Northern Nevada Public Health reports pertussis jump, readies TB clinic and warns surveillance capacity is strained
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Summary
District Health Officer Dr. Chad Kingsley told commissioners that pertussis cases rose from eight in 2024 to 40 in 2025, that the new ARPA-funded tuberculosis clinic is on track to open in April, and that disease surveillance and workforce limits may constrain contact tracing and response this year.
Dr. Chad Kingsley, district health officer, updated the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners on Northern Nevada Public Health’s priorities and recent trends, highlighting a concerning increase in pertussis and capacity pressures on surveillance.
Kingsley said Northern Nevada Public Health’s community health assessment identified eight priorities — including mental health, access to health services and economic stability — and noted that economic stability appears on the list for the first time. He cited a jump in whooping cough: “In 2024, we had 8 cases. In 2025, we had 40 cases,” and stressed, “this is not a rounding error. It's a signal,” noting recent school exposures that tested local clinical capacity.
Kingsley said epidemiology and disease-surveillance teams are finding cases early and notifying contacts, but that the district is “approaching the practical limits of surveillance and contact tracing capacity” because of volume and workforce constraints. He said sustaining surveillance is a top operational priority going into 2026.
On capital projects and grants, Kingsley said a new tuberculosis clinic funded with ARPA will be operational by April 1 (the presentation said the TB clinic “is 100% been on time” and is expected to be functioning by April). He noted a PFAS sampling grant for safe drinking water monitoring and a new EMS franchise agreement with REMSA to maintain local EMS delivery.
Kingsley answered commissioners’ questions about cramped office space (he said some staff can move into space freed by the TB building and county C Building construction, pending funding) and about care for uninsured residents; he said roughly 46% of the clinic’s clients are uninsured and the department is exploring Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) models and regional partnerships to meet demand. He emphasized collaboration with nonprofits and other health partners when federal funding lapses.
Why it matters: The pertussis increase, surveillance capacity limits and the new TB clinic all have direct implications for public-health readiness, clinical resources and county public services.
What’s next: The department will continue to monitor pertussis exposures, sustain surveillance capacity efforts, complete the TB clinic buildout, and return to the board with follow-up reports.
