Georgia Emerging Infections Program
Georgia Department Mission
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For current notifiable disease information
Georgia Division of Public Health Epidemiology Branch
Epidemiology and Sexually Transmitted Disease Office
Mission
The mission of the Epidemiology and Sexually Transmitted Disease Office is to provide for the prevention, detection, control, and investigation of potential infectious diseases and clusters of illness through multi-disciplinary collaboration.
Goal
The goal of the Epidemiology and Sexually Transmitted Disease Office is to decrease the morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases and contribute to the wellness of those who live, work, and play in Northwest Georgia through the application of epidemiological principles and methods.
The Epidemiology and Sexually Transmitted Disease Office is responsible for the investigation, control, and prevention of infectious diseases and clusters of diseases, including agents of bioterrorism, for internal and external customers in Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Paulding, Polk and Walker counties.
Objectives
Epidemiologist staff work together with community health care providers to prevent disease occurrence, to provide public health recommendations for care and diagnosis of the ill, to prevent the spread of disease by educating the community about disease control methods. Public health staff notify contacts to a disease of their exposure and of the available prevention and treatment options. Community health care providers are required by Georgia law to report the occurrence of certain diseases and conditions (notifiable diseases). Since Epidemiologists and Communicable Disease Specialists track reports of diseases and conditions in entire communities, they notice increases in occurrence that would otherwise go unobserved. By providing early detection of disease clusters and outbreaks along with targeted interventions, public health officials help communities stay healthy.
