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Communicable Disease

Communicable Disease

There are more than 70 reportable diseases in Michigan.

The goal of Tuscola County Health Department’s Communicable Disease program is to protect the community of Tuscola County from communicable disease threats. This program monitors the occurrence of specific diseases on a community-wide level. A communicable disease can be transmitted from person to person or animal to human by direct contact with bodily fluids, ingesting contaminated food or water, inhalation of contaminated air, or from the bite of an infected insect. Viruses, bacteria, and parasites are examples of organisms that cause communicable diseases such as Hepatitis B, Meningococcal Meningitis, and Giardia.

 

Preventing and controlling communicable disease is a vital and critical aspect of assuring community health, and is a duty of local health departments. While quickly identifying cases of disease and those at risk of acquiring or transmitting disease plays a large role, other facets are equally important. Identifying health needs of those affected as well as the recommendation of appropriate prevention measures, providing education to inform and prevent future cases of disease, and assessing the effectiveness of public health disease prevention programs are important parts of the program and necessary for a healthy community.

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There are more than 70 reportable diseases in Michigan. Physicians, laboratories, and schools all report cases of disease to the local health department. Utilizing this information, we are able to monitor the incidence and prevalence of disease in Tuscola County. Single or multiple cases of disease are identified and investigated, recommendations and education are provided, and ideally, further spread of disease is prevented.

Description of Services:

  • Provide information and education to clients, health care providers, and the public regarding reporting and the spread and control of communicable diseases and infections.

  • Arrange for diagnostic measures as indicated.

  • Provide for collection and transport of specimens for diagnosis, when appropriate.

  • Investigate, follow-up, and report appropriately on communicable diseases and infections.

  • Conduct analysis of surveillance data.

  • Collaborate and coordinate activities with other public health staff, the medical community, law enforcement, and the courts in the event of hazardous communicable diseases and infections.

  • Enforce communicable disease statutes and rules necessary to control the spread of communicable disease and infections.

Who is Eligible?

  • All residents of Tuscola County are eligible for service.

Cost of Services

  • No resident is denied service because of inability to pay.

Hours of Service

  • Routine services are provided during regular hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon, 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Purpose:

  • Comply with the laws, rules, regulations, and requirements in accordance with the Michigan Public Health Code, Act 368, of 1978, and Michigan's Communicable Disease Rules, February, 1999.

  • Provide education, treatment or recommendation for treatment, immunization, and isolation when appropriate to control the spread of communicable diseases and infections.

  • Protect the health of Tuscola County residents.

Hikers hiking through forest

Preventing and controlling communicable diseases is a vital and critical aspect of assuring community health, and is a duty of local health departments.

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