Henry County Health Department

14/08/2025

Don't miss out on the amazing Raintree Ride (& Walk)! Use the QR code below or follow the link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchkf79cpdhp2DNnnzQR0N9B6CSweq42ALbc9599kknjjlhDQ/viewform?pli=1

14/08/2025

🌟 Henry County – Let’s roll up our sleeves! 🌟

Registration is now open for Heart of Indiana United Way’s Annual Day of Caring in Henry County!

Join neighbors, coworkers, and friends as we come together to make a real difference in our community. From sprucing up parks to helping local nonprofits, your time and talent can create lasting change. 💪❤️

📅 Date: Oct. 3rd, 2025
📝 Sign up today and be part of something bigger: https://bit.ly/3HtjU5l

Let’s show what Henry County that United is the Way! 🙌

08/08/2025

Indiana West Nile Virus Update

The Indiana Department of Health has reported an increase in West Nile virus (WNV) activity across the state. Surveillance data indicates:

Mosquito Surveillance for 2025
• 79,322 mosquitoes tested in 1,226 pools
• 185 pools tested positive for WNV in 39 counties
• Infection rates are currently above the threshold for increased human risk

Human Cases
• 2 confirmed cases of WNV (DeKalb County and Vanderburgh County)

Prevention Measures
• Apply EPA-registered insect repellent when outdoors
• Wear long sleeves and pants, particularly during dawn and dusk
• Eliminate standing water around your home to reduce mosquito breeding sites
• Maintain window and door screens in good repair

For additional information on prevention and current activity, please visit: IDOH Mosquito Bite Prevention Page https://www.in.gov/health/idepd/zoonotic-and-vectorborne-epidemiology-entomology/vector-borne-diseases/mosquito-borne-diseases/mosquito-bite-prevention/

The Henry County Health Department encourages all residents to take steps to protect themselves and their families from mosquito-borne diseases.

Mosquito-Borne Diseases Mosquito Bite Prevention The best way to prevent mosquito-borne illnesses is to prevent the bites of infected mosquitoes. You can do this by taking measures to protect yourself from mosquito bites, taking steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors, and supporting mosqui...

30/07/2025

FREE Su***de Prevention Training – QPR
🗓 Monday, September 8 | 5–7 PM
📍 Henry Community Health – Conference Room A&B
1000 N 16th St, New Castle, IN

The Henry County Health Department invites you to a free QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training, an evidence-based program that teaches participants how to recognize the warning signs of su***de, offer hope, and connect someone to the help they need.

What You’ll Learn:
✔ How to identify signs of su***de
✔ How to offer support and hope
✔ How to connect individuals with local and national resources
✔ How to take action and potentially save a life

This training is open to the public and valuable for educators, parents, youth workers, and community members.

🔔 RSVP is required. Please email JCraig@mhai.net to register.

Presented by Henry Community Health, Henry County Health Department, LIVE Coalition, and the Indiana Su***de Prevention Network.

***dePrevention

28/07/2025

📚🎒 A huge shoutout to everyone who made the Back to School Festival at the Arts Park a success!

Pictured: Anthony Cory from the Henry County Health Department and Miranda Wright from the LIVE Coalition, just two of the many amazing partners who helped hand out over 600 bags to local kids! This event is such a wonderful way to give back and support families as they gear up for the school year.

Thank you to all the vendors and organizations who came together to invest in the future of Henry County. We appreciate you! 💙

26/07/2025

Henry County Health Department Public Notice: West Nile Activity confirmed in Henry County

The Henry County Health Department traps mosquitoes within the county, to monitor for disease transmission. Mosquitoes recently collected in Henry County tested positive for West Nile Virus. As of July 26, 2025 there has been one confirmed human case of West Nile Virus in Indiana.

West Nile virus is transmitted to people by infected mosquitoes. Although the disease is most common in the late summer months, WNV disease can occur any time during the mosquito season; which in Indiana is usually from May through October. The Indiana State Department of Health along with the Henry County Health Department would like to remind citizens to use caution when being active outside.

Protecting yourself from mosquito bites:
• Know when to expect mosquito bites. The mosquitoes that transmit disease in Indiana usually bite during the hours from dusk to dawn.
• Wear EPA-registered insect repellents. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone. Not all repellents are effective against both mosquitoes and ticks. Always follow product instructions:
• Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.
• Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children younger than 3 years old.
• Treat your clothes and outdoor gear with 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remains protective through several washings. Permethrin should never be applied directly to the skin.
• Reduce the amount of exposed skin. Wearing long sleeves, long pants, hats, socks and shoes that cover the entire foot will make it more difficult for mosquitoes to bite.

Take the following steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors:
• If possible, use air conditioning rather than leaving your doors and windows open.
• Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outdoors.
• Find and remove possible mosquito breeding sites around your home. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Removing sources of standing water can reduce the number of mosquitoes around your property. This will protect you and your family as well as your neighbors:
• “Tip and toss:” Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that could collect water outdoors, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots and trash containers.
• Tightly cover water storage containers (buckets, cisterns, rain barrels) so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs.
• For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
• If you have a septic tank, repair any cracks or gaps. Cover open vents or plumbing pipes. Use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.

For more information contact the Henry County Health Department- Environmental Division by email at environmental@henrycounty.in.gov or by phone at (765) 521-7059 and select menu option 2.

15/07/2025

Rabies Case Confirmed in Henry County – Public Health Advisory

The Henry County Health Department is notifying the public of a confirmed case of rabies in a bat found at Baker Park in New Castle on July 11, 2025. At this time, no known human or pet exposures have been reported.

As a precaution, residents are strongly encouraged to take the following steps to protect themselves and their pets:

Vaccinate pets (dogs, cats, and ferrets) against rabies

Avoid handling or feeding wild animals

Keep pets indoors or on a leash

Report sick or oddly behaving wildlife to the DNR at on.IN.gov/sickwildlife

Contact local animal control or law enforcement regarding stray animals in your area

🔍 If you or your pet had potential contact with a bat in Baker Park, please call the Henry County Health Department at (765) 521-7059 (Option #2) for a rabies risk assessment.

Rabies is a serious and often fatal disease but it is preventable. Please stay alert and take the appropriate precautions.

03/07/2025

**Community Service Announcement**

As we approach the 4th of July, NCPD would like to take a moment to remind everyone of the laws regarding fireworks use in Indiana. From June 29-July 9 fireworks may be legally fired from 5pm until two hours after sunset. On the 4th of July, fireworks may be fired from 10am until midnight.

Please refrain from calling dispatch about fireworks being legally fired. Many people will be celebrating Independance Day and shooting fireworks in a safe manner is a common part of the celebration.

Please ensure that if you are shooting fireworks, you are doing so in a safe manner. You can be held criminally and civilly liable for damage to property and/or injury as a result of shooting fireworks.

The fireworks display at Memorial Park is scheduled for Friday, July 4, 2025. The fireworks display will begin at approximately 10pm. Entry and exit into Memorial Park will be controlled by Henry County Sheriff's Office. HCSO posted a detailed plan regarding exit from the park following the fireworks display. Please take all direction from the deputies directing traffic as you attempt to enter or exit Memorial Park.

Please have a safe and enjoyable Independance Day!

03/07/2025

🎇 Leave Fireworks to the Professionals 🇺🇸

Each year, thousands of people, including children, are injured using fireworks at home. In this short video from the National Safety Council, you’ll see how quickly things can go wrong, even with sparklers.

📽️ Watch here: https://youtu.be/cVS7AQ6yAMA

A few safety tips for July 4th:

Don’t let children handle fireworks, including sparklers

Attend a professional display instead of lighting fireworks yourself

Always have water nearby in case of fire

Keep pets inside, as the noise can scare them and cause them to run off

Let’s keep our community safe and make this a holiday to remember for the right reasons!

Acting Chairman, Ann Marie Buerkle, and Mike Spencer (fireworks victim) discuss legal and illegal fireworks and encourages people to celebrate safely for the...

29/04/2025

National Fentanyl Awareness Day – April 29, 2025

Today, we pause to honor the lives lost to fentanyl poisonings—lives that span every age, background, and community.

This year, the DEA has launched the Faces of Fentanyl online memorial, a powerful tribute to more than 7,000 lives lost. Each face is a reminder that this crisis is personal. It's real. And it's not slowing down.

💻 Visit the online exhibit here: www.dea.gov/facesoffentanyl
🗣️ Share their stories. Start the conversations.

Fentanyl is 50x more potent than he**in and is being hidden in fake pills, powders—even mixed into other drugs. Just 2mg can be deadly.

🔁 Help spread awareness. Tag your posts with:



Together, we remember. We educate. And we fight back.

Check out the full article from the DEA here: https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2025/04/25/dea-recognizes-2025-national-fentanyl-awareness-day-debut-faces-fentanyl