Board accepts first‑quarter 2025 summary of reportable diseases; pertussis uptick noted

The Mohave County epidemiologist presented the select reportable disease summary for Jan. 1–Mar. 31, 2025, and the Board of Health voted to accept the report.

The epidemiologist said influenza dominated the recent respiratory season and that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) rose later in the season. The report highlighted an increase in pertussis: 10 cases counted in the first quarter of 2025, and the epidemiologist cautioned the board that pertussis tends to appear in cyclical waves and that the county may see further increases. The epidemiologist said pertussis is vaccine‑preventable and can cause severe illness in children.

The report also reviewed other notifiable conditions. The county’s coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) rates were described in relation to the higher‑rate "Cocci Belt" counties in Arizona; the presenter said Mohave County’s pattern more closely matches statewide trends and offered city‑level breakdowns for internal reporting. The epidemiologist noted data limitations and that certain drivers for year‑to‑year variation (for example soil disturbance, testing rates or environmental factors) are not straightforward.

Board members asked questions about valley fever testing and clinical presentation; pulmonologist Dr. Winn (online) commented that valley fever is endemic to the Southwest, that testing should be considered in symptomatic patients and that early evaluation and antifungal treatment can mitigate complications for vulnerable people. Members also discussed whether animals serve as sentinels for human cases and heard that animal cases do not reliably predict human incidence.

Supervisor Gold asked for a motion; a board member moved and seconded acceptance of the routine summary. The board voted to accept the report; no amendments were made.