The Communicable Disease Program ensures that county residents receive appropriate and timely responses to communicable disease concerns. The Communicable Disease Program is a legally mandated function of the health department. The goal of the program is to control and prevent communicable diseases. We offer information and guidance to the public and professional community on communicable disease.
What is Communicable Disease Reporting?
Reporting requires that local health care providers, hospitals and others, who are instructed to do so, submit a ”Confidential Morbidity Report” of diagnosed or suspected cases of specific communicable diseases to the health officer of St. Mary’s County. Reporting provides an opportunity for appropriate public health follow-up for patients and contacts, helps identify outbreaks, and provides a better understanding of Maryland’s communicable disease patterns. Individual communicable disease reports are kept completely confidential.
What is Communicable Disease Surveillance?
Disease surveillance is fundamental to the prevention and control of communicable diseases. Surveillance is the process of gathering disease information in a systematic way in order to observe clues, trends or patterns that will help with early detection of disease and disease outbreaks. It is the basis for planning interventions that are clearly focused and based on scientific evidence. Disease surveillance is not be traced back to specific individuals.
Did You Know?
Washing your hands with soap and water remains a sensible strategy for the prevention of communicable diseases. Hand washing can reduce the number of respiratory diseases, diarrheal infections and skin infections.
Many people do not realize that they should wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and that water alone is not as effective. Commercially available waterless alcohol-based hand gels or wipes are suitable alternatives when soap and water are not readily available. Parents should encourage children to wash their hands with soap and water as long as it takes them to sing their ABC’s.
Reportable Diseases
St. Mary’s County Health Department investigates all reported communicable diseases and disease outbreaks. Communicable Disease Program staff recommends interventions and prevention techniques. Disease conditions that we investigate include, but are not limited to:
Fact Sheets
Links - Information about general disease conditions, prevention, and disease interventions.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Immunization is one of the most important ways to protect children, adults and families from serious diseases. Public health provides information for parents, health care professionals, school nurses, childcare providers and others who are making decisions about or recommending immunization as a means to prevent diseases. Our goal is to assist individuals in making good choices that will not only protect their children, but will protect themselves and the public health.
Links
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RABIES PREVENTION
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St. Mary's County Health Department has an active rabies prevention program that includes providing human pre-exposure vaccine for hunters, veterinary workers, trappers, taxidermists and other persons at risk. We also provide Post Exposure Prevention (PEP) to health care providers to administer to patients who come in contact with a rabid or potentially rabid animal.
Links
Information about rabies and rabies prevention.
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| VACCINES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM |
2008-2009 SCHOOL ENTRY IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS |
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The national Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) helps local families by providing free vaccines to doctors who  serve eligible children. This program is administered at the national level by the CDC. The CDC contracts with vaccine manufacturers to buy the vaccine at reduced prices.
Parents may click here for more about the VFC.
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Immunization requirements Contact your child’s health care provider, school nurse or the health department for information concerning immunization requirements.
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FLU VACCINE CLINICS
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MENINGITIS VACCINE CLINICS
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The health department offers flu vaccine clinics to the public each flu season. The location and dates of the clinics vary. Please check our Calendar of Events (link to Calendar of Events page) and watch the local paper for flu clinic announcements beginning in October.
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Recommendations to protect against meningococcal disease have recently changed. The CDC recommends that adolescents 11 - 12 years and high school students receive a dose of vaccine. Students enrolling in one of Maryland’s colleges or universities and planning to live on-campus must be immunized against meningococcal disease or sign a waiver indicating that he or she chose to decline vaccination. Vaccination is strongly recommended. The health department offers the meningitis vaccine every day, 8 a.m. - noon. If younger than 18, a parent or guardian must sign to give consent. The charge is the cost of the vaccine plus a $7 administration fee. No service is denied for lack of ability to pay.
Meningitis Fact Sheet about Maryland’s program to keep students protected from this vaccine preventable disease.
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| MARYLAND PERINATAL HEPATITIS B PROGRAM |
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The Maryland Perinatal Hepatitis B Program is designed to identify pregnant women who are carriers of the Hepatitis B virus and to prevent their newborn infants from becoming infected. As many as 90% of children who are exposed to Hepatitis B during birth and early childhood will become chronically infected, and as many of 25% of these chronic carriers will die as a result of liver diseases as an adult.
Click here for guidelines about preventing Perinatal Hepatitis B infection.
Universal Hepatitis B Birth Dose Policy and Vaccination Schedule Options
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FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS