Epidemiology
The primary responsibility of the Epidemiology Program at the Santa Rosa County Health Department is to investigate, monitor, and implement the reporting and control of communicable diseases within our community that may significantly affect public health as specified in Florida Statute 381.0031 (1,2) and Florida Administrative Code Chapter 64D-3. Our staff is directly responsible for investigating over 80 reportable conditions with the exception of HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
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Contact Information
If you need to report an outbreak of
illness, please contact us at:
Phone: (850) 983-5200
After hours: call the 24 hour hotline at (850) 418-5566
For physician reporting please download and complete the Disease Reporting Form (.pdf - 62kb) and fax it to:
Confidential Fax: (850) 983-4504
When submitting a lab specimen for state lab confirmation please download and complete the Lab Submittal Form (.pdf - 877kb) and turn it in with the specimen to the appropriate state laboratory.
The Florida Department of Health has a current List of Reportable Diseases (.pdf - 48kb)
Sentinel Physician Influenza Surveillance Program
The Santa Rosa CHD needs physicians to help monitor outbreaks of influenza in our community. To learn more about this program and become a Santa Rosa County Sentinel Physician, contact the Epidemiology Department at the Santa Rosa County Health Department at (850) 983-5200 or download the 2010-2011 Sentinel Physician Information Packet. (.pdf 1.7 MB)
Areas of Interest
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Communicable Diseases
Communicable Disease Surveillance
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).
Food Concerns
Foodborne Illnesses
Foodborne diseases are caused when a person consumes a food or drink that is contaminated with a
pathogen. Pathogens are disease causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses,
parasites, or toxins. After consuming food or drinks containing pathogens the
individual may start to feel symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, body
aches and/or fever. The first symptoms of foodborne illness can occur minutes to
days or even weeks after the consumption of the infected food or drink,
depending on the type of pathogen. If you believe that you have become ill after
eating at a public facility, please report your illness to our Environmental
Health office by calling 850-983-5275.
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Be prepared to tell us the following information:
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The name and location of the establishment
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The date and time you were there
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Specifics on what you ate
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If anyone ate with you and if anyone else is ill
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The date and time of your first symptoms
Prevention Methods:
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Wash hands properly
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Avoid cross contamination of foods (keep raw foods separate from cooked foods)
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Cook foods to the proper temperature - to see a chart, visit the Food Safety webpage
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Thaw foods slowly - in your refrigerator or by using cold water
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Cool hot foods down quickly and store them in shallow containers
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Keep cold foods at 40° F or below and hot foods above 140°F
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Don't keep perishable foods for longer than 7 days
For more information visit the Food Safety webpage.
Arboviruses
Mosquitoes and Ticks
Arboviruses are a class of viruses spread to humans by arthropods such as mosquitoes and ticks. Some examples of arboviruses that are transmitted in Santa Rosa county by mosquitoes include West Nile virus (WNV), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE). Some examples of arboviruses that are transmitted in Santa Rosa county by ticks are Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Symptoms can very from none to severe or even life threatening.
Common symptoms of arbovirus illness include:
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Fever
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Headache
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Tiredness
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Dizziness
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Confusion
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Rash
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Muscle weakness
To prevent mosquito-borne diseases, practice the "5 D's"
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Don't go outdoors at DUSK and DAWN when mosquitoes are most active.
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DRESS so your skin is covered with clothing.
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Apply mosquito repellent containing DEET to bare skin and clothing. Other effective repellents include picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535.
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Empty containers and DRAIN standing water around your home where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.
Newsletters and Reports
Epidemiology Newsletters
2009 October Newsletter (.pdf - 393kb)
2010 January Newsletter (.pdf - 260kb)
2010 March Newsletter (.pdf - 299kb)
2011 January Newsletter (.pdf - 624kb)
2011 July Newsletter (.pdf - 743kb)
Monthly Disease Reports
October 2010 (.pdf - 16kb)
November 2010 (.pdf - 24kb)
December 2010 (.pdf - 24kb)
Year End Reports
Santa Rosa County Health Dept. 2009 Year-End Summary (.pdf - 104kb)
Informational Websites
United States Food and Drug Administration
