MSU Extension Service For Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS)

• Montana End-of-Life Registry - Living Will

• Norwalk Virus and Norwalk-like Viruses - What is it? And How Do We Prevent It?

A member of the well-known group of gastrointestinal viruses, this newest version has attracted the attention of the U.S. Center of Disease Control because of the severity of its symptoms. The virus is very hardy and remains infectious for hours outside of the body. It is no surprise that nursing homes, schools and facilities such as military installations and cruise ships are primary targets for these outbreaks. Sufferers of this virus quickly begin to shed high viral loads in their watery stools and vomit. Failure to thoroughly wash hands with warm soapy water after using the toilette leads to contamination.

Door knobs, stair rails, telephone and computer keypads, as well as other common everyday surfaces, become repositories of the virus. Casual contact followed by hand-to-face activity, such as chewing gum or eating without hand-washing inoculates the virus into the mouth. Hours later victims become very sick with nausea, vomiting, high fever and abdominal cramps. Symptoms may be so sever that fluid losses exceed intake leading to dehydration. This illness often lasts much longer than three days.

Note: If everyone disciplines themselves to keep their hands away from their mouths and faces unless they are washed in hot or warm soapy water first, the virus would not spread. It is that simple!! Food Handlers need to practice careful hand-washing always before handling food, especially when handling food that will not be cooked!

Unfortunately, hand-washing is hard to enforce even when compulsory, as it is for restaurant workers and in hospitals. Surfaces susceptible to contamination should be cleansed with solutions containing bleach.

Also See: Puzzle of Norwalk Virus

• Skunk Odor Control

  According to a report in Chemical & Engineering news a while back, The odorous compounds are mostly low molec weight thiols that can be inactivated by an alkaline solution of Hydrogen Peroxide, so if the spray spot can be identified, apply the following mixture ( I have no personal experience with this myself, but it is supposed to work. I would try this on an inconspicuous area first):

  • 1 quart 3% Hydrogen peroxide
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1 tsp liquid soap.
  • apply to contaminated area (can also be used on pets; avoid eyes)

  Commercial products such as Nil-odor, Skunk Off or CD Deodorant (Rexall Pharmacies) Marmaduke, Purge or Alpha Nrutroleum can be gotten from pet suppliers, kennels, veterinarians, morticians or pest control operators.

• MSU Extension Cascade Family & Consumer Science (FCS)
• Extension Nutrition Education Programs (NEP)
• Creative Recipes for Less Familiar USDA Commodities
• Family Mealtime
• New Internet health assessment available to Montanana
• Eat Right Montana
• Montana State University showcases resource-efficient homes throughout the United States
• Living Wills - the differences between a health care power of attorney and financial power of attorney and why Montanans need both.
• Rhubarb season - Rhubarb is a hardy perennial that tolerates Montana’s cold winters and dry climate and is a good source of vitamin C and iron. This fact sheet includes tips on soil preparation, mulching, suitable cultivars, planting, harvesting, and dividing crowns, as well as information about some common rhubarb pests.
• Herbal supplement use: Not telling your doctor can be dangerous - Use reliable sources when finding information about herbal supplements and remedies. One source is http://www.nutrition.gov/ . Click on "food facts" and "dietary supplements."
• Grandfamily Support Contacts Across Montana
• National Standards for Family and Consumer Sciences Education Developed by National Association of State Administrators for Family and Consumer Sciences (NASAFACS) in partnership with Vocational Technical Education Consortium of States (VTECS) and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
• Well Educated program for testing water quality
• Benefits of family mealtimes plus easy ways to get started and get organized
• A big site on farm and ranch recreation businesses is now up and running. Developed by the Univ. of Wyoming with funding from the Fund For Rural America.
• Wyoming farm, ranch, and home publications - University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service and Agricultural Experiment Station
• Here is a web site on anthrax from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). It seems to be pretty comprehensive and its focus is on humans rather than primarily animals.

• Useful Contacts:

  Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS)
  Under - Health & Human Development
  Montana State University
  218 Herrick Hall,
  P.O. Box 173540
  Bozeman, MT 59717-3540
  Tel: (406) 994-3242
  Fax: (406) 994-2013
  Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS): http://www.montana.edu/hhd/undergrad/fcs/
  Health and Human Development: http://www.montana.edu/wwwhhd/

  HHD Undergraduate Advising Office
  Tel: (406) 994-4001
  Fax: (406) 994-6314
  Location: 121 Hosaeus PE Complex
  E-mail: h...@montana.edu
  http://www.montana.edu/hhd/advising.htm

  Teton County Extension
  Family & Consumer Science
  Montana State University
  Teton County Courthouse,
  P.O. Box 130
  Choteau, MT 59422
  Tel: (406) 466-2491
  TTD/TTY:(406) 466-3976
  Fax: (406) 466-2138

  Cascade County Extension
  Family & Consumer Science
  807 Third St. NW - Great Falls MT 59404
  Tel: 406-454-6980
  Email: jmcn...@montana.edu

  Websites:

  • MSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Programs: http://www.montanafamilies.info/
  • Family & Consumer Science Publications
  • Montana Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (MEAFCS) educates and recognizes Extension professionals who improve the quality of life for Montana individuals, families, and communities through Family Economic, Family & Human Development, Food & Nutrition, Housing & Environmental Health.
  • MSU Family & Consumer Science programs of Health & Human Development - At a glance