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September 2012
Pa leads nation in rabies cases for second year by Tara Richelo Pennsylvania has managed to remain the number one state for rabies cases in America. According to the 2011 Pennsylvania Annual Animal Rabies Report published by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania ended 2011 with 452 reported animal rabies cases. As of July 2012, the number of reported cases has reached 234. Raccoons make up for more than fifty percent of the infected animals, followed by skunks and cats. Infected wild animals include bats, foxes, deer, groundhogs and bobcats. Other infected domestic animals include dogs, cattle and horses. The rabies disease is a deadly virus that is transmitted through the bite and saliva of an infected animal. The virus attacks
“Vaccines are very good protection and it is the law that [pet owners] do vaccinate. Rabies are most common in feral cats [among domestic animals], and there is a very large feral cat population.” Dr. Leon Menapace, VMD
the central nervous system and causes inflammation in the victim’s brain. If left untreated, rabies is fatal. Therefore, it is a legal obligation to
have your pet vaccinated against rabies. The Halfmoon Valley Animal Hospital arranged for their first rabies clinic on Saturday June 30th at the Port Matilda E.M.S. Building where Dr. Leon Menapace, VMD, and Renee Sills, a certified veterinary technician, administered rabies booster shots. “Vaccines are very good protection and it is the law that [pet owners] do vaccinate,” said Dr. Menapace. “Rabies are most common in feral cats [among domestic animals], and there is a very large feral cat population.” The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requires cats and dogs to begin their vaccination process at three months and continue to receive a booster shot every year. For Donna Popirk of Stormstown, the Halfmoon Valley Clinic made it easier
for her to vaccinate her cat, Drewbie. “We normally take him to a vet, but financially, this is easier to do,” Popirk said. “If we let him out, he is usually supervised. We get deer and everything in the yard.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) have organized an Oral Rabies Vaccination Program with the help of Wildlife Services. They have targeted the wildlife that is responsible for spreading rabies to other domestic pets. The oral rabies vaccine (ORV) is a dosage of the immunization inside a 1inch square cube of fishmeal-polymer used in order to attract the wild animal.
see
Rabies, pg. 18
Hospital chef plans for organic garden by Sierra Dole The stereotypical image of hospital cafeteria food includes gray mystery meat, watered down soup from a can and crusty mac n’ cheese. However, the food at Mount Nittany Medical Center breaks the mold. Gary Glenn, director of Nutrition and Culinary Services, has been developing new ways to use his kitchen to benefit the local community and environment. “Most people think of hospital food negatively and they always put us down, but we are going above and beyond here at the medical center,” Glenn said. “Probably 90 to 95 percent of the products that come out of our kitchen are from scratch…and a lot of the new tray pieces are either washable or recyclable.” For the past two years, Glenn has been working on a new project, adding a certified organic garden to the medical cen-
ter’s premises. “Produce is the life of a chef,” Glenn said. “Without good produce, you can’t make good food. I wish I had the market right next door that I could go to every morning and bring back in my day’s supply, but I don’t. This is the next best option.” According to the Organic Trade Association website, produce that is‘certified organic’ is grown according to U.S. Department of Agriculture standards, which include inspections, record keeping and testing of soil and water. “The reason we’re going for certified organic is that, as a medical center, it’s very important for the community to know that we are using certain guidelines, just as in our healthcare practices at Mount Nittany,” Glenn said. “It gives that sense of security to the customer to know that we’re using untainted products.” According to Glenn, not only does a
“Produce is the life of a chef. Without good produce, you can’t make good food.” Gary Glenn, director, Nutrition and Culinary Services, Mount Nittany Medical Center certified organic garden give patients peace of mind, but it’s also important for the healing process. “With our new cancer center opening up and, just in general, the healing process from start to finish, nutrition plays a huge role,” Glenn said. “So, the more untainted products that we purchase and the fresher ingredients that we
have, obviously the better off we are.” Glenn said the people who come to Mount Nittany often have disrupted immune systems, making them particularly susceptible. “One thing they surely don’t need to worry about is getting foods that have been sprayed with pesticides and interrupting the immune system in any way, shape, or form,” he said. Glenn said he realizes that the medical center won’t be able to depend solely on the garden to feed the mass quantity of patients and visitors they receive, but that it’s a good start. “It’s not meant to be totally sustainable,” Glenn said. “But, what it is meant to do is be a nice addition to our daily specials and chef specials, whether it be in either one of the restaurants or on the patient line.”
see
Chef, pg. 20