The Communicable Disease Prevention includes epidemiology activities directed toward disease surveillance, prevention, detection, management and control of communicable diseases throughout the community.
We investigate reported diseases (PDF) to ensure that the disease does not spread further in the community, and will educate, vaccinate and medicate as recommended.
In addition to these duties they will do some active surveillance in the community so that any unusual disease occurrence will be noted. This will be particularly helpful considering the terrorist event of 9/11/01. Any possible biological agent that could be used by a bio-terrorist would be noticed in a quicker timeframe as a result of these efforts.
This unit will also help to prevent outbreaks of seasonal influenza by assisting in immunizing our community with flu vaccine. They will help to immunize community businesses with particular focus on our high-risk populations.
The Tuberculosis Clinic provides diagnostic and treatment services including but not limited to :
Screening for exposure (Mantoux/PPD testing);
Giving and interpreting x-rays;
Obtaining sputum and other specimens for laboratory analysis:
Providing prescription and other drugs for treatment;
Monitoring patient reaction to toxic prescription drugs;
Monitoring adherence to treatment or therapy regime;
Providing social services to ensure completion of treatment or therapy;
Providing Directly Observed Therapy and related services for persons with TB necessitating 6 to 9 months of multiple office, home, and/or worksite visits;
Providing social services to ensure completion of treatment or therapy;
Providing consultation on diagnosis and treatment to physicians, nursing homes, social service agencies, hospitals, and others.
The Specialty Clinic diagnoses and treats sexually transmitted diseases which includes syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital warts, etc. HIV testing is also offered at this clinic.
The HIV/AIDS Prevention Program provides education to the community to promote awareness of safer sex strategies to different target groups such as Men who have sex with Men (MSM), African Americans, Women at risk, Youth, etc. This program also provides condom distribution throughout the community.
The Office of Vaccines & Immunizations will assess the community knowledge of vaccines and level of vaccination against vaccine preventable diseases (VPD), maintain community compliance with assessment and enforcement of school and daycare entry immunization requirements,and assure public access to vaccines and vaccine knowledge
To report infectious diseases call 574-6677.
To receive information regarding immunizations call 574-5380.
The Center for Disease Control Public Response Service is available for further inquiries.
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 8am-11pm(ET) and Sat-Sun 10am-8pm. (ET)
Toll-free numbers: English 1-888-246-2675 and Spanish 1-888-246-2857 and TTY 1-866-874-2646
Email:cdcresponse@ashastd.org.
Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/
For other topics of interest please visit the Jefferson County Medical Society site at http://www.jcms.org/