The Florida Department of Health in Jefferson County’s Epidemiology team investigates reportable diseases and conditions that occur in Jefferson County. This includes food and water borne diseases, animal bite cases, and disease outbreaks. An outbreak occurs when two or more unrelated individuals have similar symptoms or the same disease diagnosis and can be linked through a shared location or time.

Following a report, the Epidemiology staff conducts phone or face-to-face interviews with sick individuals to determine how and when they became ill and to determine if others have been exposed. When the investigation may involve a local facility, such as a restaurant or school, an inspection of the establishment may be warranted and is carried out by representatives of the Epidemiology program and Environmental Health.