IDPH issues annual disease report
July 16, 2010
The 2009 annual report provides a snapshot of events that impacted the public's health. In 2009, more than 53,000 reports of infectious disease were submitted to IDPH disease surveillance programs, as well as investigations of lead poisoning, occupational related diseases, and environmental hazards like carbon monoxide. Main points of the report include cases of Lyme disease topping 100 for the third consecutive year; the continued increase in chlamydial infections (which have been rising for the past 30 years) and a 19 percent increase of HIV cases compared to last year.
Regarding chlamydial infections, the surveillance report indicates there were 1,632 cases of chlamydial infection in Polk County in 2009. However, that was down by 344 cases from 2008. This is an encouraging trend, given that diagnoses statewide were level from 2008 to 2009, and in general, diagnoses have been increasing fairly steadily since 1996. Chlamydia occurs frequently among sexually active adolescents and young adults. Approximately 40 percent of chlamydial infections are undiagnosed and untreated each year, according to estimates from the CDC.
To view the report, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/adper/default.asp and click on "Reports."