Epidemiology

The Florida Department of Health in Jefferson Epidemiology (EPI) team investigates reportable diseases and/or conditions that occur in Jefferson County. This includes food and water borne diseases, animal bite cases, and disease outbreaks. An outbreakoccurs when two or more unrelated individuals have similar symptoms or the same disease diagnosis and can be linked through a shared location or time (For example: ate at the same restaurant within a few days of each other or attended the same conference). 

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. 

Additionally, the team conducts infection control assessments (ICARs) in nursing homes and other health care facilities. These are done as preventative measures or in response to outbreaks.