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DIVISION
OF HEALTH PROTECTION
Communicable Disease Program
The Adams County Health
Department Communicable Disease Control unit works to prevent the
spread of over 70 reportable communicable diseases. A
communicable disease is an illness that spreads from person to
person or animal to person. Examples include vaccine
preventable diseases such as measles, mumps and pertussis (whooping
cough) and foodborne illnesses such as salmonella and e-coli.
Communicable Disease (CD) staff at Adams County Health Department
receives daily reports of illnesses from healthcare providers in the
community and the Illinois Department of Public Health Laboratory.
CD staff follows-up on reports by interviewing individuals with the
disease and other individuals who have potentially been exposed to
the disease. Investigations to determine the source of the
infection and provide intervention to prevent additional spread of
diseases are then conducted.
Additional functions of
the CD staff includes making recommendation for the treatment of
cases and the prophylaxis (preventative treatment) of potentially
exposed individuals. Consultation with medical providers on
diagnosis and control measures for specific communicable diseases
and collaboration with other local and state health departments in
emergency planning and outbreak response are also important
functions of the Communicable Disease program. Education of
the public regarding disease transmission as well as providing
timely and accurate information to the community and media as
necessary to control outbreaks are duties of the CD staff.
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