Natalia Russell

                I spoke with Christine Ouellette, a Nurse Epidemiologist at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura CA. She listed the top five health trends of her community to be: Sexually Transmitted Diseases, cancer, obesity, Pertussis and a recent increase in Tuberculosis cases.

                According to the California Local Health Jurisdiction STD Data Summaries, 2011 Provisional Data (August 2012), Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Primary and Secondary Syphilis are the top sexually transmitted diseases affecting Ventura County. The rate of cases of women with Chlamydia decreased from 2009-2010 and then increased from 2010-2011. In contrast, the rate of cases of men with Chlamydia has been steadily increasing over the past decade. Women have had a sharp increase in the rate of cases of gonorrhea over the past three years and in the last year have superseded the rate of men for the same disease. For P&S syphilis, the rate of women has been kept extremely low over the past decade. The rate of men with P&S syphilis is much higher than that of women, but is on the decline.

                Of the 47 counties and regions of the state of California, Ventura County holds the seventh highest rate of breast cancer in women as stated in an article published by the Ventura County Star. Non-Hispanic white women are those most affected. Among the reasons theorized for this alarming data are environmental factors such as pesticides from the agricultural community, affluence and higher screen rates. This statistic is not all doom and gloom, although Ventura County had a higher rate for breast cancer it also had a lower percentage of people dying from the disease. So although more women are being diagnosed with breast cancer, more are being treated in the earlier stages and thus less are dying.

                Obesity is a major concern for public health officials in Ventura County. Even though obesity affects all ages, childhood obesity has been given much need focus and attention. The Overweight and Obesity among Children by California Cities- 2010 Ventura County Factsheet presents data that shows the county’s rate of children obesity ranges from 25.7%-52.6%. A correlation can be seen between the rate of childhood obesity and income in Ventura County, the more affluent cities performing better than those with lower economic standings. Across the county, many school and community programs have been started in an effort to help increase physical activity and thus lower obesity rates.

                Pertussis, or more commonly known as Whooping Cough, has become a prevalent cause for morbidity in Ventura County over the past three years. The Quarterly Morbidity Report,Ventura County (1st Quarter 2012) shows an overwhelming increase in deaths caused by this infectious disease. The yearly total for death caused by Pertussis in 2009 was 39, spiking to an astonishing 352 the very next year. In 2011, the number of deaths was lowered to 152, but still remains high in comparison to the early to late 2000’s. Vaccination against Pertussis has been the main tactic employed by health professional to deal with this fatal disease.  

                Lastly, during my conversation with Christine Ouellette, she mentioned the recent increase in tuberculosis cases at the hospital she works.  She said almost all of the patients she sees with tuberculosis are immigrants. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that has a high morbidity rate. Beginning in July of this year, a middle school in Oxnard, Fremont Intermediate, began requiring all students and teachers to have a T.B. test done. An increase in testing and education regarding T.B. can be seen throughout the county.