Communicable, infectious diseases can occur on any street, in the neighborhoods of any town,village or city. It makes no difference if the people affected live in an urban or a rural environment, or if they are rich or poor. Wealth or social status does not make you safe from disease. For centuries, countless lives were lost to communicable diseases, until we learned that only good, public health practices can prevent or control outbreaks. Beginning with the plague outbreaks in the 13th and 14th centuries, the health community has been challenged to find ways to reduce the spread of disease by air, water, food, animals, person to person, and now, even from terrorists.

Public Health has spent much of the last 100 years helping communities prevent and control the spread of disease. We have learned better methods produce and protect our food, to treat our water, and to immunize our children. The overall result has been eradication and/or reduction of many diseases in much of the world.

But even as public health celebrates lives saved, we remain vigilant in the world of Communicable Disease, because we, as a people, forget too easily that infection spreads rapidly if we let down our guard. If you fail to wash your hands when you use the restroom, you put yourself and others at risk. If you do not keep your child's immunizations current, you put your child at risk from infectious disease. If you forget to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, you put others at risk. those seem like common sense actions - but sometimes we forget.
Historically, when we have seen immunizations overlooked or lapsed, we have seen a measureable resurgence in preventable childhood diseases. And we are all facing the challenges now presented by the threat of infectious disease used as a weapon of bioterrorism.
E each day, public health works to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases. In 2004, VCHD conducted over 325 investigations and case documentations of Communicable Disease, including 7 cases of pertussis,and 31 reports of chicken pox.

If you have questions about communicable diseases, or immunizations, call us at 431-2662, or via email, you can contact the Communicable Disease Coordinator.

last updated 8-15-05

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