Barton County Health Department

01/01/2026

🎉 Happy New Year from the Barton County Health Department! 🎉

As we step into 2026, we’re answering the call for a healthier community 📱💙

This year, let’s resolve to:
✔️ Prioritize prevention
✔️ Support mental health
✔️ Look out for one another
✔️ Move more and sit less
✔️ Choose health where we can
✔️ Be prepared

Public health is about everyday choices that help keep our families, neighbors, and community strong. Thank you for being part of a healthier Barton County.

Here’s to a safe, healthy, and hopeful New Year! ✨

12/24/2025

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas & Holiday Office Closures
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas from all of us at the Barton County Health Department! We hope your holiday season is filled with peace, joy, and good health.

Please note our holiday closures:

Wednesday, December 24
Thursday, December 25
Thursday, January 1
We will reopen with normal hours on Friday, December 26, following December 25th, and again on Friday, January 2, following January 1st.

Thank you for your understanding. We appreciate the opportunity to serve our community. Have a safe and happy holiday season!

12/19/2025

📢 Lab Services Notice 📢

We’ll be doing some system maintenance, so Barton County Health Department won’t be able to offer lab services from December 26 through January 2. We’ll be back up and running with labs on January 5.

If you need labs done before the end of the year, please plan to come in Monday or Tuesday, December 22 or December 23.

Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, and thanks so much for your understanding! 😊

12/04/2025

Flu season isn’t over — and it’s not too late to protect your family. ❤️
Getting a flu vaccine can lower your risk of severe flu, hospitalization, and missed school or work.
National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec. 1–5) is here — let’s finish the year healthier.

12/02/2025

Check out our December Newsletter!

Email from Barton County Health Department Stay up to date with your Barton County Health Department!     Laboratory Services r202“Supporting a Healthy, Grateful Community” Healthy Holidays, Healthy C

11/27/2025

🍁 Happy Thanksgiving from the Barton County Health Department! 🦃
We are grateful for our wonderful community and wish you a holiday filled with warmth, gratitude, and joy.

Please note: We will be closed today and tomorrow for the Thanksgiving holiday.

11/21/2025

🦇 Rabies Surveillance in Kansas 🐶

Did you know that the Kansas State University Rabies Laboratory submits rabies test results for all animals tested in Kansas directly to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)?

You can easily explore this data yourself through the Kansas Environmental Public Health Tracking Program. Staying informed helps keep our families, pets, and communities safe!

🔗 Stay aware. Stay protected.

If you'd like it shorter, more formal,

11/18/2025

• In the United States, bats are the most reported animals with rabies.
• Most people in the U.S. who die of rabies were exposed to a rabid bat.
• Avoid touching bats and see a medical professional if you may have had contact with one.
• Learn how to keep a bat out of your home.
https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html

11/15/2025

While rabies is well controlled in the U.S., more than four million Americans report being bitten by animals each year. More than one million Americans receive rabies-related medical care from local or state health departments.
If you've been in contact with any wildlife or unfamiliar animals, particularly if you've been bitten or scratched, do the following:
• Wash any wounds immediately with soap and water for 15 minutes to flush out any virus.
• Talk with a healthcare or public health professional about your risk and if you need rabies-related care.
• Tell your healthcare provider or public health professional about the type of animal you encountered.
• Make note of and tell your healthcare provider or public health professional if you see any signs that the animal is not acting normally.
• If the animal that bit you is a pet, ask the owner for proof that the animal is up to date on their rabies vaccination.
https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/index.html -when-to-seek-medical-care

11/13/2025

The best way to avoid rabies in the U.S. is to keep your distance from wildlife.
Never approach animals who appear to be injured, sick, or dead, especially if you see animals during the day who are usually active at night (bats, raccoons, etc.). Instead, call animal control for assistance when needed.

Pet owners can lower their risk by keeping pets up to date on rabies vaccines. Also, keep pets away from wild animals as much as possible.

Learn more:
👉

Learn about rabies prevention for you and your pets.