- The Wayne County Health Department will lose $200,000 in federal funding due to rescinded COVID-19 pandemic grants.
- The department has implemented a hiring freeze and delayed upgrades, but no layoffs are planned.
- Health officials are preparing for a potential measles outbreak, emphasizing the importance of vaccination.
- The department is working with hospitals and agencies on an emergency response plan.
The Wayne County Health Department faces the loss of about $200,000 in funding with the COVID-19 pandemic infrastructure grants being rescinded by the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services canceled about $12 billion in public health grants that had been allocated during the pandemic.
As a result of the cuts, the Wayne County Health Department instituted a hiring freeze, delayed infrastructure and IT upgrades and reassigned staff to cover essential work, according to Dr. Nicholas Cascarelli, health commissioner. While no layoffs are planned, he warned the belt-tightening will strain long-term planning.
Cascarelli said the lost funds were intended to help health departments rebuild and modernize services after the pandemic.
"This grant was supposed to help us recover from COVID and improve our infrastructure,” he said. “But now we’re having to do more with less.”
He noted the timing is especially challenging, as the department must remain vigilant for other public health threats with fewer resources. Wayne County’s situation reflects a broader challenge, Cascarelli said as health departments across Ohio and the nation face similar cuts.
Officials in other states have warned stripping away public health funding will undermine the ability to protect families from infectious diseases like measles.
Preparing for possible measles cases
Wayne County health officials are preparing for a potential measles outbreak. No positive cases of measles have been confirmed in Wayne County, but a case was identified last week in Holmes County.
Cascarelli said given measles’ high contagion, he believes it is likely already present in the Wayne community under the radar.
“I’m confident cases are present locally but undetected,” Cascarelli said, noting the proximity of the Holmes County case puts Wayne County on alert.
He has directed his team to work with area hospitals and agencies on an emergency response plan that includes reviewing protocols for isolating suspected cases, conducting contact tracing and informing the public if an exposure occurs.
Measles typically produces a red, blotchy rash, along with fever, cough and other flu-like symptoms. The virus is one of the most contagious in the world − it can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
About 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles will become ill. Because of its airborne spread, a single case can lead to an outbreak in communities with low immunity, the CDC says.
Young children and individuals with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of severe complications from measles, which can include pneumonia and encephalitis.
Cascarelli said the health department has been meeting with healthcare providers and school officials to bolster measles preparedness.
“We’re in constant communication with our hospitals and community partners to ensure we can identify and contain measles cases immediately,” he said.
The department also is sharing information on measles symptoms with doctors and urging them to promptly report any suspected cases.
“It’s frustrating to lose funding right when we might need to scale up for measles,” Cascarelli said. “The timing couldn’t be worse.”
Community support eases challenges
Despite the financial setback and looming health concerns, he emphasized community support in Wayne County remains strong.
He credited the public’s cooperation and trust as key factors that helped the department to navigate the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and said that support continues to be vital as new challenges emerge.
“Our community really stepped up during COVID from getting vaccinated to following public health advice,” Cascarelli said. “That same support is what’s going to help us get through this funding shortfall and any disease threats that come our way.”
Cascarelli noted county officials understand the importance of maintaining public health services and have been supportive as the department adjusts its plans.
"We have a committed staff and a community that values what we do,” he said. “That makes all the difference in tough times like these.”
Doubling down on the measles vaccine message and science
In the face of the measles threat, Cascarelli is doubling down on messages about vaccination and science.
He said the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is the most effective tool to prevent the disease’s spread.
“At the Wayne County Health Department, we have vaccines for residents at every stage of life,” Cascarelli said. “They’re safe, they’re effective and they protect our community.”
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles infection, and Cascarelli urged eligible individuals, especially children, to ensure they are up to date on immunizations.
Health officials are concerned about rising vaccine hesitancy, which has led some families to skip or delay shots.
Cascarelli said misinformation has eroded some public trust in vaccines, but he appealed to residents to rely on proven science.
“We understand people have questions, but we encourage everyone to look at the facts and decades of research,” he said. “Vaccines like the MMR have saved lives for generations. Trusting science and getting vaccinated is critical to keeping our community safe.”
Cascarelli also pointed out the current measles alert underscores why sustained public health funding is important.
“This is exactly the scenario those funds were meant for, boosting our capacity after COVID so we can handle something like measles,” Cascarelli said. “We’ll still do our job, but it would be a lot easier with that support.
"Funding or no funding, our mission doesn’t change. We’re here to keep families safe,” he said.
