Commissioners receive monthly health report

ALBANY — Linn County saw a decrease in syphilis cases in 2024, Health Officer Dr. Adam Brady told the Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning.

Dr. Brady said there were 29 reported cases of the sexually transmitted disease compared to 39 cases in 2023 and a five-year average of 34 cases.

Locally, the numbers seem to buck a trend. Syphilis cases have been increasing in the U.S. for several years.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, syphilis cases increased more than 80 percent between 2018 and 2022 — from 115,000 to more than 207,000. If untreated, syphilis can damage the heart and brain and can cause blindness, deafness, and paralysis. When transmitted during pregnancy, it can cause miscarriage, lifelong medical issues, and infant death. Read more about the report and federal response to stop the surging syphilis epidemic.

Salmonella cases totaled 27, well above 10 cases in 2023 and the five-year average of nine cases. Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.

There were 11 cases of pertussis (whooping cough) and 42 cases year-to-date, well above the five-year average of four cases for the entire year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, pertussis cases declined during the COVID 19 pandemic, in part because people were wearing masks and not gathering in large groups.

Nationwide, there were more than six times as many new pertussis cases in 2024 than in 2023.

There were 34 animal bites in December and 429 bites year-to-date compared to 352 year-to-date in 2023. The five-year average is 354.

There were 117 deaths in December, including two suicides, both males, 21 and 82 years of age.

One death was attributed to COVID-19, an 85-year-old man.

There were 59 births, 30 males and 29 females.

In other business, the commissioners:

— Approved contracts to purchase oil rock from Siegmund Excavation and Construction to be stockpiled at Irish Bend Loop for $161,4909 and the Truelove Pit for $197,500 for the Linn County Road Department.

• Reappointed Annie Holsworth, Marilyn Smith, Barry Hoffman and Ken Bronson to the Transportation Advisory Committee.
• Approved a refund of $2,642.84 to Gordon Truck Centers from the Planning & Building Department.
• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Lane County not to exceed $50,000. Lane County will provide food handler training for Linn County through Dec. 31, 2026.
• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Eastern Washington University. Linn County will provide training for students in the Master’s Degree program for Social Workers, from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2029.
• Approved a student affiliation with Linn-Benton Community College to provide internships for students in any of the college’s programs.
• In an effort to attract a larger pool of job applicants, approved the following classification changes within the County Attorney’s Department: Deputy County Attorney I, from 19 to 25; Deputy County Attorney II to pay range 22 to 28; Deputy County Attorney III, to pay range 27 to 31 and County Attorney to pay range 34.

4-H and Extension Service District

After the Board of Commissioners’ meeting, the 4-H and Extension Service District meeting was held. Commissioners Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker approved minutes of the January 14 meeting.

Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email apaul@co.linn.or.us.