Veronica Abello
I talked to Christina Bishop who works for the Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia as a RN. I'm interested in communicable diseases so she gave me some information on highlighted communicable diseases that are popular in the Fairfax County area.
1. Community-Associated MRSA Infections. Approximately 25-30% of the population in general has staph bacteria in their nose or on their skin, but do not become ill. Only about 1% of the population in general is colonized with MRSA in particular. Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and health care facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems. Fairfax County suffers from MRSA Infections because there is a high population of elderly who live in nursing homes and can easily contract an MRSA infection. In general and in Fairfax County as well, the MRSA infection doesn't develop but it's something that Christina has said they have had to closely monitor for their patients.
2. Measles (Rubeola). Measles is a highly contagious illness. Initial symptoms of measles include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, which can last about a week. In recent years the Prince William had an outbreak of Measles. Because Measles can be highly contagious, the Virginia Department of Health had to put out warnings all over the Fairfax County to warn hospitals, patients and the community so they would be aware to get immunized if necessary and to recognize the symptoms. The Virginia Department of Health had to put out a list of exposure sites for a while so people would get checked if they had been around the ares. Some of the cities were McLean, Falls Church and Woodbridge.
3. Viral Gastroenteritis - Norovirus- Norwalk-like virus (Winter Vomiting Disease) Viral Gastroenteritis is common cause of vomiting and diarrhea. Christina told me that every winter Fairfax County has a higher rate than normal of reported cases of the Norovirus, with sometimes seeing 5 cases a week during the winter. She told me that the most likely cause of the spread of the disease is the fact that children contract the disease through school's cafeteria or own food and they become sick. Then they don't keep their kids home like they should and so the kids spread the diseases in schools because parents just think it's a harmless bug. Fairfax County has placed a big emphasis in informing the community in recognizing the signs of the disease so they can be checked out and cured before spreading the diseases in schools.
4. Lyme Disease is the most commonly reported tickborne disease in Virginia. The state of Virginia in general has a very high rate of Lyme Disease because of the high amount of greenery and ticks that there is in the area. In 2011 there were 1,023 reported cases of Lyme Disease in the state of Virginia. The cases are more prevalent in Southern Virginia where you can find more nature and greenery but Fairfax County can see about 50-100 cases out of 100,000 people. Christina told me that she frequently gets seminars and has to give out seminars on the importance of preventing the contraction of the diseases and informing the public on how to recognize the symptoms so they can get it checked out.
5. Sexually Transmitted Diseases and HIV. As in many other parts of the country, the spread of STDs is alarming. Christina sees many patients who suffer from a wide variety of STDs in the Fairfax County area. The average number of people infected with Chlamydia is around 1,577 cases. The Gonorrhea average number is around 861 and for total Early Syphilis it is around 149. Christina told me that the hospital in general gets Chlamydia cases the most often, as the numbers show it is the most prevalent. Prevention is schools is a top priority for the community and the county.
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