Surveillance Epidemiology

What Does the Epidemiology Program do?

• Investigate, intervene, monitor, and coordinate reporting of communicable diseases/ conditions
• Identify the source of an agent, identify the mode and time of transmission, identify other persons who may have been exposed, and institute prompt action to prevent the spread of disease.
• Provide education and consultation on infectious diseases to professional providers and community groups.
• Prepare, through education and training, to deal with potential threats from the use of biological weapons of mass destruction.
• Assist with studies to assess health risks associated with new emerging infectious agents.
• Provide report of communicable diseases to the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology.

Public health statistics and community health data
Current and historical information on reportable disease counts, both statewide and for Osceola County, can be obtained from Florida Charts.

To report a reportable disease or outbreak, please use the Report of Communicable Disease Form (PDF 344KB) or contact the Epidemiology Department 24/7 at 407-343-2155. Reports may also be securely faxed to 407-343-2145.

• Reportable Diseases/Conditions in Florida - Practitioner List (PDF 344KB)
• Health Care Practitioner Reporting Guidelines (PDF 1.6 MB)
• Reportable Diseases/Conditions in Florida - Laboratory List (PDF 402KB)
• Laboratory Guidelines (PDF 1.3MB)
• Disease Reporting Information for Health Care Providers and Laboratories

Foodborne Illnesses

• Report illnesses due to food online 24/7
• Report unsafe or unsanitary conditions

Rabies Prevention

• View or download the Rabies Prevention and Control in Florida, 2014 (PDF), including recommendations for responding to both human and animal exposures to a suspected rabid animal
• Recent and historic surveillance information on animal rabies cases in Florida
• Osceola County Animal Services Division

Mosquito and Tickborne Diseases

• Mosquito-borne disease surveillance information in Florida; this information is updated weekly.
• Osceola County Mosquito Control Program
• Information on ticks and tickborne diseases in Florida

Influenza
Estimates are that between 15% and 40% of the population will develop illness from influenza every year. An average of about 36,000 people per year in the United States die from influenza, and 114,000 per year have to be admitted to the hospital as a result of influenza infection. Anyone can get the flu (even healthy people), and serious problems from influenza can happen at any age. People age 65 years and older, people of any age with chronic medical conditions, and very young children are more likely to get complications from influenza.

The Florida Department of Health in Osceola County participates in weekly influenza-like illness surveillance during flu season. For the most current information about influenza in Osceola County, please see Florida's weekly surveillance report, the Florida Flu Review.

Vaccine Preventable Diseases
Measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, varicella, pneumococcal disease, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, meningococcal and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) are all preventable by vaccine. More information concerning vaccine preventable diseases can be found through the link below.

• Vaccine Preventable Diseases

Related Links:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology