This page will provide information and links to other sites to help answer questions about personal health issues. The Huntington County Department of Health does not diagnose or treat personal health issues and directs citizens to their personal physician or medical care provider.
Links
Communicable Disease Reporting
Communicable diseases are those passed from person to person by an infectious agent, such as bacteria or viruses. These diseases are often referred to as "contagious" or "infectious" conditions.
The Health Department is required by state law to collect and investigate reports of communicable diseases (CDs) by physicians, hospitals, laboratories, and other healthcare providers in Huntington County.
Certain conditions are reportable to the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), while others should be reported to the local health department (HCHD). The proper entity to contact is identified in the "List of Reportable Diseases and Reporting Timelines" document below.
To report an incident of communicable disease to ISDH, contact:
- (317) 233-7426 for HIV/STD.
- (317) 233-7125 for all other CDs.
- To report an incident of communicable disease to HCHD, call (260) 358-4835.
More Information on Disease Reporting:
- Indiana Communicable Disease Rule
- Communicable Disease Reporting In Indiana
- List of Reportable Diseases and Reporting Timelines
- Confidential Report of Communicable Disease form
Community Health Assessment
Community health assessments provide health data for a given population, as well as information for problem and asset identification and policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. Data from the community health assessment is utilized, along with other data collected through community partners, to develop a community health improvement plan.
Seasonal flu vs. Stomach flu
Influenza (The Flu)
What is the flu? Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year. Every year in the United States, an average of 5 percent to 20 percent of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and about 36,000 people die from it. Some people, such as the elderly, young children, and people with certain health conditions are at high risk for serious flu complications.
Complications of flu. Complications resulting from the flu may include pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.
How flu spreads. Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing on people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop, and up to five days after becoming sick. That means you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.