One of the core duties of public health is to track and control communicable diseases. Communicable diseases are those that can be spread person to person, animal to person, and contaminated surfaces to person, such as Influenza, Covid-19, Hantavirus, and Norovirus, and foodborne illnesses such as Salmonella and E. coli. 

All hospitals, physicians’ offices, and laboratories are required to report positive communicable disease information to health departments, per state regulations. Public health investigates illnesses and outbreaks to halt further transmission.

Epidemiology is the public health science that focuses on evaluating and studying disease spread, control and prevention within populations.  At NCHD, our work includes detecting and investigating infectious disease outbreaks within our communities and efforts to slow and halt disease transmission. Our Communicable Disease staff collect, analyze and review infectious disease data, and provide public health consultation and education to health care providers and the general public.

NCHD investigates infectious diseases that can be spread from person-to-person, through contact with animals or insects, or through ingesting contaminated food and water. This includes serious diseases such as E. coli, Salmonella, Hepatitis A, Meningitis, Rabies, Plague, Tuberculosis, Hanta Virus, and Whooping Cough (Pertussis), just to name a few. When certain diseases are reported to the health department, we work hard to determine where a person got sick and try to prevent further spread of the illness. We also work to prevent the occurrence of diseases in our communities through education to our residents and health care providers.

To see the annual influenza report covering the 2022-2023 flu season, please click here.
Starting with the 2023-2024 season, influenza reporting has been added to the data dashboard.