Top 5 Infectious Disease Trends, Madison County, Idaho

Camille Hunsaker
November 13, 2012

Current Top 5 Infectious Diseases, Madison County, Idaho
I talked with Marilyn Anderson, Eastern Idaho Public Health Trainer. She mentioned that the list of top 5 infectious diseases changes fairly often depending on a number of factors. The two most common diseases for Madison county not currently on the list are Gonorrhea and Pertussis.

Chlamydia
: Chlamydia is caused by bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and is most commonly spread through sexual contact. During the past few years the numbers of Chlamydia cases in Eastern  Idaho have risen. In 2011 there were 18 reported cases of Chlamydia in Madison county. Chlamydia isn’t serious enough to be on the list of “report immediately” diseases but it does have to be reported within three days by any health professional that recognizes a case of it.


Chronic Hepatitis C: 
Chronic Hepatitis C is caused by a virus and is spread through contact with infected blood, most commonly through the sharing of needles for drug use. Madison county is close to the I-15 corridor which means there a lot of drugs being brought near and through the county. This could be a factor in why Hepatitis C has a spot in the top 5 infectious diseases. Chronic Hepatitis C often begins as acute Hepatitis but then progresses into the chronic form of the disease. There is currently no vaccine for Hepatitis C.


Giardia
: Giardia is an infection caused by parasite Giardia lamblia. Giardia can be spread through a broad range of contact with an infected object or person. It can be found in streams that contain animal wastes which will cause the disease once someone drinks the water, it can be contracted through direct contact with an infected person, or it can be contracted by eating uncooked food. There were 3 cases in Madison County in 2011. 


Salmonella
: Salmonella is caused by many different kinds of bacteria that all affect the infected person similarly. Symptoms are flu-like, including an upset stomach and fever. Like many other places this summer, Eastern Idaho was affected by the Salmonella outbreak in cantaloupe. However, earlier in the summer, another Salmonella outbreak actually began with an Idaho company, Evergreen Produce. 3 cases in Idaho were reported from this outbreak with more in the rest of the country.


Campylobacter
: Campylobacter is caused by any of the bacteria within the Campylobacteria genus. Most people who are infected with Campylobacter came in contact with it through foods that were cross-contaminated or undercooked. The symptoms for this infection are similar to many others; nausea, diarrhea, and fever. There was 1 reported case in Madison County for 2011.