Communicable Diseases
Communicable Disease Surveillance is a key core public health function and includes the collection and analysis of data, and the provision of opportunities for public health action to prevent and control the spread of disease. Surveillance reports come from hospital laboratories, hospitals, military clinics, local physicians, school health nurses and the general public in Santa Rosa County.
Epidemiology Reporting & Surveillance
The Epidemiology program investigates all reports of
communicable disease. In addition, some non-communicable diseases such as
zoonosis (animal to human) and exposures to toxic substances like lead, carbon
monoxide, and pesticides are investigated. An outbreak is when two or more
unrelated people show similar symptoms and can be linked through a shared
person, place, or time; or if the infection rate for that particular disease is
high compared to trends in previous years.
Following the receipt of a report, the Epidemiology staff conducts phone or
face-to-face interviews with sick individuals to determine how and when they
became ill and to determine if others have been exposed. If the investigation
implicates a local facility (restaurant, school, or daycare) an inspection of
the establishment, if warranted, is carried out by representatives of the
Epidemiology and/or Environmental Health Department and the Department of
Business and Professional Regulations (DBPR). The Epidemiology program also
partners with community providers (daycares, schools, nursing homes and other
institutional settings) to keep our citizens safe and in good health.
Resistance to Antibiotics
Antibiotic resistance
is the ability of organisms to withstand the effects of an antibiotic
medication. While the number of these cases has increased in recent years, the
number of severe infections (defined as those causing death), have not
significantly increased. The reason for the increased number of resistant
organisms is primarily caused by the repeated and improper use of antibiotics.
Prevention Methods:
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Take antibiotics only as prescribed by your doctor
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Finish all your medication, even if you start to feel better and never skip doses
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Do not take antibiotics for a viral illness such as a cold or flu.
Communicable Diseases A-Z
Click on the links below for additional information on the selected disease (Note: the diseases with "*" are reportable. The other diseases listed are reportable only in the event of an outbreak).
The links below open documents that are in Portable Document Format (.pdf) and require Adobe Reader
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