Appropriate follow-up of diseases reported by private physicians is performed by the health department. Food borne diseases, blood borne diseases and other reportable diseases are managed as per protocol. Seminars and educational information are available upon request.
Lex Gibson (540) 857-7600 Ext. 148
Cindy Chaos (540) 387-5530 Ext. 21
Steve Shepard (540) 857-7600 Ext. 120
The Board of Health mandates that certain diseases of public health significance are required to be reported to the local health department. The individuals responsible for reporting include physicians, nurses, and laboratory directors. The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts employ three epidemiologists who follow up on these reports to ensure that the spread of these conditions/diseases are contained. In addition to disease follow up, the epidemiologists monitor the occurrence of disease to identify trends and patterns in their distribution within the community. Following is an overview of these patterns in the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A can affect anyone. In the United States , hepatitis A can occur in situations ranging from isolated cases of disease to widespread epidemics. Good personal hygiene and proper sanitation can help prevent hepatitis A. Vaccines are also available for long-term prevention of hepatitis A virus infection in persons 2 years of age and older. Immune globulin is available for short-term prevention of hepatitis A virus infection in individuals of all ages. Two cases of Hepatitis A were reported in Roanoke City during 2003.
Hepatitis A
Roanoke City 1994 -2003
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The virus, which is called hepatitis B virus ( HBV ), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. Hepatitis B vaccine is available for all age groups to prevent hepatitis B virus infection. Six cases were reported in 2003.
Hepatitis B
Roanoke City 1994 -2003
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus ( HCV ). You may be at risk for hepatitis C and should contact your medical care provider for a blood test if you:
Hepatitis C is one of the most frequently reported diseases in the Roanoke Valley , excluding the STDs. During 2003, 54 cases were reported.
Enteric Disease – Roanoke City
Bacterial and viral infections of the gastrointestinal tract can lead to diarrheal disease. Many of these pathogens are transmitted through contaminated food or water. In the United States , diarrhea is the second most common infectious illness, accounting for one out of every six (16 percent) of all infectious diseases. Data compiled by the World Health Organization indicate that diarrheal diseases account for 15 to 34 percent of all deaths in certain countries. Conservative estimates place that death toll at four million to six million per year, with most of these occurring in children of preschool age, the elderly and the immunocompromised, all of whom are at high risk.
The five most commonly reported enteric diseases reported to Roanoke City Health Department include; Salmonellosis , Giardiasis , Campylobacter, Shigellosis, Cryptosporidiosis, and E_Coli.
Forty-eight cases of enteric disease were reported in 2002. In 2003, 25 cases were reported, representing a decrease of 48 percent . The rate per 100,000 was 26.6 in 2003, and was 51.1 in 2002. Rates per 100,000 for whites, blacks, and Asians in 2003 were 24.8, 23.9 and 88.7, respectively. The female rate was 22.1/100,000 and the male rate was 31.8. Twenty percent of the cases occurred in children under the age of 5.
Roanoke City Morbidity |
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1993 - 2003 |
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Disease/Organism |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
1998 |
1997 |
1996 |
1995 |
1994 |
1993 |
AIDS |
16 |
24 |
25 |
22 |
31 |
22 |
52 |
28 |
57 |
32 |
49 |
AMEBIASIS |
|
7 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
BRUCELLOSIS |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CAMPYLOBACTER |
1 |
9 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
8 |
14 |
13 |
12 |
19 |
22 |
CHICKENPOX |
5 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
11 |
2 |
20 |
31 |
18 |
CHLAMYDIA |
578 |
489 |
497 |
437 |
382 |
465 |
370 |
395 |
410 |
371 |
425 |
CHOLERA |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CRYPTOSPORIDUM |
3 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. COLI, 0157:H7 |
|
3 |
|
2 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
GIARDIASIS |
7 |
17 |
32 |
22 |
8 |
5 |
9 |
11 |
29 |
33 |
16 |
GONORRHEA |
397 |
299 |
287 |
350 |
298 |
354 |
308 |
255 |
286 |
369 |
393 |
HEP A |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
1 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
23 |
8 |
1 |
HEP B ACUTE |
5 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
12 |
11 |
5 |
10 |
6 |
HEP B - PREGNANT |
1 |
Not previously differentiated |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
HEP C ACUTE |
|
Not previously differentiated |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
HEP C CHRONIC |
54 |
Not previously differentiated |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
HIV |
18 |
22 |
24 |
16 |
19 |
8 |
36 |
37 |
36 |
34 |
31 |
H. INFLUENZA |
3 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
|
5 |
1 |
1 |
|
KAWASKI |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
LEAD IN CHILDREN |
9 |
24 |
22 |
23 |
18 |
27 |
45 |
55 |
55 |
45 |
|
LEGIONELLOSIS |
4 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
LISTERIOSIS |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
LYME |
2 |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
1 |
4 |
|
MALARIA |
|
|
1 |
2 |
6* |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
MEASLES |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
MENING. INFECT. |
3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
PERTUSSIS |
3 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
ANIMAL RABIES |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
ANIMAL BITES |
252 |
265 |
305 |
309 |
299 |
183 |
268 |
319 |
339 |
294 |
303 |
ANIMAL BITE TX |
10 |
10 |
15 |
21 |
23 |
9 |
5 |
21 |
10 |
10 |
4 |
RKY MT SP FEV |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
SALMONELLA |
15 |
27 |
13 |
26 |
12 |
12 |
9 |
32 |
25 |
38 |
26 |
SHIGELLA |
|
3 |
13 |
136 |
|
0 |
63 |
15 |
3 |
9 |
3 |
STREP.A.INVASIVE |
2 |
3 |
9 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SYPHILIS, EARLY |
|
|
1 |
6 |
7 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
19 |
12 |
8 |
SYPHILIS, OTHER |
|
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
14 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
TUBERCULOSIS |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
10 |
7 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
TB INF. IN CHILD |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TB SUSPECT |
12 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
13 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
WEST NILE |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YERSINIA |
|
2 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|