Mission Statement:
To develop or enhance regional epidemiology services for the rapid detection and control of disease outbreaks or other adverse health outcomes. This includes evaluating, enhancing and when necessary creating new surveillance and investigation systems, analyzing data, preparing recommendations and working with appropriate programs to implement interventions for desired outcomes.
Program Overview:
The Epidemiology Program conducts disease surveillance and coordinates reporting of notifiable conditions. To reduce and prevent the spread of infectious disease the Epidemiology program provides education and resources to health professionals and the public. The Epidemiology program monitors disease incidence in Region 7 to develop and analyze statistical data to determine at-risk populations and geographical locations of occurrences.
The program consists of the Epidemiology Response Team (ERT), which is charged with developing and coordinating bioterrorism plans in the region. The ERT works in collaboration with local health departments, hospitals, health agencies and government entities to develop plans to respond to bioterrorism events in their counties. The ERT will respond to any bioterrorism event in Region 7, and through out the state of Texas as necessary.
Disease Reporting:
Call: 254-778-6744
Fax: 254-899-0405
EPI Newsletters: (PDF documents)
Flu Editions: (PDF documents)
Influenza:
Reports:
Current Situation: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‑19) Outbreak
A novel (new) coronavirus was first
detected in late December in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and is causing
an outbreak of respiratory disease in countries around the world. On February
11, 2020, the World Health Organization named the disease coronavirus disease
2019 (abbreviated “COVID‑19”).
Chinese health officials have reported
tens of thousands of cases of COVID‑19 in China, with the virus reportedly
spreading from person-to-person in parts of that country. COVID‑19 illnesses,
most of them associated with travel from Wuhan, also are being reported in a
growing number of international locations, including the United States. Some
person-to-person spread of this virus outside China has been detected. The
United States reported the first confirmed instance of person-to-person spread
with this virus on January 30, 2020.
COVID-19 in Texas
DSHS
is confirming travel-related cases of COVID-19 in Texas. Public health is
working to identify any close contacts of the patients while they were sick so
they can be isolated and monitored for symptoms and quickly tested, if needed.
Travel-related
cases in Texas don’t indicate spread within the state, but DSHS, the Texas
Division of Emergency Management, and all state agencies continue their ongoing
preparations so that all of state government is working together to limit the
spread of the virus and protect Texans. The immediate risk to most Texans
remains low.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or would like more information about
the content on this page, contact by email or by phone:
Email: HSR7.COVID@dshs.texas.gov
DSHS Public Health
Region 7: 254-778-6744 (24/7 Telephone)
More information on COVID-19
can be found here:
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
The
Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS): https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/
MRSA:
Links:
Program Email Contacts:
Bonnie Morehead, MPH, CIC, Manager
Whitney Thomas, MPH, Lead Epidemiologist
Sandi Arnold, RN, CIC, Healthcare Associated Infections Epidemiologist
Lenae Warner, Epidemiologist II
Conner Carlsen, MPH, CPH, Epidemiologist II
Dolores Mojica, Vaccine Preventable Disease Investigator
Mariana Martinez, MPH, CHES, Epidemiologist I
Yolanda Holmes, Public Health Preparedness Team Lead
Vacant, Public Health Preparedness Planner
Leisa Fletcher, MCM Coordinator
Jennifer Hurst, Public Health Preparedness Training and Exercise Coordinator
Iain Crichton, Public Health Preparedness Specialist