Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Topical Presentations <br /> 1) Prevention, Investigation and Control of Communicable Disease <br /> Dr. Tim Carey, MD <br /> Mandated Service: <br /> Communicable Disease investigation and control is a mandated service of local Health <br /> Departments per North Carolina General Statute 130A, Article 6 and North Carolina <br /> Administrative Code <br /> Communicable Disease Statistics: <br /> In 2007-08, Communicable Disease (CD) activities increased significantly: <br /> - 11 cases of active TB disease received 6 months of Directly Observed Treatment <br /> - 492 TB contacts of the 11 active cases needed follow-up and evaluation <br /> - 90 latent TB cases received 9 months of preventive therapy <br /> - 4,341 childhood and adult immunizations were provided (other than flu) <br /> - 227 refugees received communicable disease screenings <br /> - 3 food borne illness outbreaks were investigated and controlled <br /> - 139 reported CD cases/conditions (other than TB) were investigated and/or monitored <br /> with follow-up to 421 contacts provided <br /> - 370 rabies exposure consultations were provided <br /> Challenges: <br /> - 30% increase in workload related to new North Carolina Electronic Disease Surveillance <br /> System (NCEDSS) <br /> - Growing foreign-born immigrant and refugee population <br /> - 35% increase in demand for childhood immunizations. <br /> - Limited opportunities to practice mass vaccination clinics. <br /> - Explosion in the number of refugees resettling in Orange County. <br /> - Lead testing rates have remained at a very low level with limited ability to focus on <br /> gaining compliance from private providers for testing. <br /> Response: <br /> - Re-directed existing nurse with part-time refugee duties to full-time refugee health <br /> - Re-directed the duties of an adult health nurse to provide part-time communicable <br /> disease services and lead-based prevention program initiatives. <br /> - Severely limited the chronic disease care coordination program for elderly. <br /> - Discontinued the community-based rapid results HIV testing program. <br /> - Discontinued the lay health advisor program for community HIV education. <br /> - Eliminated community-based flu clinics other than for high-risk populations <br /> Need: Additional communicable disease nurse to: <br /> - Assure timely investigation and follow-up of communicable diseases <br /> - Provide nursing follow-up and data management of NCEDSS cases <br /> - Provide rapid HIV counseling and testing program in high-risk communities <br /> - Provide additional childhood and adult vaccinations <br /> - Work with private medical providers to increase the number of children receiving blood <br /> lead tests <br /> 2) Facilities and Technology <br />