Author: Kailee Curtis

Communicable Disease Control

Communicable diseases are infectious diseases that can be transmitted (spread) to humans. Some ways in which communicable diseases are spread include person-to-person, contact with contaminated surfaces, through air or water, or by a vector, such as an insect. In Michigan, there are currently almost 100 reportable diseases. Michigan local health departments work with a variety of health care and laboratory partners to control the spread of communicable diseases through testing, treatment, prevention, control, and education.

Key Positions
CD Coordinator
Public Health Nurse
Billing/Support Staff
Public Health Physician
Community Health Promotion Specialist

Combined FTE: 2.1

Aligns with BEDHD Strategic Priorities:

A strong, healthy start in life
Healthy and safe food, water, and air
Protect the community from potential health hazards
Enhance involvement, engagement and collaboration

Funding Sources for BEDHD Communicable Disease Programs:
Funding for communicable disease control services comes from state and local grants, public and private health insurance, and fees for service.

Meets Public Health Standards:

ü	Michigan Public Health Code
ü	Michigan Local Public Health Accreditation
ü	Public Health Accreditation Board

Health Improvement Efforts:

State Grants

Local Funding

Public & Private Health Insurance

Fees

	Barry Community Health Assessment & Community Health Improvement Plan
	Eaton Community Health Assessment & Community Health Improvement Plan

Goals:
BEDHD communicable disease programs prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases by:
Identifying cases through testing and reporting
Conducting surveillance and data analysis
Recommending and instituting infection control measures to slow and stop outbreaks
Providing education to patients, health care providers, and the community
Ensuring timely reporting of cases to the state health department

Impact: BEDHD investigated 1,031 cases
of communicable diseases in 2017.

Services:
In Barry and Eaton counties, the Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) is the primary agency responsible for population-level disease control and prevention. BEDHD services cut across the full range of communicable diseases, including foodborne diseases, vaccine-preventable diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV-related disease, rabies response, and tuberculosis. Program activities are directed toward preventing communicable disease transmission, the gathering of information concerning the occurrence of such diseases, investigating cases and outbreaks of disease, evaluating data and case information, offering testing and treatment in certain instances, and instituting measures to control epidemics.