The Epidemiology Division maintains an active surveillance program of health related conditions within the City of Laredo and Webb County. This division investigates communicable diseases and provides disease interventions to detect and contain disease exposure in order to prevent outbreaks. In addition, to safeguard the health and well being of the community, this division conducts statistical analysis to review trends and project health and disease outcomes to be ready to act now and in the future to prevent the spread of disease. Finally, the division mitigates accidental or terrorist nuclear, biological, chemical and incendiary occurrences. The ultimate goal of the epidemiology division is to predict health related conditions, identify the risks, and stimulate elements that can lower morbidity and mortality. This division sees about 350 patients per year which are catalogued as infectious disease investigations.
Hospitals, clinics and physicians’ offices report health related conditions to the epidemiology division. The following health related conditions are reportable: Amebiasis, Botulism, Campylobacteriosis, Chickenpox (Varicella), Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (CJD), Cryptosporidiosis, Cyclosporiasis, Dengue, Ehrlichiosis, Encephalitis, E. coli, Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy), Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), all types of Hepatitis, Legionellosis, Listeriosis, Lyme Disease, Malaria, Meningitis, Mumps, Relapsing Fever, Salmonellosis, Shigellosis, Spotted Fever Group (Rickettsioses), Invasive Streptococcal Disease (A or B), Tetanus, Trichinosis, Typhus, Yersiniosis, Drowning/near drowning, Asbestos, Elevated Lead Levels (Adults & Children), Acute Pesticide Poisoning, and Silicosis.