RBC | The Rio Blanco County Commissioners held their regular meeting last week in Meeker, with all three commissioners in attendance. The Board of Public Health gave a presentation on MPox and Avian Influenza.
Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, is primarily found in wild birds but has recently spread to dairy cows in Colorado. Though the virus rarely affects humans, the risk to public health remains low, according to Public Health Director Makala Sheridan.
“In Colorado, there have been 10 confirmed human cases of bird flu. Among the 137 people tested, although there is a risk of human transmission from close contact with dairy cattle, there is no evidence of person-to-person spread,” Sheridan said.
“It is recommended to avoid contact with sick birds and other animals and to drink only pasteurized milk, which eliminates viruses and bacteria,” she added.
The commissioners also discussed MPox, a zoonotic disease from Central and West Africa. MPox spreads between animals and humans. It was first discovered in 1958 among monkeys kept for research and was later reported in humans in 1970. In May 2022, the disease spread to non-endemic countries, including the United States. Mary Dillon provided further details on the disease.
“Endemic means it’s a country where it’s always present, like the United States. The current outbreak was linked to a rave in the Canary Islands – a party you wouldn’t want to attend,” Dillon said.
“The primary hosts of MPox are rodents, squirrels, and rats. Incidental hosts are monkeys, which then infect other animals. People in Africa can contract the virus by touching or consuming infected meat,” Dillon explained.
In other business, the commissioners approved the Board of Health meeting minutes from April 23, 2024, and appointed Commissioner Jennifer O’Hearon to the Colorado Counties Inc. (CCI) legislative committee for 2025. The board also approved the meeting minutes from Aug. 27, 2024.
Payable management reports for August were presented, showing no significant changes. Dana Foley of CTSI gave a presentation reviewing Rio Blanco County’s five-year and year-to-date loss over automobiles. The board later approved comments for the U.S. Forest Service regarding old-growth forests and extended BLM landfill fees.
The board approved applying for Contingent Election Security Grants to bolster security during the November election. A road and bridge update was provided with no major issues reported. Each commissioner gave individual updates before the board entered an executive session under CRS Section 24-6-402 for the purpose of supervision and employees.
The next regular meeting will be held in Rangely on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 9 a.m. at the Annex Building.
By JARED HENDERSON
