The following food safety tips will allow you to prepare, serve and enjoy a safe holiday meal:

• Wash hands – Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and water following restroom use, before preparing foods, after handling raw meat and before eating.
• Clean – Wash and sanitize food-contact surfaces often. To sanitize utensils, immerse for 30 seconds in clean, hot water at 170 degrees Fahrenheit, or immerse for at least one minute in a solution containing one teaspoon of 5.25 percent household bleach per gallon of water. Bacteria can spread and get onto cutting boards, knives and counter tops. Wash fruits and vegetables before preparing.
• Thaw properly – Proper methods for thawing a turkey include thawing in a refrigerator with a temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or less (allow 3-4 days for thawing); placing under cool running water at a temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit or less; or thawing in microwave and cooking the turkey immediately.
• Take temperatures – Cook turkey at 325 degrees Fahrenheit until the internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooked, hot foods should be kept at 135 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Be sure to use a food thermometer to check temperatures.
• Keep it cold – Cold foods should be kept at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or less. After the turkey is served, immediately slice and refrigerate on shallow platters. Use refrigerated turkey and stuffing within three to four days. Use gravy within one to two days. If freezing leftovers, use within two to six months for best quality.
• Transport safely – Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
• Reheat – Leftover turkey and stuffing should be stored separately in shallow dishes or platters. Rapidly reheat leftovers to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• When in doubt, throw it out – If you are unsure of how long a particular food item has been left out at room temperature, the best thing to do is discard the item.

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department wishes you a safe and happy holiday. For more information about food safety, please contact the Division of Environmental Health and Protection at (859) 231-9791.

Halloween can be scary enough as is, so take steps to keep it from being even more frightening! Kids are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Make it easier for drivers to see your kids by giving your child a flashlight or glow stick, and attach reflective tags or wristbands to their costumes! Learn more from the CDC!

You can also use these suggestions for healthier snacks/treats for your visitors!

SEPT. 28, 2023: Registration is now live for the 2023 Free Flu Shot Clinic being held 3-6:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Central Baptist Church, 110 Wilson Downing Road. Additional details, including how to register online, are available at www.lfchd.org/flushots2023/. The high-dose vaccine for ages 65 and older will be available in limited quantities.

Be sure to check out the Facebook Event listing: 2023 Free Flu Shot Clinic Facebook Event.

Lexington had 3, 472 lab-confirmed flu cases and 16 flu-related deaths in the 2022-23 flu season. About 80% of the cases were in people who were not vaccinated.

“The annual flu shot remains the best way to fight flu to protect yourself, your family and everyone around you each fall and winter,” LFCHD spokesperson Kevin Hall said.

In addition to helping prevent you from getting sick with flu, a flu shot can reduce the severity of your illness if you do get flu and reduce your risk of a flu-associated hospitalization.

The seasonal flu shot is recommended for all people ages 6 months and older and is especially important for people at the highest risk of serious complications from the flu: infants and young children, pregnant women, anyone with underlying medical conditions and adults 50 and older.

UPDATED OCT. 2: The updated COVID-19 shot is now available for anyone without insurance or children with Medicaid. Visit here to learn more: COVID-19 shot in Public Health Clinic.

SEPT. 15: With the approval of a new COVID-19 shot and its upcoming arrival, we want to address some of the questions we are receiving:

• We are unsure when the new shot will be available in our Public Health Clinic, but we hope to have them by the end of September.
• The health department will provide the vaccine for free to those who qualify for the Kentucky Vaccine Program – those who are uninsured and children with Medicaid. The vaccine will only be available for those groups.
• Those who qualify for the Kentucky Vaccine Program can make same-day appointments when the vaccine is available by calling 859-288-2483. We cannot make appointments until we receive the vaccine.
• We encourage others to get the COVID-19 shot at area pharmacies or medical providers. The vaccine is expected to be at some Lexington pharmacies as early as next week.

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department will host a low-cost rabies vaccination clinic 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at the North Lexington Family YMCA, 381 W. Loudon Ave.

Vaccinations will cost just $5. All cats and ferrets must be in a carrier, and all dogs must be on leashes, and all animals must be licensed. 

Rabies, a viral disease of humans, pets and wild animals, is transmitted from animals to humans by the saliva of a rabid animal, usually from a bite. Rabies vaccinations typically cost about $20, making this clinic a great value to pet owners. “A rabies shot gives protection to the pet as well as its owner and the other people of Lexington,” said Luke Mathis, LFCHD Environmental Health team leader and one of the event’s organizers. “We’re pleased to provide this useful public health service as we help Lexington be well.”

The clinic also provides pet owners with the opportunity to purchase an animal license for $8 if the animal has been spayed or neutered. A license costs $40 if the animal has not been altered or the owner has no proof of alteration. Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control, the Lexington Humane Society, and the YMCA of Central Kentucky are also sponsoring the event.

In the event of bad weather, the clinic date is subject to change, with the date/location to be determined later. The health department will provide updated information at www.LFCHD.org and on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LFCHD. A special Facebook Event page has also been created at https://fb.me/e/15SHxEZsc.

Be sure to follow these summer safety tips during the heat:

• Drink plenty of fluids. You will need to drink more fluids than your thirst level indicates. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages or drinks with large amounts of sugar because they cause you to lose more fluid.
• Wear sunscreen and appropriate clothing. Sunscreen should be SPF 15 or greater and applied 30 minutes before going outdoors. Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Wear a wide-brimmed hat that will provide shade and keep your head cool.
• Schedule outdoor activities carefully. If you must be outside, try to plan your activities so that you are outdoors either before noon or in the evening.
• Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library. Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.
• Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.
• Use a buddy system. When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you.
• Monitor those at high risk, including infants and children up to 4 years of age, people 65 and older, people who are overweight, people who overexert during work or exercise and people who are ill or on certain medications for blood pressure diuretics. Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children need much more frequent watching.

Signs of heat-related illnesses include an extremely high body temperature (above 103°F); red, hot and dry skin (no sweating); rapid, strong pulse; throbbing headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; muscle cramps; tiredness and unconsciousness. If someone starts to experience these symptoms, seek medical help immediately and move them to a shady spot, if outdoors, and begin cooling them using whatever methods are available. Monitor body temperature, and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F.

We are extending the deadline for you to join this project!

An exciting new addition, called Photovoice, is being incorporated into our community health improvement planning process focused on mental health. Photovoice invites participants to share their perspectives on mental health through photography, reflection and action.

We are seeking participants who live and/or work in Lexington-Fayette County to participate in 4 weekly Zoom sessions, 1 ½-2 hours per week, led by a trained facilitator in July/August 2023.

After an orientation session, participants will be asked to take photos (with a smart phone or digital camera) related to mental health in Lexington-Fayette County. The photos are then shared and discussed during the weekly sessions.

Sessions will be scheduled to meet the needs of participants as much as possible (day and evening sessions), and participants will receive a raffle ticket for each session they attend. The enrollment deadline is Friday, July 7.

To sign up: https://forms.gle/BF5qL6gDwJa142937.

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department received word this afternoon that a bat found in Lexington has tested positive for rabies. The bat was discovered in the Meadowthorpe (40511 ZIP code) area. The health department posted signs in the area on Friday to notify residents of the discovery.

LFCHD officials continue to remind residents to make certain their pets have a current rabies vaccination. There does not appear to be any contact between neighborhood animals and the bat, but officials ask that residents keep watch on their pets. Early symptoms of rabies include a change in behavior, chewing at the bite site, fever and loss of appetite.

Bats that are active during the day or are unable to fly might be suspect for having rabies. To minimize the risk for contracting rabies, it is best never to handle any bat. If you find a bat in your home and the possibility of human exposure cannot be ruled out, contact the Division of Environmental Health and Protection at (859) 231-9791 for help with having the animal collected and submitted for rabies testing.

To prevent bats from entering your home, carefully examine your home for holes that might allow bats to enter the residence. Any openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch could allow for bat entry. These openings should be blocked either with stainless steel wool or caulking in the fall or winter so you do not unintentionally trap bats within your home.

Common ways for bats to enter homes include down the chimney, through openings around the chimney, through vents, through openings behind shutters, under doors, under siding, under eaves and under shingles.

Rabies, a viral disease of humans, pets and wild animals, is transmitted from animals to humans by the saliva of a rabid animal, usually from a bite. State law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets maintain a current rabies vaccination.

Some parts of the United States are being impacted by wildfires in Canada. Health officials urge caution for those spending time outside, particularly people with some existing conditions. (Learn more from the Kentucky Department for Public Health: Air Quality).

People with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are more likely to suffer immediately, said Rachel Keith, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Louisville, but air pollution can have long term effects on health as well.

Air pollution can trigger heart attacks, Keith said. Exposure over time can increase the risk of heart disease, some cancers and diabetes.

If people with asthma or COPD feel they need to use inhalers but it’s not helping, “and you still feel like you are having that air hunger or still having an asthma attack,” it’s time to see a doctor, Keith said.

Also keep an eye out for signs of a heart attack: pain and chest pressure, nausea, lightheadedness.

The New York State Department of Health offers the following tips:

When Air Quality is Unhealthy

• Stay indoors with windows closed. This is the best way to avoid health effects. This is especially important for at-risk groups (“sensitive populations”), like young children, older adults, people with respiratory or heart problems, and those who exercise or do strenuous work outdoors.
• For people who spend time outdoors, wearing a well-fitting face mask is recommended.
• If it gets hot inside, cool off with air conditioning if you can.
• People with any symptom should contact their healthcare provider.

For the most up-to-date air quality information for your area, visit airnow.gov.

UPDATED 1:09 P.M. MAY 22, 2023: The meeting has ended.

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Board of Health will meet for a special meeting via video teleconference at 12:30 p.m. Monday, May 22. The agenda is available here: May 22 Board of Health Agenda.