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Communicable Disease Prevention

The Columbia/ Boone County Health Department is dedicated to promoting the Health of the residents of Boone County.  Communicable diseases are addressed in two ways:

1. prevention/education
2. reporting/disease tracking

Prevention/Education

• public health professionals provide education at sites such as daycare centers and health fairs to assist in the prevention of communicable diseases
• food handlers in restaurants and other food service establishments within the city of Columbia must attend classes conducted by the Health Department
• call 573-874-7355 for details

Reporting/Disease Tracking

• reporting of communicable diseases to the Health Department by the citizens of Boone County is an important component in promoting the health of the community
• alerts us to extra efforts or actions which may be necessary to protect public health
• report suspected foodborne illnesses online
• reporting of certain diseases by health care providers is required by law
  • cases may be reported to the health department by telephone at 573-874-7355
  • we have a dedicated secure fax machine for all communicable diseases and conditions, including STD, TB, heat related illness, etc. - 573-874-7597
    • If reporting a disease by fax, a CD 1 form MO580-0779 (found in the Communicable Disease Manual as an addendum to each disease discussed therein) must be used.
  • the State of Missouri requires a number of communicable diseases to be reported to local health departments. The Communicable Disease Manual contains the newest treatment and reporting information and is available as a PDF file from the State of Missouri.  The Columbia/Boone County Health Department is the local agency which receives these reports from health care providers in Boone County.  Alternately, cases may be reported to the Missouri Department of Health at 930 Wildwood, PO Box 570, Jefferson City, Missouri, 65102

Communicable Disease Information:

• Federal Site on Global Flu Pandemic preparations
• Pertussis (Whooping cough)
• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy - "Mad Cow Disease" - USDA
• "Mad Cow Disease" and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease  - CDC
• Influenza (Flu) - CDC
• Hepatitis A - CDC
• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) - CDC
• West Nile Virus
• Anthrax - CDC
  The Health Department is concerned and staying abreast of the potential for Anthrax bio-terrorism.  Suspicious mail or objects containing powder, received from unknown persons should be left as is and local law enforcement should be called to evaluate the need to test it.  Any person with a suspicious illness (see the above link) should have a medical evaluation. Persons who suspect they may have been exposed, but who do not have symptoms of Anthrax should contact their physician.  Testing of these people is not currently available at the Health Department.

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