Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health Report topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Texas DSHS team presents 2025 Dimmit County health report; officials note low infectious-disease counts
Summary
A Region 8 team from the Texas Department of State Health Services presented Dimmit County’s 2025 annual health data, reporting low counts of several infectious threats and outlining local preparedness, outreach and clinic supports. Commissioners asked about animal-associated risks and local clinic readiness.
Connie Rodriguez, a licensed vocational nurse with the Texas Department of State Health Services, told the Dimmit County Commissioners Court that the Region 8 field office — which covers Frio, LaSalle, Dimmit and Zavala counties — provides disease investigation, vaccination outreach, tuberculosis treatment, and HIV/STD follow-up.
At the June presentation, DSHS staff said the county’s 2025 surveillance showed fewer than five foodborne illnesses, 75 newly reported sexually transmitted diseases, zero rabies-positive animals, fewer than five vaccine-preventable illnesses, zero new tuberculosis cases, 18 food and camp inspections, and 15 Texas Health Steps providers reached. The presenters also provided the regional office phone numbers for follow-up and said a survey about the county reports will be sent to local officials.
Adriana, the epidemiologist assigned to Dimmit County, described the local role of interview and case follow-up in limiting person-to-person spread. Rachel Paniton, who works on zoonoses, summarized animal-related outreach and said the team is monitoring New World screwworm and other animal-transmitted risks. The presenters emphasized coordination with local clinics and wound-care providers and said outreach materials and flyers are being distributed for livestock owners and clinic staff.
Commissioners asked about the potential for animal illnesses to spread to people in Carrizo Springs and whether local clinics are prepared; the presenters said the agent described in the meeting is not present in the county and that wound-care clinics and local providers have been contacted to watch for cases. They recommended continuing surveillance and maintaining communication lines with local health care and animal-health partners.
The report included a brief summary of community programs managed or supported by Region 8 staff — child car-seat distribution and inspection, HIV/STD testing and treatment, education on sun and water safety, breastfeeding support, vaccination access for under- and uninsured residents, and tuberculosis testing and treatment — and the team invited commissioners to provide feedback on county report visualizations.
The court did not take a formal vote on the report; DSHS staff remained available to answer follow-up questions and to share materials with local clinics and first responders.
