To the Editor:

Thank you for including the article by SMN News Editor Kyle Perrotti, “COVID mounts late summer surge amid onset of flu season” in the Aug. 27 edition of The Smoky Mountain News. The article was-well written, factual, informative and encouraging.

Dr. Mark Jaben, M.D., Haywood County Medical Director, provided vital, scientific-based information that desperately needs to be shared with the readers of your paper, and beyond.

With the rapidly approaching fall and winter weather, it is important for the health and well-being of all of us that everyone take basic preventive health precautions to minimize the spread of infections such as COVID, Flu, RSV, pertussis (whooping cough), and a wide variety of “garden” viruses. It is important that we get vaccinated for flu, RSV (especially if you are in a high-risk group). We need to monitor closely the availability of COVID vaccines and get vaccinated as soon as they become “safely” accessible — hopefully soon. It is important to be careful entering crowded indoor spaces, to wash hands frequently, to wear good masks — preferably N-95 — if/when you may come into contact with others who may be suffering from respiratory illnesses, and to isolate yourself if you get viral respiratory symptoms.

We, the under-signees of this letter, serve as members of the Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency Board. We strongly support the efforts of Dr. Mark Jaben, M.D., Haywood County Medical Director; Dr. Sarah Banks, PhD, Haywood County Public Health Services Division Director; and the entire staff of the Public Health Services Division of our agency. We trust the leadership they provide to the residents of Haywood County. They are realistic in their approaches to providing disease prevention and control, maternal health and child health programs, health education and re-sources, emergency preparedness and reasonable access for the underserved populations of our county and beyond. The Public Health Division is a trusted neighbor/partner, educator, safety net and advocate for all.

Again, the Perrotti article was wonderful. Thank you for publishing it. While the focus was on Haywood County, we believe that everyone in our region and beyond needs to be the audience who reads it.

Members of the Haywood County Health and Human Services Board
Ella Churchill, Seth Hipkins, Mary Coker (DVM), Larry A. Reeves, Ann E. Geers, Ph.D, Phil Creger, Pharmaceutical Doctor, MHA, Stephen Wall, MD, Barbara Timmington