The state-mandated Communicable Disease Program investigates reports of Title 17 Diseases and Conditions and performs activities to control the spread of infectious diseases in order to protect the health of the public.

These activities include:

• Providing accurate and timely follow-up on reportable diseases,
• Being available to the public and health care providers to answer questions about communicable disease and provide educational information, presentations and community meetings when necessary,
• Offering liaison between the State CD control and local physicians, and
• Providing assistance to local physicians in case control of reportable diseases.

STD Facts:

• Chlamydia is the most frequently reported Sexually Transmitted Disease in Mendocino County, followed by venereal warts.
• Tuberculosis cases are treated and followed by the Public Health Department for at least one year after the treatment is completed and the patient is no longer infectious.
• Hepatitis C is the fastest growing infection in Mendocino County. Most persons who are infected will carry the virus for the rest of their lives.

Historical Communicable Disease Data:

• 2003:
  • 39% of Chlamydia cases in the county were teens.
  • Mendocino encountered its first case if multi-drug-resistant TB, requiring tremendous effort and resources in treatment before the patient became non-infectious.

• 2000:
  • There were no reported cases of syphillis.
  • There were 2 reported cases of meningitis.

• 1998:
  • There were 6 reported cases of gonorrhea.
  • 12 persons were involved in a viral meningitis outbreak.
  • An outbreak of Shigella in Willits prompted 318 people to report intestinal illness after eating at a local restaurant, 62 of whom tested positive for the Shigella bacteria. A salsa served at the restaurant was epidemiologically linked to the outbreak by the National Center for Disease Control.

• 1995: Meningitis cases increase to 8 from the annual average of 1.

• 1990: 13 syphillis cases are reported, a dramatic increase over the annual average of 5.

• 1975: There were 203 reported cases of gonorrhea.

Address: 1120 South Dora Street, Ukiah, Ca 95482
Phone: (707) 472-2713
E-mail

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