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Alexander County Health Department reports chlamydia and gonorrhea remain most common communicable diseases in 2024; four COVID-19 outbreaks in long‑term care
Summary
Alexander County Health Director Billy Walker and communicable-disease nurse Emily Vick reported to the Consolidated Human Services Board on Sept. 8 that chlamydia and gonorrhea were the county’s most common reportable conditions in 2024 and that the department investigated four COVID‑19 outbreaks in long‑term care facilities that year.
The Alexander County Health Department on Sept. 8 presented its 2024 communicable-disease report to the Consolidated Human Services Board, with Health Director Billy Walker and communicable-disease nurse Emily Vick summarizing case counts, outbreak activity and program work.
Walker said the department had compiled and submitted data for the state dashboard and described impending changes to the accreditation dashboard the department must follow beginning in 2026; the new process reduces benchmarks from 147 to 45 and may require staff to reformat previously submitted material. He said the health department has submitted three years of data and was unsure how the dashboard transition would affect the upcoming site visit.
Emily Vick reviewed 2024 case data and investigations: chlamydia and gonorrhea remained the most commonly reported communicable diseases in Alexander County and Salmonella was the most-reported foodborne disease. The health department investigated four COVID‑19 outbreaks during 2024 that occurred in long‑term care facilities and reported several CRE (carbapenem‑resistant Enterobacterales) cases tied to a long‑term care facility; no broader links among other communicable-disease cases were identified. Vick also noted that as of Aug. 5, 2024, there had been 1,356 confirmed measles cases nationally in 41 states, and a later CDC update to Sept. 2 listed 1,431 cases in 42 states; Alexander County had reported no measles cases.
Vick reminded residents that the health department recommends the annual influenza vaccine for everyone 6 months and older and will begin offering flu vaccines on Oct. 1. She also described routine prevention work — school outreach, social media, clinic education and community events — and said the department will continue to investigate outbreaks in congregate living facilities.
Board members asked no substantive follow‑up questions; Walker and Vick said they would provide updates if the state clarified dashboard and site‑visit procedures.
