Infectious Disease Services

The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County (DOH-Okaloosa) Disease Surveillance Branch works to protect and promote the health of all Floridians from infectious diseases through disease surveillance. This epidemiology-focused branch monitors disease trends and outbreaks in Okaloosa County communities. It is required by law to report certain diseases (pdf 498.47kb) to DOH-Okaloosa.

The Disease Surveillance Branch investigates these reportable disease cases and notifies the DOH Bureau of Epidemiology. Reporting these diseases allows the Disease Surveillance Branch to alert the community and to stop the potential spread of illness in a timely manner.

 The DOH-Okaloosa Disease Surveillance Branch is engaged in a wide array of activities, including:

• Surveillance and reporting of communicable diseases and conditions
• Investigation and interviewing of reportable disease cases
• Field investigation of disease or food and waterborne illness outbreaks
• Analysis and distribution of public health data
• Counseling and education on Hepatitis A, B, and C
• Screening, surveillance, and management of lead poisoning cases
• Education and consultation to the public, physicians, hospitals, childcare centers, nursing homes, schools, and other community institutions
• Consultation on rabies prophylaxis