News briefs
Published 1:30 am Tuesday, April 4, 2017
County running second trial of prepaid postage on ballot return envelopes
Voting on the Vashon Island School District’s bond proposition in this month’s special election will be easier than in the past, as King County Elections is set to run a second trial of prepaid postage on ballot return envelopes.
In February, during special elections in Maple Valley and Shoreline, the county elections office ran its first test to determine whether prepaid postage would increase voter numbers. With voting results of 5 to 10 percent higher than projected — based on those for previous special elections — and 74 percent of the ballots returned via mail compared to 26 percent via drop boxes (which don’t require postage), the trial was determined to be a success. This month, it’s Vashon’s turn.
Vashon’s voter turnout is typically higher than most areas, even for special elections — last year’s February special election saw nearly 54 percent of the island’s registered voters voting — but the county wants to see a complete picture of what prepaid postage looks like.
The cost to the county for the Maple Valley and Shoreline prepaid postage trial was $10,140, according to the King County Elections website.
Ballots for the school bond election are to be mailed to voters on April 5, with a drop box at the Vashon Library available beginning April 6. Mailed ballots need to be post marked no later than April 25. Initial results will be available after 8 p.m. April 25, and the election will be certified on May 5.
Suspected norovirus outbreak linked to raw oysters
Islanders who are fans of raw oysters should be aware of a recent advisory from Public Health — Seattle & King County regarding the consumption of the popular shellfish. Between Jan. 10 and March 20, as many as 39 people became ill with symptoms suggestive of norovirus after eating raw oysters at one of several restaurants or private events in Seattle (and one in Shelton). The oysters from each meal and restaurant or event have been traced to growing areas around the state.
Norovirus is an extremely contagious virus that causes a primarily gastrointestinal illness resulting in diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain, as well as body aches and fever. The illness typically lasts one to three days, but dehydration can be a complication.
Public Health Medical Epidemiologist Dr. Meagan Kay advises that the best way to avoid the risk of the illness is to eat only fully cooked oysters.
For more information, see King County’s Public Health Insider blog.
Recent hantavirus cases raise concern
Another virus making the news in King County right now is far more rare, but also far more serious, and fatal in over 30 percent of those who contract it. Since Dec. 2016, there have been two confirmed cases of hantavirus in the area, resulting in the death of a 30-year-old man from Issaquah and the critical illness of a 50-year-old woman from Redmond. Now there is a third suspected case.
On Tuesday, April 4, Public Health — Seattle & King County (PHSKC) announced a 50-year-old woman from Issaquah has been hospitilized with suspected hantavirus. Test results are expected later this week and an investigation is underway to determine how and where the person may have been exposed to the deer mice that carry hantavirus. Public Health officials do not believe the two cases from Issaquah are related, but say there are reports of increased numbers of deer mice seen in the area.
Hantavirus can cause a rare but deadly condition called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and is carried and transmitted in Washington by deer mice. The virus is spread via inhalation of dust from mice droppings, urine or saliva, or from touching the same and touching one’s eyes, mouth or nose. It can also be transmitted by being bitten.
According to a story in The Seattle Times, while PHSKC is fairly certain of how the Issaquah man acquired hantavirus (his home was apparently infested with the mice), the mode of transmission to the Redmond woman has not been officially determined — though her husband believes it was from an infestation of her car, leading to transmission via the heating system.
“If this third case of HPS is confirmed it suggests that certain areas of the county are at increased risk compared to past years,” Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County said in a press release. “People who live near wooded areas where deer mice are common should take steps to keep rodents out of the home and other structures, and take precautions when cleaning up rodent nests and potentially contaminated spaces. Anyone who has had exposure to rodent nests or areas where rodents are living and who develops symptoms should see a health care provider promptly.”
As Vashon is home to these mice, islanders should see the county’s Public Health Insider blog and hantavirus information page for more information on the virus, as well as safe methods for dealing with deer mice.
Pet license canvassing to start again this month
Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) will begin sending canvassers out this month for its door-to-door pet licensing outreach program. The program began last year after King County made licenses mandatory for all pets, whether they go outside or not.
According to the RASKC website, canvassers wearing King County ID badges and RASKC shirts will visit neighborhoods throughout the county, including unincorporated areas of South King County, during the spring and summer months on weekends. Upon finding any unlicensed pets, the canvassers will issue temporary licenses in order to give owners time to purchase permanent ones.
For more information on the outreach program, as well as information on pet licensing, see the RASKC page.
No injuries after Monday boat fire in Quartermaster Harbor
Four people aboard a boat at the mouth of Quartermaster Harbor Monday morning were able to extinguish a fire that started on the vessel before firefighters arrived.
Vashon Island Fire & Rescue (VIFR) Chief Charlie Krimmert said the department received a call for a boat on fire just before 8:15 a.m. from the Quartermaster Yacht Club, but that is not were the boat was.
“We were chasing it and trying to find it,” Krimmert said.
VIFR put out a call to Tacoma Fire Department, which has a fire boat. According to Tacoma Fire spokesman Joe Meinecke, Tacoma firefighters arrived on scene and found two adults and two children aboard and the fire extinguished.
The boat was towed back to shore and no injuries were reported.
