Epidemiology Program

Mission Statement:

To develop or enhance regional epidemiology services for the rapid detection and control of disease outbreaks or other adverse health outcomes.  This includes evaluating, enhancing, and when necessary creating new surveillance and investigation systems, analyzing data, preparing recommendations, and working with appropriate programs to implement interventions for desired outcomes.

Program Overview:

The Epidemiology Program conducts disease surveillance and coordinates reporting of notifiable conditions.  To reduce and prevent the spread of infectious disease the Epidemiology program provides education and resources to health professionals and the public.  The Epidemiology program monitors disease incidence in Region 7 to develop and analyze statistical data to determine at-risk populations and geographical locations of occurrences.

The program consists of the Epidemiology Response Team (ERT), which is charged with developing and coordinating bioterrorism plans in the region.  The ERT works in collaboration with local health departments, hospitals, health agencies, and government entities to develop plans to respond to bioterrorism events in their counties.  The ERT will respond to any bioterrorism event in Region 7, and throughout the state of Texas as necessary.

Disease Reporting:

Call:  254-778-6744

Fax:  254-899-0405

EPI Newsletters: (PDF documents)

Flu Editions: (PDF documents)

None

Influenza:

Reports:

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

 

Current Situation: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‑19) Outbreak

A novel (new) coronavirus was first detected in late December in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and is causing an outbreak of the respiratory disease in countries around the world. On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization named the disease coronavirus disease 2019 (abbreviated “COVID‑19”).

Chinese health officials have reported tens of thousands of cases of COVID‑19 in China, with the virus reportedly spreading from person to person in parts of that country. COVID‑19 illnesses, most of them associated with travel from Wuhan, also are being reported in a growing number of international locations, including the United States. Some person-to-person spread of this virus outside China has been detected. The United States reported the first confirmed instance of the person-to-person spread of this virus on January 30, 2020.

COVID-19 in Texas

DSHS is confirming travel-related cases of COVID-19 in Texas. Public health is working to identify any close contacts of the patients while they were sick so they can be isolated and monitored for symptoms and quickly tested if needed.

Travel-related cases in Texas don’t indicate spread within the state, but DSHS, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and all state agencies continue their ongoing preparations so that all of the state government is working together to limit the spread of the virus and protect Texans. The immediate risk to most Texans remains low.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or would like more information about the content on this page, contact us by email or by phone:

Email: HSR7.COVID@dshs.texas.gov

DSHS Public Health Region 7: 254-778-6744 (24/7 Telephone)

More information on COVID-19 can be found here:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS): https:///coronavirus/

 

MRSA:

None

Links:

Program Email Contacts:

Bonnie Morehead, MPH, CIC, Manager
Whitney Thomas, MPH, Lead Epidemiologist
Sandi Arnold, RN, CIC, Healthcare-Associated Infections Epidemiologist
Lenae Warner, Epidemiologist II
Conner Carlsen, MPH, CPH, Epidemiologist II
Dolores Mojica, Vaccine Preventable Disease Investigator
Mariana Martinez, MPH, CHES, Epidemiologist I
Yolanda Holmes, Public Health Preparedness Team Lead
Vacant, Public Health Preparedness Planner
Leisa Fletcher, MCM Coordinator
Jennifer Hurst, Public Health Preparedness Training and Exercise Coordinator
Iain Crichton, Public Health Preparedness Specialist