How We Learn About Infectious Disease

We investigate reports of infectious disease in East Central Vermont. If you are diagnosed with a reportable disease, one of our nurses may contact you to discuss your illness, ask you about how you got sick and help prevent your friends and family from also getting sick. We can help to train and be a resource for health care providers on how and when to report diseases.

Learn more about the Health Department’s work to prevent, track and treat reportable diseases, to keep our communities healthy.

To notify the Health Department about a reportable disease, call 802-863-7240 or 800-640-4374. Someone is available to receive your report 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. See more information for health care providers.

 

Tickborne Diseases

There are more reports of tickborne disease in Vermont in the past ten years. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tickborne disease. Learn more about tickborne disease in our area, and how you can prevent tick bites with these Be Tick Smart tips.

 

Prevent HIV, STDs and Viral Hepatitis

We provide free condoms to help reduce the risks of HIV, STDs and viral hepatitis. Stop by our office to choose your supplies. HIV, STDs and viral hepatitis can be treated and prevented. There are resources available to help. Many are free or covered by insurance and offered across Vermont. We hand out educational materials and discuss tick bite prevention with medical providers, community health teams, transportation workers, and the public.

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Healthcare-Associated Infections

We work with community partners, sharing information on how to prevent healthcare-associated infections. Our partners include infection prevention specialists from hospitals and long-term care facilities in our area. Learn more about Vermont's Collaborative to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Stewardship.

We work with the Infection Control group which includes representatives from area hospitals like the Veterans’ Administration, Gifford, and Dartmouth Hitchcock as well as long-term care facilities, medical providers, and pharmacies. Together we address antibiotic stewardship so that antibiotics are not overused. This helps prevent antibiotic-resistance, which causes antibiotics to be less effective.

 

Examples of Our Work

We are a resource for the public. We work to promote disease prevention, guiding the public to practice good hand washing, stay home when sick, and cover up coughs and sneezes with an arm. We coordinate with the Health Department Food Inspector to protect health if there is a food safety issue. You can get much more information and support from the Local Health Office as well as other partners in the community.

 

Learn More

 

Related Resources

 

Contact Us

Wendy, Public Health Nurse

802-281-5028

AHS.VDHWhiteRiverJct@vermont.gov 

 

For 24-hour reporting of reportable disease call 802-863-7240 or 800-640-4374 (VT only).