Infectious Disease Surveillance and Response Program (IDSR)
Our mission:
- We INFORM and EDUCATE our community about infectious diseases.
- We TRACK infectious diseases in Howard County, and MONITOR how they impact our population.
- We PREVENT and CONTROL infectious diseases, responding to reported rates of infection.
Infectious diseases are any diseases that can spread from person to person.
What We Do:
We keep track of possible and known infectious diseases in Howard County, then use that helpful information to prevent and control the spread of those diseases.
IDSR Team Members:
- We FIND diseases, LEAD investigations, and WORK with our team and our partners to control the spread of disease. This is called “Outbreak Management.”
- We GUIDE our partners, including healthcare professionals, healthcare facilities, and other public and private agencies and organizations on how to prevent, control, and test for infectious diseases.
- We MANAGE rabies investigations, helping to determine exposure risks and recommending and coordinating post-exposure prophylaxis for those who need it.
- We INVESTIGATE illnesses reported from food establishments, determining the possible cause and protecting others from getting sick.
How We Do It:
- Our team partners with the Health Department’s Environmental Health bureau when there is a suspected human exposure to rabies.
- Our nurses evaluate each situation and offer guidance on how to manage post-exposure prophylaxis, if necessary, to protect those exposed to rabies.
- We offer rabies titer testing for at-risk groups.
If you have concerns about a potentially infected animal, please contact our Environmental Health bureau first. You can reach them online or report an animal bite. You can also call our Environmental Health bureau at 410-313-2640.
- Our team visits assisted living and skilled nursing facilities to share infectious disease education and guidance and offer helpful information on reporting requirements. We are a resource for administrators, preventing and managing illness in these establishments.
- Our team uses lab surveillance systems to gather data on infectious diseases in our community. We keep track of disease trends and take action to prevent or manage outbreaks and protect the health of our community.
- When we receive a lab report, we follow up for exposures or infections. Follow-up may include learning more about symptoms, a variety of treatment options, or more information about the specific cause of infection.
- Our team partners with our Environmental Health bureau to manage food-borne illness complaints. We interview those who may have been exposed to food-borne illnesses and offer resources as needed.
- If you have concerns about a food service establishment, please contact our Environmental Health bureau first. You can reach them online. You can also call our Environmental Health bureau at 410-313-2640.
- Our team provides disease-specific guidance and resources for treatment and follow-up care when a group or facility in our region experiences an outbreak of an infectious disease. We also lead outbreak investigations when we find an increase in disease trends and cases. We work to prevent disease transmission and to answer questions and concerns about the health and safety of our Howard County residents.
What To Expect:
- If you report an infectious disease, our team may contact you to help us investigate the cause and prevent others from getting sick. We follow HIPAA privacy regulations, and your sensitive health data is kept strictly confidential. Any information that we gather is used only for healthcare purposes, and will only be shared within healthcare agencies as necessary to prevent further spread of disease in our community.
- We guarantee your confidentiality, and that promise is the foundation of trust between you, the IDSR team, and the entire Howard County Health Department.
Topic of the Season
Our IDSR team focuses on how to prevent and protect the public from contagious diseases that are common but sometimes overlooked. On this page we’ll take a look at what you can do to help prevent the spread of these illnesses and what the Health Department does to help protect the community.
Respiratory Virus Infection, Prevention and Control Education
- Immunizations -Vaccinations are the best way to protect your child, your family, and your community from serious diseases. They help infants, children, and adults build strong defenses against illness. For people of all ages, particularly those with underlying health conditions, vaccines can lessen or prevent illnesses which can be dangerous.
- Practice good hygiene
- Wash your hands frequently
- Cough/sneeze into your elbow or tissue (and throw away)
- Sanitize frequently used surfaces
- Make sure you are up-to-date with your vaccines
- Clean air
- Bring as much fresh air into your home as possible by opening doors and windows and/or using exhaust fans.
- If your home has a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC, a system with air ducts that go throughout the home) that has a filter, set the fan to the "on" position instead of "auto" when you have visitors and use pleated filters. Change your filter every three months or according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Use a portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaner.
- As possible, move activities outdoors, where airflow is best.
- When sick
- Prevent spread by staying away from others
- Take an at-home test to help you determine next steps (Test kits can be found at local pharmacies, retailers and grocery stores.)
- Wear a mask and try to distance from others
- If possible, stay home from work or school
- Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing or chest pain), seek emergency medical care.
In addition to CDC's Respiratory Virus Guidance, there are several special considerations for people with certain risk factors for severe illness.
Risk Factors for Severe Illness from Respiratory Viruses
- Older Adults
- Young Children
- People with Weakened Immune Systems
- People with Disabilities
- Pregnant Women
Key Times for Prevention:
All of the prevention strategies described in this guidance can be helpful to reduce risk. They are especially helpful when:
- Respiratory viruses are causing a lot of illness in your community.
- You or the people around you were recently exposed to a respiratory virus, are sick, or are recovering.
- You or the people around you have risk factors for severe illness.
- Many factors can make it more likely for someone to become very sick from a respiratory virus, including young children, older adults, people with weakened immune systems, women who are pregnant, and people with disabilities.
- You may not be aware of the things that can make others more vulnerable to serious illness. Using the core prevention strategies will provide a degree of protection regardless. If you are unsure about the health condition or risk status of those around you, the most protective option is choosing to use additional prevention strategies, like masking, physical distancing, and testing.
You can monitor rates of respiratory viruses in Howard County throughout the season by visiting the CDC Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel webpage.
Diseases of Interest
Laboratories and Healthcare Providers are required by law to report certain diseases to the local health department. Some diseases are recorded to become a part of the Local, State and National statistics. Other diseases require public health measures, or interventions. These diseases include, but are not limited to:
- Foodborne illnesses
- Hepatitis
- Tuberculosis
- Lyme disease
- Meningitis
- Polio
- Outbreaks
The Howard County Health Department may contact you for information that will assist in the investigation, and help to prevent others from getting sick.
See Maryland's Infectious Disease Bureau or CDC.gov for specific disease information.
Information for Healthcare Providers
Howard County Healthcare Providers who need to submit a reportable illness case to the Health Department should call 410-313-1412. Providers may also email infectiousdisease@howardcountymd.gov for assistance.
Signs & Symptoms
The most common symptoms of food poisoning are diarrhea, stomach pain or cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever. If you have diarrhea or vomiting, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration (not having enough water in your body).
If you are pregnant and experience any food poisoning symptoms, have a fever, and other flu-like symptoms, please see your doctor. Some mild infections can cause problems with pregnancy.
The five signs of severe food poisoning are*:
- bloody diarrhea
- diarrhea that lasts more than 3 days
- high fever (temperature over 102°F)
- frequent vomiting (unable to keep any liquids down)
- signs of dehydration, which include not urinating (peeing) much, a dry mouth and throat, feeling dizzy when standing up.
*Contact a medical provider if you have any of these symptoms.
Additional resources for common Foodborne illnesses:
Food Safety: Bacteria & Viruses
Preventing Foodborne Illness
Clean Produce Thoroughly
- Rinse all fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting or cooking.
- Scrub firm produce when appropriate.
- Remove and discard outer leaves from lettuce and leafy greens.
Choose Whole Produce When Possible
- During the investigation, consider purchasing whole heads of lettuce rather than pre-cut or bagged salad mixes.
- Remove the outer leaves before washing and consuming.
Cook Foods When Possible
- Heat effectively destroys the parasite.
- Cook vegetables and herbs whenever practical, especially for vulnerable populations such as older adults, young children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
Prevent Cross-Contamination
- Wash hands with soap and water before food preparation.
- Use clean cutting boards, utensils and food-contact surfaces.
- Keep ready-to-eat foods separate from raw produce during preparation.
Drink Safe Water
- Avoid water from questionable sources and follow local public health advisories regarding drinking water safety.
USDA Safe Food Handling and Preparation
Foodsafety.gov 4 Steps to Food Safety
If you believe you have gotten sick as a result of food eaten at a food service facility in Howard County, please contact our Food Protection Program and let us know.
Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable viral infection. Measles starts with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat. It’s followed by a rash that spreads over the body. Measles is highly contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing.
People are generally considered immune to measles if they have had two measles vaccine shots, previously had measles or laboratory evidence of immunity or infection, or were born in the United States before 1957. Those who are most at risk of complications from measles infection are pregnant women, infants less than one year old, and those who are immune compromised. People in these at risk groups who may have potentially been exposed to measles and are not immune should contact their health care provider or call Howard County Health Department’s Infectious Disease Surveillance and Response Program at 410-313-6284 for additional guidance.
If you think you or your family member have symptoms of measles, call your doctor before going to the office so staff can take measures to prevent possible spread to other patients. Do not go to child care, school, work, or out in public if you have symptoms of measles. If you think you or a family member might have been exposed to measles, or if you have questions about vaccinations, contact your healthcare provider.
Speak with your healthcare providers to make sure you and your child are protected with measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and any other recommended vaccinations. If you need help getting a MMR vaccine, the Health Department offers immunizations for children and adults. You can also call the Health Department at 410-313-7500.
Resources:
Everyone—in the United States and around the world—is vulnerable to diseases spread by infected mosquitoes.
Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory illness that can affect anyone. RSV typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can cause serious illness in infants and older adults. RSV typically occurs during the fall and winter months and is the most common cause of inflammation or infection of the lungs in children younger than one year of age.
People at highest risk for severe disease include
- Premature infants
- Young children with congenital (from birth) heart or chronic lung disease
- Young children with compromised (weakened) immune systems due to a medical condition or medical treatment
- Children with neuromuscular disorders
- Adults with compromised immune systems
- Older adults, especially those with underlying heart or lung disease
| Group | What are the options? | Who is eligible? | How well do they work? | When should I get it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy | Vaccine (ABRYSVO) | Pregnancy (protection passes to baby during the first 6 months of life) | 82% effective in preventing hospitalization during first 3 months of life. 69% effective after 6 months. | 32 to 36 weeks of pregnancy and only during Sep.-Jan. |
| Infants | Monoclonal Antibody | All infants under 8 months old and children 8-19 months old with risk factors (if mother didn't receive vaccine during pregnancy.) | Reduces hospitalization risk by 80-96%. | Typically from Oct.-Mar. if maternal RSV vaccine not received. Protection lasts 4-6 months. |
| Older Adults | Protein Vaccine or mRNA Vaccine | Everyone 75+ and adults 50-64 with risk factors should get one lifetime dose. | Reduces risk of severe disease by 82-86%. | Now! |
Chart information adapted from Your Local Epidemiologist.
Tick-borne diseases are transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. Ticks can be infected with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in Maryland. Other tick-borne diseases include Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis and Tularemia.
The Health Department encourages people of all ages to get a seasonal flu shot from a healthcare provider, local pharmacy, retailer or big box store. Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school (even virtual school) due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations and deaths.
Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is caused by one of several types of viruses, commonly caused by coxsackievirus A16. It is common in children under 5 years old, but anyone can get it. This mostly occurs in summer and fall.
HFMD is contagious. Someone is most contagious during the first week when they are sick and the virus is found is their nose and throat secretions, fluid from blisters and feces.
People can get HFMD when they come into contact with droplets that contain the virus, touching an infected person, touching an infected person’s poop (such as changing diapers) then touching your eyes, nose or mouth and touching objects and surfaces that have the virus on them.
Symptoms of HFMD are fever and flu-like symptoms, mouth sores and skin rash on palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
You can help to prevent and control the spread of HFMD by:
- Washing hands, especially after going to the bathroom, changing diapers and/or handling diapers or other stool‑soiled material.
- Covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
- Washing toys and other surfaces that may have saliva on them.
- Keeping your child home from childcare or school settings if the child has a fever, uncontrollable “hand to mouth” behavior, not able to contain secretions, or child has draining sores that cannot be covered.
Resources:
The number of reported whooping cough cases this year is higher than what was seen at this time last year. The United States is beginning to return to pre-pandemic patterns where more than 10,000 cases are typically reported each year.
- CDC recommends whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination for everyone.
- Whooping cough vaccines are the best way to protect against whooping cough.
- These vaccines work well, but protection fades over time.
- Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about whooping cough vaccines and to make sure your children are up-to-date on all childhood vaccines.
More information about Whooping Cough, how it spreads, and how to protect yourself.
Resources
Legionella is a bacteria that lives in freshwater (like lakes) and can be found in manmade plumbing systems, like showerheads and sink faucets. People breathe it in through droplets of contaminated water (showers, misters, etc). Most healthy people do not get sick, but people who are older, have chronic health issues, smoke or have weak immune systems are at risk of getting the infection. When Legionella is detected in a building, owners can use filters and specialized cleaning practices to help keep the water safe.