DEPARTMENT: Public Health
FILE TYPE: Regular Information
TITLE
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Update On Disease Prevention And Control
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Receive overview and data trend updates on Public Health communicable disease prevention and control efforts in 2024.
SUMMARY
Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 375A.04, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners is, and performs the duties and exercises the powers of, a community health board under Minn. Stat. ch. 145A, including the responsibility to prevent disease and to promote and protect the public health of Dakota County residents.
Preventing and controlling infectious diseases is one of the oldest and most fundamental public health responsibilities. In Minnesota, the Department of Health (MDH) Act (Chapter 144) and the Local Public Health Act (Chapter 145A) confer authority to carry out infectious disease activities to the state health department and to community health boards, respectively. Communicable disease control is one of the foundational responsibilities of public health as cited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and adopted by MDH. To this end, the Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) team case manages individuals and responds to individual and community exposures to tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis B and other infectious diseases. The team also conducts immunization clinics to provide access to vaccines that prevent preventable diseases from occurring in the community and supports new Minnesotans with refugee status to receive important healthcare assessments and follow-up.
OUTCOMES
How much?
• The DPC team managed 74 TB workups in 2024, a 72 percent and 90 percent increase from 2022 and 2023, respectively.
• The DPC team case managed 21 cases of active TB in 2024, an increase from an average of 9.3 cases per year over the previous 10 years.
• The public health team conducted 10 mobile immunization clinics in community in 2024, serving 317 individuals and administering 1295 vaccinations.
• Through onsite, mobile and contracted immunization clinics, Public Health served 1190 individuals and administered 4445 vaccinations in 2024.
How well?
Over the last six years, Minnesota has seen an annual average of 347 infants born to hepatitis B-positive people in MN. Of those 2,083 infants over 6 years, only 2 have been identified as hepatitis B-positive. Dakota County has had no infants identified as hepatitis-B positive over this same period.
Is anyone better off?
The services that the DPC program provides are fundamental to the prevention of communicable disease and the protection of the health of the Dakota County community-at-large. The DPC team quickly responds to cases, as well as actual or potential outbreaks to ensure healthy outcomes for individuals, families, and the communities within Dakota County.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Information only; no action requested.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
None.
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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Information only; no action requested.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Presentation Slides
BOARD GOALS
☒ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Gilbert Acevedo
Author: Gina Pistulka