Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the basic science of public health. The practice of epidemiology involves the study of factors determining and influencing the frequency and distribution of disease, injury, and other health-related events and their causes in human populations for the purposes of establishing programs to prevent and control their development and spread.

Vision: Our vision is to be an innovative team of dedicated professionals leading the community in prevention, intervention and control of disease.

Goal of our program: To prevent disease and injury by assuring a continuum of quality family health.

Florida has a large and unique population that fluctuates due to the continuous influx of visitors, seasonal workers and residents. It is the charge of the County Health Department epidemiology programs to be on the front lines of disease control and prevention within this unique population, using surveillance, and the collection and analysis of communicable and environmental disease information. Although technology will always aid in the advancement of methods and tools, the epidemiologist will never be matched for controlling and preventing disease in the community.

Communicable disease is a persistent threat to all people, regardless of age, gender, lifestyle, ethnic background or socioeconomic status. Although some communicable diseases have been controlled by modern medical or technical advances, new disease conditions are contantly emerging, making the job of the local epidemiologist much more challenging today then in years past.

Each County Health Department has a responsibility to investigate reported cases of all  communicable diseases and/or disease clusters.

Healthcare providers, laboratories and other public health personnel must report the occurrence of notifiable diseases to the local CHD. Without this timely surveillance data, trends cannot be accurately detected or monitored, and unusual disease occurrences and outbreaks might be missed, delaying appropriate and effective prevention and control efforts.

For more information visit the Florida Department of Health Division of Disease Control and Health Protection.