the student to gain valuable work experience while still attending school.

Terrell is a part-time office specialist in Public Health’s permit central office. When she’s not answering phones and helping customers, she’s in school.

“My experience so far with the work-based learning program has been amazing,” said Terrell. “I’ve learned so many new things and finally know my plans after high school.” She added, “My coworkers are amazing, and it’s a supportive workplace. I want to continue working in a government position and climb the ladder.”

Grant Career Center held a panel discussion at Grant Career Center recently and invited Ms. Myers to attend. “It has been a great partnership that benefits our agency, Grant Career Center, and our student-employee,” said Myers.

Myers recommends the program to other employers looking to fill open positions and encourages them to call Chad Graybill, Work Based Learning Coordinator at Grant Career Center, at 513-734-6222.

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Annabelle Terrell is a student at Grant Career Center and works part-time for Clermont County Public Health as part of Grant’s Career Tech Program.

Clermont County Overdose Awareness Day

Clermont County Public Health is hosting an Overdose Awareness Day on Thursday, August 31, from 5-8 p.m. at Batavia Township Park (1535 Clough Pike, Batavia, OH 45103).

“We want to bring together the many individuals and families impacted by addiction and remember those we have lost to overdose,” said Injury Prevention Coordinator and event organizer Brianna Wolken.

The event will include

  • No-cost Narcan & Narcan training
  • Raffle for Amazon gift card
  • Guest speakers who are in recovery or affected by overdose
  • Remembrance ceremony – decorating and planting pinwheels to honor a loved one who died from an overdose.
  • Resource fair with local vendors in the treatment and recovery community.

Guests can get resources and talk to many treatment, recovery, and support agencies.

“In addition to remembering those we have lost, we also want families to know there are many resources available if they have a loved one living with substance use disorder,” said Wolken.

According to Public Health’s Overdose Fatality Review, there were 50 deaths in Clermont County in 2022 from drug overdoses. In 2021, there were 71 drug overdose deaths in Clermont County.

Other agencies participating include:

Bluebird Bus of Hope

Brightview

Caracole

Cincinnati Challenge Ranch 

Clermont County Addiction and Recovery Partnership (CARP) 

Coalition for a Drug-Free Clermont County

Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health- Clermont Recovery Center 

HealthSource of Ohio

Impacting Tomorrow 

IPM Food Pantry 

MedMark Treatment Centers

Mental Health and Recovery Board

Milford Treatment Services

On Our Way Home Recovery Housing

Sunrise Treatment Center

3Waters Recovery Center

Drug overdose deaths decrease in Clermont County

Graph showing the number of overdose fatalities in Clermont County each year from 2014 to 2022

BATAVIA, OH – Drug overdose deaths decreased nearly 30 percent in Clermont County in 2022. After a six-year high of 71 drug-related overdose deaths in 2021, there were 50* deaths in Clermont County in 2022, according to the 2022 Overdose Fatality Review published by Clermont County Public Health. (*The data from the coroner’s office is not yet finalized and may change pending further investigations).

The report uses data from the Clermont County Coroner’s Office, autopsy reports, toxicology reports, and other online databases to detect county-wide trends in drug-related deaths.

“We are encouraged to see fewer overdose deaths last year, but the presence of fentanyl in our community is still a top concern,” said Health Commissioner Julianne Nesbit.

Illicit and highly potent fentanyl was present in 78 percent of the toxicology reports in 2022.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approximately 100 times more powerful than morphine. Continued trends have shown an increase in fentanyl, often mixed in with other drugs.

Nesbit credits the work of the Clermont County Addiction and Recovery Partnership with helping to reduce the number of deaths in the county. The partnership aims to minimize substance misuse, distribution, addiction, overdose, and deaths in Clermont County.

“Thanks to the partnership, many first responder agencies in the county now carry naloxone and can administer it at the scene of an overdose,” said Nesbit. “Without naloxone, overdose deaths may have been much higher.”

Clermont County Public Health distributed 962 doses of naloxone in 2022. Anyone that wants naloxone can visit naloxone.ohio.gov or call Clermont County Public Health at 513-735-8400.

To read the full 2022 Overdose Fatality Review, Click Here.

Planning to sell food at your next event? Do it the right way!

Whether it is a community fair or festival, your neighborhood yard sale or a weekend baseball tournament, any person or group that prepares and sells food must get a temporary food license from their local health department.

Why do I need a license to sell food?

In Ohio, it is the law. Just like your favorite restaurant, if you are part of a group that is preparing and selling food – even for a short time, you must get a temporary food license from the health department. This includes events with a required donation or an entry or gate fee at an event.

Clermont County Public Health protects the public by inspecting places that prepare and sell food. They make sure that food sold in Clermont County is safe to eat and prepared in a clean and sanitary manner.

What does a license do?
Having a license to sell food shows your customers that you have been inspected and approved by Clermont County Public Health to sell food. When food isn’t cooked to the proper temperature or people don’t wash their hands or wear gloves before preparing ready-to-eat foods, it can make people sick.

To get a license to sell food, an inspection must first be done. Places that set up a temporary food booth without getting a license run the risk of getting people sick from food poisoning.

What do we look for when we do an inspection?

  • Food is purchased from an approved source
  • Hand washing stations are available
  • Gloves are being worn when handling ready to eat foods
  • Food is prepared at a licensed facility or on-site (where the inspectors can see it) and not in a person’s home
  • Food grade thermometers are being used when cooking
  • Cold food is stored at proper temperatures
  • Hot food is cooked and held at the proper temperatures
  • Roof or tent over the food service operation area
  • Station set up to wash rinse and sanitize utensils and dishes

For more information on our food safety program or how to get a temporary food permit, visit https://ccphohio.org/food-protection/

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