[ Browse by Service Category : Environment and Public Health/Safety : Sub-Topics of Public Health (3) ]
Communicable Disease Control
Programs that protect the public health through comprehensive efforts to track the incidence and distribution of disease in the population and prevent, control and eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases, vector and food-borne illnesses, diseases that are transmitted person-to-person and other diseases that are spread by direct or indirect contact. Activities include routine surveillance of communicable disease activity, assessment of the community immunization level through school records and immunization studies, investigation of epidemic outbreaks, reporting of cases of infectious diseases to the proper authorities and taking appropriate measures such as isolation and contact tracing/notification to prevent disease transmission.
Public Health Information/Inspection/Remediation
Programs that protect the public from unhealthful or unsanitary environmental conditions by establishing and enforcing health codes and regulations; taking and responding to complaints or reports regarding environmental hazards that pose a threat to public health or the environment; providing general information about environmental pollutants that constitute public health hazards; inspecting homes, public buildings, restaurants and other food facilities, and other property for compliance with health standards; cleaning up environmental hazards, when necessary; and/or initiating litigation against individuals and organizations who consistently have failed to comply with regulations, when warranted.
Public Health Surveillance Programs
Programs that provide for the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of data regarding health-related events for use in public health action to reduce morbidity and mortality and to improve health. Public health surveillance activities are generally authorized by legislators and carried out by public health officials; and may vary by jurisdiction. Included may be surveillance of infectious, chronic, or zoonotic diseases; injuries; exposures to toxic substances; health promoting or damaging behaviours; and other events associated with public health action.
The above terms and definitions are part of the Taxonomy of Human Services, used here by permission of INFO LINE of Los Angeles.
