The Revere Board of Health held its regular monthly meeting last Thursday, October 22, in the City Council Chamber at Revere City Hall.
On hand for the session were chair Dr. Drew Bunker, fellow board member Viviana Catano, Director of Public Health Lauren Buck, Health Agent/Director of Inspectional Services Michael Wells, and Board of Health Clerk Paula Sepulveda.
Buck presented the Public Health Communicable Disease monthly report. “We’ve had some flu and COVID cases over the last month, but overall nothing crazy,” said Buck. “The respiratory illness season is off to an early start, and is moving from west to east. Rates are relatively low in the Northeast, but they are expected to increase soon. With the fall respiratory season underway, this is a perfect time to remind people to get their vaccines.”
Buck noted that the Board of Health is administering flu, COVID, pneumonia, and RSV shots on Wednesday afternoons from 3-5 and offers in-home visits for homebound residents and their providers.
Buck also noted that a virulent strain of Ebola has been found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya. She said the current outbreak is expected to surpass that of the mid-2010s. “However, the risk to Americans ranks very low.” Buck said.
Wells presented the monthly report of the Inspectional Services Dept. Wells said that in October, ISD issued 29 certificates of fitness for housing units; performed 16 reinspections; and are conducting 11 interior complaint inspections.There also was one pool and spa inspection and one reinspection.
In the food department, ISD performed 39 routine food inspections, seven reinspections, four complaint inspections, one pre-opening inspection, and 54 temporary food inspections.
In the exterior sanitation division, ISD agents issued 351 citations for trash violations; one for a cart out at improper times, 35 for overflowing dumpsters; six for a commercial vehicle in a residential neighborhood; 23 for junk heaps, dumps, and automobile graveyards; six for multiple unregistered motor vehicles; nine for rodent harborage; and 70 violations for unclean and unsanitary land, which is overgrowth.
Bunker concluded the brief (seven minutes) session by noting that the board will not meet again until January, 2027.