When Johnny Rivera got his positive monkeypox result, he just laughed at his doctor because his symptoms were undeniable at that point. The test was just a confirmation of what he already knew, he said at a webinar hosted on Thursday by the state Department of Public Health.

Four days before getting tested, he found his first lesion on July 11, which he initially thought was an in-grown hair; by the next day, the lesion had engorged and hardened. He was also experiencing other symptoms such as chills, headaches, abdominal cramps and swollen lymph nodes. 

During the hardest part of his illness, he had a fever of up to 102.5 degrees lasting five days, rectal bleeding, nerve pain, cold and hot flashes and exhaustion. 

On day six, Rivera started finding more and more lesions all over his body. He counted a total of 22. 

“The lesions were really itchy and bothersome, but they were almost like my last concern,” he explained. “It was almost like these were a reprieve compared to the intense [previous] six days.”

Rivera was one of the first Connecticut residents to contract monkeypox and the numbers have steadily increased. 

As of Friday, Aug 12, there were 11,177 confirmed monkeypox cases nationwide, according to the CDC. In Connecticut, 59 cases have been confirmed. 

President Joe Biden officially declared monkeypox a public health emergency on Aug 4. 

Dr. Ulysses Wu, director of infectious disease, chief epidemiologist and chief microbial steward of Hartford Healthcare, said that the rate of increase is more concerning than the current numbers. 

“We’ve only had a handful of cases every year in the world,” he explained. “So, clearly, this is something that is much bigger than previous years.” 

How does it spread?

A person with monkeypox isn’t infectious until the first symptoms begin showing. After that, the virus can spread in many ways, but the primary method of transmission is through prolonged close contact, like during sex, said Wu. 

The other transmission methods include respiratory secretion, skin-to-skin contact with infected body fluids or lesions and sharing items such as towels and linens. It can also spread through domestic pets, but he explained that these transmission methods are not as concerning. 

In general, symptoms start within three weeks of exposure, but symptoms can show sooner. 

Rivera got the virus from one of his sexual partners, who he had seen four days before. The pair met through Grindr; this was their second time. He explained that during June, his sexual activity increased. 

“I played, I paid,” Rivera said. 

At the time, his partner showed no symptoms and didn’t have any lesions but complained about feeling lethargic.

To minimize possible exposure, the DPH recommends often washing your hands, limiting sex partners, avoiding close skin-to-skin contact with people who have a monkeypox-like rash and avoiding touching their linens, towels, clothing, fetish gear or sex toys. 

A person can only be tested for the virus if they have a rash consistent with monkeypox or have had close contact with an infected person. The DPH states that testing is available at the State Public Health Laboratory and five commercial labs. 

What to do if you test positive

When symptoms begin showing, the CDC recommends immediately isolating from people and pets until all lesions have healed and a new layer of skin is formed, which can take upwards of a month. 

If a person is required to leave for a medical check-up or an emergency, the DPH recommends wrapping up lesions, wearing long-sleeve shirts and wearing a mask around others. 

The treatment available for active monkeypox is TPOXX, which is often used to treat chickenpox. TPOXX is still considered an experimental drug but was streamlined by CDC as safe for use. 

However, Wu said that many people recover without medication for this strain. 

The CDC monkeypox website has an extensive list of recommendations to prevent reinfection while in quarantine. This includes ideas on how to properly disinfect tables and countertops, dispose of any contaminated waste, and clean bedding, towels, etc.

Those without in-home laundry machines should coordinate with their local public health department. 

Rivera recommends that people experiencing symptoms rely on their support system to get essentials without leaving quarantine. 

“I thought going into it that I was going to do this solo, own my own, like any other problem that you would in your mundane life as an adult. I was rather optimistic that this was only going to last for a week or two,” he explained. “Later, it was quite clear that this was going to be a long road and I needed to reach out to people and utilize all the resources I could.” 

Close contacts, vaccines 

The primary vaccine available in Connecticut is JYNNEOS. It is administered in two doses over four weeks. A person isn’t fully immunized until 14 days after the second dose. 

There are currently 19 monkeypox vaccine distributors in the state. According to the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, the state currently has 6,298 allocated vaccines available.

“The problem is that we don’t have enough vaccines,” Wu said. 

On Aug. 9, the FDA approved emergency use of the available vaccines to extend their use. This allows providers to use a smaller dosage between the layers of the skin rather than underneath it. 

Due to the limited supply, vaccines are mainly restricted to close contacts and people with a high risk of exposure. 

Other vaccine eligible criteria include 18-year-old and up men, transgender and/or gender non-conforming people who have sex with men and people with multiple sex partners. 

According to DPH, the JYNNEOS vaccine is safe for people with HIV and atopic dermatitis. 

Although a person is not infectious until they are symptomatic, Wu recommends that people receiving the vaccine quarantine until they are fully immunized to prevent further spread.

“Vaccines are not 100%,” he explained. “If you were exposed to somebody who had it and you had close physical contact and you received the vaccines, there’s no guarantee that you’re not going to get it. So it just really decreases your chances; but, if you develop symptoms, you could also expose somebody else.”

Local efforts 

Lea Crown, director of the Meriden Department of Health and Human Services, said her staff is monitoring a handful of monkeypox cases in the city. 

Following the infectious disease protocol used for COVID-19, the department is contact tracing both for people testing positive and any close contacts. 

Crown said that for people who tested positive, the department would check in with them to see how they are doing and if they need any essentials until they are out of quarantine. Then, the department will reach out to those identified as close contacts to check in and make a vaccine referral.

Crown also said they are connecting with other local health departments to find best practices for interviewing and creating workgroups to prevent further spread. 

“This is obviously a new disease for us,” she said. 

The department is also updating its numbers daily as more monkeypox information and statistics are released on its website and social media. 

Public education to curb LGBTQ+ stigma 

Rivera, who identifies as gay, said he had received nothing but support during his recovery; however, he recognizes that is not the case for others in the LGBTQ+ community. 

According to the DPH, all of the Connecticut cases are people who identify as male and almost all identify as LGBTQ+ as of Aug 8. However, anyone can contract the virus. 

Rivera explained that one of his friends overheard a group of men making homophobic remarks in downtown Hartford. They remarked that they couldn’t understand why gay men were proud since they were spreading monkeypox. 

“The [LGBTQ+] community, with good reason, is concerned that … [monkeypox] can be used to stigmatize the gay community and be weaponized against us to strip us of our rights,” Rivera said. 

Wu said that one of the best methods of prevention and curbing stigma is through public education and easy access to monkeypox information. 

“We are dealing mostly with a group that this is predominantly a cohort of [men who have sex with men] and because of that a lot of people think that [monkeypox] doesn’t concern them or that this is not a disease that they have to worry about nor do they have to be educated about,” he explained. “Public health education only works when everyone is involved.” 

However, he recognized the importance of getting monkeypox information to the LGBTQ+ community since the virus is circulating currently in that community. 

To better inform LGBTQ+ people about the virus, Rivera documented his personal experiences on social media as a public service to other queer people. As a result, even his Grindr has become a platform to educate and inform. 

Rivera also urges local queer bars to educate their patrons about the virus and its severity. 

“If we could have a Trivia this or that or the other, I don’t see why [monkeypox education] can’t be done in a social setting,” he explained.

To learn more about monkeypox and vaccine locations visit DPH’s monkeypox website. 

Health Equity Reporter Cris Villalonga-Vivoni is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. To learn more about RFA go to www.reportforamerica.org or to donate go to https://bit.ly/3dtcJdS.

Villalonga-Vivoni can be reached at [email protected] or 203-317-2448.

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Glitz, above, remains in isolation at the FCHS.

There is something all-too-familiar about a virus which has cropped up in the area’s canine population.

“People say it’s so much like COVID,” says Debby Johnson, president of the Faribault County Humane Society (FCHS).

The disease in question – canine parvovirus, or ‘parvo,’ for short – is highly contagious. It can affect any dog, although unvaccinated dogs and puppies under four months old are most at-risk.

Parvo spreads easily via dog-to-dog contact and contaminated feces. The hardy virus can also survive on kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes, and even the hands and clothing of people who come in contact with it.

“If people don’t isolate dogs, it can spread,” Johnson summarizes.

The virus’s persistent nature has caused terrible trouble for the FCHS, which is still sequestered in a small facility adjacent to Blue Earth’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The tiny, one-room building offers few options for isolation, and its single drain spreads diseases via contaminated water which seeps from kennel to kennel.

The conditions are difficult under normal circumstances, but the FCHS found itself in a real spot when they took in Glitz, a German Shepherd who was surrendered to FCHS.

A few days after her arrival, Glitz began showing symptoms of parvo.

“The dog nearly died,” Johnson recalls. “It has recovered, but the dog has to be isolated for two or three more weeks.” 

When first confronted with Glitz’s condition, Johnson admits, “We were in a quandary about what to do.” 

Glitz is much recovered now, and can be found bounding around the enclosure where she remains isolated behind the FCHS building.

Nonetheless, Glitz’s improved health does not change the danger she poses to other dogs in the facility; dogs who contract parvo can remain contagious for up to two weeks after they are infected.

To combat this reality, Johnson took up a cloth and started disinfecting as best she could.

She recommends bleach as an effective disinfectant to combat parvo, but adds that it is important to check carefully that it will actually fight the disease.

“The disinfectant must state that it kills parvo,” she explains.

It took Johnson and other FCHS volunteers days to disinfect the entire facility.

“(Parvo) is a microscopic virus - how do you know you got everything?” she says.

However, the painstaking work was worth it, given parvo’s severity.

The virus targets dogs’ intestines. Its onset is marked by lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and bloating, fever or low body temperature, vomiting and severe, often bloody, diarrhea.

The latter two symptoms make the disease especially deadly, as they can cause severe dehydration and intestinal damage.

Deaths caused by parvo often occur within 48 to 72 hours following the onset of these visible symptoms. Accordingly, experts, and Johnson herself, encourage dog owners to seek treatment immediately if something seems wrong.

“If (your dog) becomes violently sick with diarrhea, contact someone as soon as possible so they don’t become dehydrated and have to become hospitalized,” Johnson recommends. “They dehydrate until they die.” 

Once they are infected, dogs cannot be directly treated for parvo. Instead, they are given injections which strengthen their immune system as they fight the virus.

Proper treatment yields a 90 percent survival rate. However, the treatments are costly - much more costly than the distemper vaccination which prevents the disease in the first place.

As such, Johnson strongly urges dog owners to vaccinate their pets if they haven’t already.

“The number one thing is to vaccinate,” she says, emphatically.

She suspects the county’s low vaccination rate is one of the reasons parvo cases have been appearing in the area recently.

“The problem here is there are a lot of unvaccinated dogs,” Johnson says.

According to Johnson, there has already been one parvo case in Blue Earth and one in Elmore, along with a few cases in Bricelyn.

“From what I have heard, there have been several more cases,” she adds.

Complicating matters, parvo’s spread is difficult to track. Cases do not have to be reported to the state.

However, Johnson has joined forces with Faribault County Sheriff Mike Gormley to tackle the county’s recent outbreak, keeping the public informed and keeping a close eye on potential cases.

Johnson also eagerly awaits the completion of the FCHS’s new facility, which will make addressing outbreaks much simpler in the future.

“We will have an isolation area,” she explains. “It couldn’t be better timing to have a new building.” 

The FCHS’s eventual new home, located in Blue Earth’s former Papa D’s building at the West Industrial Park, still requires some renovation.

“We are waiting for drains to be put in at the new building,”  Johnson says. She predicts the process will take another six weeks.

Additional renovations will include the installation of six-foot chain link fencing, parts for which the FCHS will gladly accept as donations from the community.

“We are stretched pretty thin,” Johnson admits as she considers all that must be done before the new facility is ready.

However, she remains optimistic, citing the generous support FCHS continues to receive from the community.

“The donations are phenomenal,” Johnson says. Recently, Tafco raised almost $1,000 at a FCHS fundraiser at the Faribault County Fair.

Once the FCHS relocates, Johnson is confident the organization’s ability to care for dogs like Glitz will improve astronomically.

“The more we discuss about the building, the more perfect it is for us,” she says.

Until then, however, Johnson and her fellow FCHS volunteers can only hope the community takes precautions to prevent parvo’s spread.

Johnson warns, “It only takes one dog.” 

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You can help your children develop healthy habits early in life that will bring lifelong benefits. Because your children look up to you, you should set them a good example.

At the same time, helping your children live their best lives will undoubtedly make you think twice about some of your own habits, which could perhaps do with some redress and cure.

Attitude

A positive attitude will contribute to your well-being throughout life and help your children become more resilient. Help your children develop positive attitudes by encouraging them to do what they can instead of always telling them what they can’t.

Make a point of celebrating their successes, but don’t make them feel they are only good enough if they are top of the class or play for the first team. Most people can be perfectly contented and well-adjusted with average effort and results.

Screen time

Modern children are often exposed to digital media from computers, play stations, smartphones, tablets and television throughout the day. The problem is that too much digital media results in a sedentary lifestyle and critical social interactions are not learnt. Also, children who spend the majority of their time in front of a screen don’t get into the habit of regular exercise and many experience difficulty sleeping.

You can teach them to use screen time in a healthy way that can improve their lives. Limit the time they spend on digital media and instead substitute it with other activities.

• Reading with your children every day from babyhood helps connections form in their young brains. These build language, literacy and social-emotional skills essential in childhood development.
• Introduce your children to a range of physical activities – from swimming to hiking and ball sports like tennis and lawn cricket – and enjoy them together as a family. Not all children like the same activities, but you are sure to find some most will enjoy.
• If you have trouble motivating them, try simple toys like skipping ropes or inflatable beach balls, and choose different locations so that they don’t get bored with the backyard. Public parks and playgrounds, sports fields and swimming pools or the beach are good options.

Food

Filling their plates with brightly coloured foods translates into a high nutritional value with many health benefits – especially when the foods are in season. Start early with vegetables and fruits, brimming with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Avoid sugar-laden fruit and vegetable juices and soft drinks.

Eating a balanced breakfast with protein, carbohydrates, and fats is a good way for your children and you to start the day. Instead of opening a box of sugar-coated breakfast cereal, try the following:

• Muesli or granola with double-cream yoghurt and sliced banana.
• Hard-boiled eggs, toast and an apple.
• Peanut butter, honey and cheese on whole-grain bread or toast.

Teach your child about nutrition by encouraging them to read the food labels on their favourite packaged snacks. Focus on the amount of sugar, saturated fat, energy (kilojoules) and serving size. Food labels have the ingredients listed in descending order by amount. So, for instance, if sugar is the first ingredient listed, the snack contains more sugar than any other ingredient.

Money

Teach your children the importance of managing their money, starting with the idea of earning their own money rather than just giving to them. For example, instead of handing out money for doing nothing, you should pay them for the chores done around the house like cleaning their rooms, washing dishes, setting the table or mowing the lawn.

Once they are familiar with earning money, you can teach them how to save, share and spend wisely.

Consistency

The key to helping children adopt healthy habits is consistency in what you say and do, and it’s important for them to see that you follow your own advice. Children tend to copy what you do, so if it’s evident to them that you care about your health, they’re likely to follow your example.

It’s up to you to teach your children the habits they need to live happy, healthy lives. Some of these can last a lifetime.

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When it comes to treating blackheads in the long run, refrain from using nose strips. The glue in the strips to suck up the heads, as Dr. Shetty points out (via Vogue), can trigger allergic reactions, cause the pores to continue staying open, and cause more blackheads to form. To remove blackheads manually, buy a comedone blackhead extractor. For a start, rinse your face thoroughly and put a warm washcloth on the affected area to open up the pores to help dislodge the blackheads easily. A facial steamer also works wonders in loosening up your pores. As for extractors, small wire loops, advises dermatologist Marisa Garshick (via Shape), are a better option for removing blackheads because they don’t inflict excessive force on the affected area. Bigger loops can be used for larger breakouts.

After disinfecting your extractor with alcohol and boiling it, place the wire loop around the blackhead and press gently to extract the dead skin and sebum that’s clogging the pore. If blood comes out, stop the degunking process. When the blackhead is too close to another swollen pimple, don’t pop it lest you exacerbate the surrounding infected area. If the blackhead doesn’t ease up easily, use the sharp point on the other end of the extractor (with extra caution) to pierce through the pore and release the clogged content. The ultimate goal is to remove blackheads without damaging your skin, so know when to stop. If you’re having a severe acne breakout and trying to remove lots of blackheads, you might want to check with your dermatologist for advice first or get help from skin care professionals.

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A hairdresser and her client have launched an unlikely beauty tool that’s leaving customers’ skin glowing and their locks healthier than they’ve ever looked.

Kim Haberley, a hairdresser and owner of Boho Blonde, and marketing manager Tayla Cron, 26, launched Filtered Beauty to sell easy-to-fit shower purifiers that prevent ‘hard water’ from causing damage to hair and skin over time. 

The small gadgets, which screw into all shower heads and take two minutes to install, filter out chlorine, minerals and metals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and lead from shower water and add oxygen and Vitamin C.

These nasties in hard water reduce lather in soap and therefore leave behind soap scum, leave a film on the hair and skin and can also appear on shower screens as white stains. 

Kim Haberley (left), a hairdresser and owner of Boho Blonde, and marketing manager Tayla Cron (right), 26, launched Filtered Beauty to sell easy-to-fit shower purifiers that prevent ‘hard water’ from causing damage to hair and skin over time

The small gadgets, which screw into all shower heads and take two minutes to install, filter out chlorine, minerals and metals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and lead from shower water and add oxygen and Vitamin C

The residue also causes dryness of the skin and leaves hair feeling ‘straw-like’ and limp.

Kim, 34, had been Tayla’s hairstylist and close friend since 2018 and was always sure to send her off with the ‘creamiest, shiniest blonde locks’ – but after a few washes she noticed it would become ‘slightly dull and yellow’.

She was doing everything right: regular appointments, heat protection, salon grade haircare and never swam in chlorine.

‘I started noticing a pattern with my clients – particularly with those who worked in the mines – where not only was their hair discolouring, it was becoming dry and brittle,’ Kim said.

Nasties in hard water reduce lather in soap and therefore leave behind soap scum, leaving a film on the hair and skin and can also appear on shower screens as white stains

Kim, 34, had been Tayla’s hairstylist and close friend since 2018 and was always sure to send her off with the ‘creamiest, shiniest blonde locks’ (pictured) – but after a few washes she noticed it would become ‘slightly dull and yellow’

Kim quickly began recommending to all her clients that they head down to the local hardware store and purchase a shower filter. Many, including Tayla, didn’t really know what they were looking for and as a result, never invested

What is water treated with in Australia? 

There is no such thing as naturally pure water, all water contains some impurities. As water flows in rivers, is captured in dams and filters through layers of soil and rock in the ground, it dissolves or absorbs a range of substances. Most of these substances are harmless. 

Water utilities disinfect drinking water with chlorine to kill microorganisms that may cause disease. To remove the chlorine taste from drinking water, allow a jug of water to stand for a few hours before drinking. 

The chemicals used as part of the filtration treatment process, such as alum and ferric chloride, are reduced before leaving the treatment plant.   Hot water systems may contain more dissolved minerals and metals, due to the heating process.

Copper pipes are used extensively in plumbing systems in Australia (and internationally). Drinking water can contain elevated metals such as copper and sometimes lead when left standing in pipes for extended periods.

Water New South Wales treatment system: 

Most of the water from Sydney’s drinking water catchments is supplied to Sydney Water. It has a network of nine water filtration plants. More than 80 percent of Sydney’s water is treated at Prospect Water Filtration Plant – three billion litres of water per day!

The treatment process for freshwater using a flocculation method.

Screening: Freshwater is moved through fine screens to remove solid objects like fish, logs and leaves.

Flocculation: Fine particles are then removed using a chemical that makes the particles clump together (flocculate) and settle to the bottom.

Filtration: Larger particles are caught and removed as the water flows through a layer of sand or a combination of fine-grained sand and crushed anthracite (coal).

Disinfection: The water is then disinfected with chlorine to destroy pathogens, like viruses, bacteria and microbes.

The chlorine disappears quickly, so ammonia is also added as a longer lasting disinfectant. Fluoride is added to our drinking water to meet NSW Health requirements to prevent tooth decay. The final treated water then enters a network of reservoirs, pumping stations and pipes to arrive at homes and businesses. Sydney Water has over 21,000 kilometres of pipes to deliver drinking water to homes and businesses. 

Source: Water NSW and Health NSW

‘After lots of research, the only thing I could put it down to was that the chemicals and minerals present in their shower water were affecting their hair quality.’

Kim quickly began recommending to all her clients that they head down to the local hardware store and purchase a shower filter. Many, including Tayla, didn’t really know what they were looking for and as a result, never invested.

Fast forward to 2021 and Tayla began working for Kim full-time and they were constantly educating their clients and followers through social media about the negative effects of unfiltered shower water on hair and the skin.

‘It was when we started getting an exponential interest from clients and followers about what to look for in shower filters that we had our lightbulb moment and Filtered Beauty was born,’ Kim said.

‘After lots of research, the only thing I could put it down to was that the chemicals and minerals present in shower water that was affecting their hair quality,’ Kim said

What does each layer of the Filtered Beauty purifier do to the water?

Sand Filter: Captures large sediment such as sand

Stainless Mesh: Captures medium sediment to prevent it from entering the shower purifier

Micro-Porous PP Cotton: Removes small sediment and dust from water

Calcium Sulphite: Extremely effective at reducing chlorine from water at all temperatures.

KDF 55: Reduces chlorine, unwanted minerals and heavy metals such as lead, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel, and copper.

Granular Activated Carbon: Helps reduce trihalomethane (THMs), and odour.

Red Mineral Balls: Helps to boost oxygen levels in the water

Zeolite: Releases revitalising minerals

Vitamin C: removes chlorine and infuses the water with Vitamin C and other beneficial minerals

Tourmaline: Boosts filtration and releases revitalising minerals which transform your hair and skin health

The pair launched Filtered Beauty on July 1 after a year of research and development with a manufacturer and experienced engineer team.

‘We were really passionate about getting our branding right as we wanted to not only convey an aesthetic brand but wanted to evoke an emotional response from the consumer when they see Filtered Beauty sitting on the shelf,’ Kim said.

‘It is so important to filter your shower water as our shower water contains toxins and contaminants which directly affect your hair, skin and overall health. 

‘A lot of people aren’t aware, but before water is pumped for distribution to your home, substances are added to treat the water. This is to disinfect it before it enters the distribution system to ensure that any disease-causing microorganisms are destroyed. 

The pair launched Filtered Beauty on July 1 after a year of research and development with a manufacturer and experienced engineer team

‘Chlorine is added to destroy bacteria, algae and viruses. Fluoride is added to help prevent tooth decay. Ammonia is added to ensure chlorine levels remain consistent as water travels through the distribution system. Phosphoric Acid is added for corrosion control to help create a barrier between lead pipes and drinking water.’

While this process makes our water safe to drink, it can be very harmful to our hair and skin. Minerals like chlorine remove the protective oils that keep your hair healthy and strong and this causes dry, itchy scalps and lifeless hair cells. 

The Filtered Beauty shower purifier has an advanced 15- stage filtration system. Not only does it filter out the toxins and chemicals, but it also infuses your water with beneficial minerals and Vitamin C.

‘We are beginning work on our next product and hope to turn over six figures within the next year,’ Kim said

Together, KDF 55, Calcium Sulfite, Activated Carbon and High Chlorine Balls ensure MAXIMUM filtration with over 95 per cent chlorine removal, as well as reducing heavy metals, chemicals, pesticides and other contaminants from your water.

The infusion of beneficial vitamins and minerals such as Zeolite, Vitamin C and Tourmaline help revitalise and restore your hair and skin health.

Australian water supplies are estimated to have up to 50 contaminants added and closer to 2,000 if by-products are considered, with international water supplies containing even more. 

Taking this into consideration, it is no surprise many are suffering the negative effects of hard water – especially those with dyed hair or skin conditions like eczema.

What is the impact of ‘hard water’ on the skin and hair? 

EFFECTS OF HARD WATER ON SKIN

Ultimately hard water leaves a mineral residue on the skin causing dryness. Due to the large amounts of calcium in hard water, soap will also not lather sufficiently, nor completely dissolve again leaving a layer on your skin. 

This can result in irritation causing eczema, psoriasis, acne, blocked pores, premature ageing and more. What this also means is that your skincare is not able to work at its optimum. We are trying to overcome our skin conditions, yet it is our shower water that could be the cause of these skin conditions.

EFFECTS OF HARD WATER ON HAIR

Hard water coats your hair with a mineral film. This leaves your hair feeling straw-like, dry, grimey, flat and lifeless weighing down curls and causing your hair to look ‘limp. We then naturally wash our hair more often, spend more money on treatments and purple shampoos when in fact, we are only making the problem worse. 

Exposure to domestic water changes the tones of blondes. You leave the salon looking fabulous only to feel gold, brassy even copper tones appear as the iron content in hard water discolours your hair. The exposure to hard water also drys out your hair, leading to brittle hair that snaps, causing hair loss.

To further your hair health, Kim recommends investing in haircare from a professional salon.

‘Do not use pharmacy products. They are so cheap because they are diluted with chemicals, water and fillers. These ingredients do nothing for your hair health, they are actually damaging,’ she said.

She also recommends always using heat protectant, sleeping with a silk pillowcase, never going to bed with wet hair and never brushing it while wet. 

‘Don’t brush your hair while wet, unless you have a wet brush! Your hair is most fragile when it’s wet,’ she said.

‘Our next product is also really exciting and unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. We think it’s really going to be a game-changer so we’re really excited to start working on that,’ she said

The response to the filter has been nothing but positive with hundreds of five-star reviews and more than 1,000 units sold through the website and the 20 stockists.  

‘We are beginning work on our next product and hope to turn over six figures within the next year,’ Kim said.

‘We are really excited to see what’s next for Filtered Beauty. We would love to secure some international stockists in America and Europe and have our product in a major beauty store such as Mecca/Sephora. 

‘Our next product is also really exciting and unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. We think it’s really going to be a game-changer so we’re really excited to start working on that.’

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Perennials: You can divide German bearded iris now through the end of September.

Cut the leaves back about halfway so the plants are easier to handle.

Yellowing foliage can be a result of infestation by iris borer larvae, and you may see small, roundish white pellets that are actually frass (larval feces) at the base of the leaves.

If you see that, dig up the rhizomes and check them for iris borers. The borers are mature at this time of year; they are pinkish and about 1½ inches long.

A factsheet on iris borer is available at insectlab.russell.wisc.edu/ under the “Resources” tab. Look under the “Factsheets” dropdown menu for the title “Iris borer” under the Flower Insect Pests subsection.

You will likely note a fair amount of feeding damage if you find iris borers. Remove them from the rhizome and dispose of them.

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Unfortunately, bacterial soft rot may have set in following borer damage. That further deteriorates the rhizome, leaving it mushy and foul-smelling. If there is too much damage, it is best to discard the rhizome as well.

However, if there is unaffected tissue remaining, cut off the infected material and wipe off the cut end of the rhizome with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. Also disinfect the cutting tool with rubbing alcohol.

After the rhizome is cut back to healthy tissue, let it dry and callus off indoors for a couple of days. Then, replant it, making sure the rhizome is horizontal in the soil and about half of it is above and half below the soil grade.

Firm it in well so it doesn’t fall over and watch to be sure that squirrels don’t dig it up, as they are attracted to areas with freshly disturbed soil, especially at this time of year.

Some folks temporarily use landscape staples (also called sod staples), which are narrow U-shaped pieces of wire about 6 inches long, to hold the rhizomes in place until they re-root. They are available in most home improvement stores and garden centers. You could make your own out of wire coat hangers.

— Lisa Johnson, Dane County UW-Extension horticulture educator

— Lisa Johnson, Dane County UW-Extension horticulture educator

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Believe it or not, Clorox wipes can actually damage certain surfaces in your home that you may not be aware of, such as granite countertops. Clorox wipes should only be used on hard, non-porous surfaces, MHM Properties explains. There are more chemicals in Clorox besides bleach, and they cause damage to your granite, even if your countertop is protected with a sealant. If you’re using Clorox wipes to disinfect surfaces around the house, here are some things to consider.

By incorrectly wiping your kitchen countertops with Clorox wipes, you’re actually spreading germs around, not eliminating them. When we say “incorrectly,” we mean using the same wipe for every surface or repeatedly wiping the surface until it’s dried. By drying the surface too soon, you’re preventing the Clorox wipes from doing their job, News4Jax says. The best way to ensure your surface is being properly sanitized is by using one wipe per surface, then giving the area enough time to dry.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Clark County School District has confirmed that a person at Palo Verde High School on the valley’s west side has been diagnosed with monkeypox.

School officials will not say whether it is a student, faculty member, or staff that has contracted the virus.

In a ParentLink message to parents, the Palo Verde principal wrote in part, “We are currently working with the Southern Nevada Health District as they investigate the situation to determine who may need additional evaluation. The Southern Nevada Health District will notify parents and guardians if it is determined that your child needs to be tested or monitored. The safety of our students is a priority, and we will work diligently to support the Southern Nevada Health District in its investigation.”

The diagnosis was determined by the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) which is conducting contact tracing and notifications, and District staff respond accordingly to mitigate the spread of the virus and clean and disinfect areas identified according to CDC guidelines.

Sonia Petkewich a parent who spoke with 8 News Now said the news was concerning to hear and it hits too close to home.

“Everyone is just waiting for the other shoe to drop,” Petkewich said. “You kinda hope it’s not the school your kids go to, but it is.”

Brian Labus is an infectious disease epidemiologist and told 8 News Now the risk of transmission is low.

“What we’re seeing at a CCSD school is the same we’re seeing in the community,” Labus said. “It’s typically direct skin to skin contact, usually sexual contact. So it’s not something we worry about in a classroom setting.”

As of Friday, Aug. 12 the SNHD reported 75 monkeypox cases in the area.

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NAPA, CA — Napa County Public Health, in collaboration with CDC/CDPH and PBES – Environmental Health, has identified Legionella in two more sites, which have been undergoing cleaning and disinfection since last week. High levels of Legionella bacteria were identified from water samples taken from a decorative fountain and pond at Embassy Suites Napa Valley on California Blvd, and from a cooling tower at the Hall of Justice, 1125 Third Street, both in the City of Napa. Active cleaning and disinfection have been underway, prior to the availability of test results.

“We are confident that these additional sites no longer pose a risk to the public,” said Dr. Karen Relucio, Napa County Health Officer. “Staff from Public Health and PBES-Environmental Health have performed outreach to property managers of other cooling towers to perform remediation proactively, since Legionella contamination in one site can spread in the air and contaminate other sites.”

Twelve Napa County residents and one Solano County resident who was exposed in Napa, have been diagnosed and hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease since July 11, 2022. Ten people have recovered, two remain hospitalized, and one has died. The individual who passed away was over the age of 50 and had risk factors for severe disease.

Napa County residents, and people living or working in the City of Napa, with flu-like symptoms, cough, fever or difficulty breathing should contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible. People at risk can get Legionnaires’ disease by breathing in aerosolized (small droplets) water containing Legionella bacteria. Legionnaires’ disease is not spread from person to person and can be treated with antibiotics when caught early. Individuals at higher risk include those ages 50 and above, cigarette smokers, and people with chronic lung disease or compromised immune systems.

Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia that is caused by the bacteria Legionella, which grows in warm water. Aerosolized water can come from cooling towers (air-conditioning units for large buildings), hot tubs, cooling misters, decorative fountains, and plumbing systems.

Some strategies to prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria in the home are to

• Flush your faucets and showerheads if they haven’t been used recently
• Clean, disinfect, and maintain all devices that use water (e.g. humidifiers, respiratory therapy devices, showerhead and faucet aerators, water heaters, and hot tubs)

For additional instructions and guidance, please see the CDC Preventing Waterborne Germs at Home website.

This press release was produced by the Napa County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.

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If possible, the infected person should do their own laundry. Some experts recommend using hot water.

Laundry exposed to monkeypox should not be mixed with other washing, according to the CDC, which offers cleaning and disinfecting guidelines here.

“In the washing machine, regular soap is enough to get rid of the virus from those sheets,” Heldt said.

Mask mandates? Nope.

While it’s unclear the extent to which monkeypox can be inhaled, the virus is “not known to linger in the air and is not transmitted during short periods of shared airspace,” according to the CDC.

In “instances where people who have monkeypox have traveled on airplanes, no known cases of monkeypox occurred in people seated around them, even on long international flights,” the CDC said.

What are universities doing to prepare? 

Public universities are already informing students and staff about the virus and coordinating with local health departments.

Among them are Eastern Michigan University, which has a website where people can learn more about monkeypox, Michigan State University, which told students and parents in an email it’s “closely monitoring the virus,” and the University of Michigan, which has has published a question-and-answer with two public health experts to help the campus community better understand the virus. 

Central Michigan University sent an email to students, staff and faculty Thursday outlining how monkeypox spreads, information about the vaccine and resources for people who may have symptoms or may be stressed about the possibility of another illness.

“There are plans for isolation spaces for students living on campus who contract monkeypox and need to self-isolate until the infectious period has passed,” said George E. Kikano, CMU’s vice president for health affairs and dean of the College of Medicine. 

Wayne State University will provide areas to isolate and deliver meals to students on campus who get infected, said registered nurse Laurie Lauzon Clabo, the school’s chief health and wellness officer.

Clabo, who is also the dean of Wayne’s nursing school, said the university will soon distribute education materials online and in print about the virus to students about what the virus is, how it spreads and what to do if someone gets monkeypox.

That includes an acknowledgment that while the vast majority of patients have been men who’ve had sex or intimate close contact with other men, the disease can spread to anyone.  

“It’s really, really important that people understand this is not a gay disease. This is not a traditionally sexually transmitted illness,” she said. “This is transmitted by prolonged close physical contact. And I think that this sort of myth about this being a gay disease is dangerous to our society. It helps us not recognize how easily this could be transmitted.”

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