Epidemiology

The Epidemiology Program carries out the following activities to improve the health of Pasco County residents and visitors:

• Tracks and investigates reportable diseases (e.g., enteric illnesses, zoonotic diseases, and meningitis, etc.) and participates in implementing interventions to prevent the spread of disease.  Intervention strategies may include education, immunization, quarantine, and preventive treatment. 
• Monitors sentinel and syndromic surveillance systems to aid in early detection of disease clusters or outbreaks.
• Investigates disease outbreaks.  Investigations may include interviewing patients and contacts, obtaining medical records and specimens, reviewing laboratory results, analyzing statistical data and other tasks. 
• Plans for and responds to public health emergencies (e.g. emerging infectious diseases, intentional acts, etc.) in coordination with Public Health Preparedness and Response.
• Produces reports and presentations on diseases and health conditions in Pasco County.
• Conducts studies of local public health importance.

*Section 381.0031 (2), Florida Statutes (F.S.), provides that “Any practitioner licensed in this state to practice medicine, osteopathic medicine, chiropractic medicine, naturopathy, or veterinary medicine; any hospital licensed under part I of chapter 395; or any laboratory licensed under chapter 483 that diagnoses or suspects the existence of a disease of public health significance shall immediately report the fact to the Department of Health.” Department of Health Pasco County serve as the Department’s representative in this reporting requirement.

For information on how to report a communicable disease, visit our Disease Reporting Information for Health Care Providers and Laboratories page.