NEW!! Important Food Safety Information!!!

Del Monte Vegetable Tray Recall - Click here to learn more.
Kellogg Cereal Recall - Click here to learn more.
Pre-Cut Melon Recall from Certain stores- Click here to learn more.

NEW!! If you care about our youth, please consider watching and sharing this powerful educational YouTube video on the dangers of E-cigs and their addictive powers. Click here to view.

NEW!! Immunization Press Release and why the Immunization Law is Important - Click here to view.

Welcome to the Polk County, Wisconsin Health Department Website!

Our agency provides services with the goal of protecting, promoting and preserving the health of our communities through partnerships with a diverse group of stakeholders. Our primary focus is the delivery of high quality public health services to the citizens of Polk County, Wisconsin. Please explore our department's website to learn more about what we do or to connect to a program that may be of benefit to you and your family. We value your comments and input on any of the posted reports and program services you have the opportunity to use or experience.

June Is National Healthy Homes Month

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joins the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in recognizing June as National Healthy Homes Month.

We invite you to use this opportunity to learn about the relationship between indoor air, housing and health. Resources are available that can assist you in advocating for healthy housing.

EPA’s Indoor Environments Division shares HUD’s goal of ensuring healthy homes by maintaining healthy indoor air. The following strategies will help maintain and improve your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ):

Source Control—Eliminate sources or reduce emissions. For example, adjust emissions from gas stoves, and eliminate sources of mold and moisture.
Better Ventilation—Use exhaust fans when cooking or showering.
Filters and Air Cleaners—Change the filter in your heating/cooling system and follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Also, consider using an air cleaning device.

You can improve your home’s air quality by using “green” cleaning products, not smoking indoors, testing your home for radon and upgrading your heating and cooling systems to be cleaner and more energy efficient, among many other actions.

Celebrate National Healthy Homes Month with EPA’s Indoor Environments Division and HUD! Follow the links below to resources that can help you improve your home’s IAQ:

EPA: Protect the IAQ in Your Home: What You Can Do Now
EPA: Interactive Mold House Tour
HUD: The Healthy Homes Program

Dog Bite Law

The summer months sees an increase in reportable animal bites to the Polk County Health Department (PCHD). These reports must be followed-up by public health staff. This is done to protect the health of those affected by the animal bite, as well as the public in general.

The PCHD wants to remind everyone that Wisconsin State Law (SS 95.21) states that any dog or cat which bites a person is to be confined for ten days to watch for signs of rabies. This important public health law is in place to protect everyone’s health.

During the summer months families and their pets may be out and about more, leading to more chances for animal bites. The best way to prevent these types of accidents is for owners to vaccinate and control their pets to avoid injuries and costly bills due to a bite. As a reminder, it is the owners’ responsibility to pay for any cost related to an animal needing to be confined.

To learn more about this important public health law and ways to protect your pet and yourself, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website and search ‘Animal Bites.’