Polk County Public Health monitors diseases that can be spread from person-to-person, through contact with animals, or through consuming contaminated food and water. This includes serious diseases, such as E. coli, hepatitis B, and pertussis (whooping cough). When certain diseases are reported to Public Health, staff work to identify where and how a person got sick, identify those the illness could spread to, and to stop the spread of that disease. Public Health strives to prevent disease occurrence in Polk County through immunizations and education.
Disease Reporting
By law, certain diseases that can affect the public's health must be reported to public health agencies from healthcare providers and laboratories in order to keep the disease from spreading.
Disease Information
Infectious Diseases in Childcare and Schools
Infectious Diseases in Childcare Settings and Schools is a comprehensive manual on infectious diseases developed by Hennepin County. It informs parents and guardians, caregivers, childcare providers, administrators, and school health staff about specific infectious disease problems they may encounter in the childcare setting or in schools. The manual is maintained online, which allows for more frequent updates to ensure the most current information.
For more information about infectious disease issues, contact Polk County Public Health at 218-281-3385, visit the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) website or contact them at 651-201-5414, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website