Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Reportable Diseases Summary 2024 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Epidemiologist: select reportable diseases, respiratory seasons and freshwater risks in 2024
Summary
Mohave County epidemiologist Anna Scherzer gave a summary of selected reportable diseases for 2024, noting modest rises in coccidioidomycosis, seasonal influenza spikes and recent reports of harmful algal blooms in county surface waters; canine schistosomiasis surveillance was also discussed.
Anna Scherzer, Mohave County epidemiologist, on Jan. 27 presented a routine summary of select reportable diseases and other health concerns for calendar year 2024 to the Board of Health.
The review highlighted disease trends, surveillance workload and nonhuman health threats that could have human-health implications.
Why it matters: Reportable-disease surveillance guides outbreak investigation and public-health response. Scherzer emphasized the nurses’ casework behind reported counts and flagged several items for local clinicians and animal owners.
Key findings: Scherzer said campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis counts were close to five‑year medians, with salmonellosis slightly lower than the prior year. She noted 16 Lyme-disease reports but said none met the threshold to be counted as confirmed cases in the county tally. Streptococcus pneumoniae invasive disease and group A streptococcus invasive disease had increased; coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) showed a modest rise in 2024.
Respiratory season and algal blooms: Scherzer said respiratory illnesses (RSV, influenza and COVID-19) were low during summer and rose through the holiday season, with influenza A predominant in the recent spike. She also described five recent harmful algal‑bloom reports on Lake Havasu and noted that these blooms can produce toxins harmful to aquatic life and, in large exposures, to humans and pets. She advised caution near visible blooms and noted dogs can be particularly at risk because they may ingest surface water or licked toxins from fur.
Canine parasite surveillance: Scherzer summarized ongoing surveillance for the parasitic trematode Heterobilharzia americana after recent detections in animals elsewhere; University of California Riverside has conducted snail surveillance in portions of the Colorado River and surrounding waterways. Local veterinarians have been informed and a national research project (the “Great Drake Project”) has offered voluntary canine testing to track affected animals.
Board response: Members asked for follow-up counts for specific clusters (for example, salmonellosis linked to backyard poultry) and were reminded that the nursing division conducts case investigations for reportable conditions.
Ending: Scherzer said detailed counts and the final surveillance summary will be provided to the board and that public-health staff continue routine investigations and partner communications.
