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Local Disease and Virus Watch

Below you will find the reportable diseases in the tri-county area (Uintah, Duchesne and Daggett Counties) these are reported to you in rates per 100,000 with comparisons to rates of Utah and some comparing rates nationally. Public health does not have statistics on every virus or disease. Only certain illnesses are reported as per Utah State Code. 

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COVID-19:

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus discovered in 2019. The virus spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Some people who are infected may not have symptoms. For people who have symptoms, illness can range from mild to severe. 

Signs and Symptoms

COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms that feel like a cold or flu, but it can also harm other parts of the body. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become very sick. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to COVID-19. Possible symptoms include: fever or chills; cough; shortness of breath; fatigue; muscle or body aches; headache; new loss of taste or smell; sore throat; congestion; nausea or diarrhea.

How it’s spread

COVID-19 can spread easily. COVID-19 can spread between people. Anyone who has COVID-19 can spread it to others. People with COVID-19 without symptoms can spread it to others. COVID-19 can spread when people are too close together. COVID-19 can spread when people cough. COVID-19 can spread when people sneeze. COVID-19 can spread when people talk. COVID-19 can spread when people sing.

What can I do today

  • Get a COVID-19 vaccine if you are ages 5 or older. 
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
  • Stay home if you have symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath

 

 

Local Hospitalization rates of reportable respiratory viruses

This graph shows the hospitalization rates of reportable respiratory viruses. These hospitalizations are shown by rate.

Influenza:

Each year, seasonal flu infections cause a variety of symptoms that start suddenly. Usually, a flu only makes you feel rotten for a few days. However, it can be dangerous for young children, older adults, and others with certain health conditions. To protect yourself and your community, you need a flu shot every year.

Signs and Symptoms

Unlike pandemic flu, seasonal flu is common and predictable. Seasonal flu symptoms usually come on fast, causing chills, fever, muscle aches, tiredness, dry cough, and sore throat. Occasionally, seasonal flu will cause a runny or stuffy nose or, in young children, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

How It’s Spread

The flu virus prefers air travel, catching rides on the tiny droplets that fly out when someone sneezes or coughs. However, it can also stick around on surfaces for a while. If you touch something that was recently contaminated and then touch your mouth or nose, you can get infected, too.

What can I do today?

  • Get a seasonal flu shot. Everyone in the family (over the age of 6 months) should get a shot, and so should anyone who cares for your baby.
  • Wash your hands often and well, and have children do the same.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and if you’re sick, stay home from school or work.
  • Cover your sneezes and coughs.
  • Use a tissue once, then throw it away and wash your hands.

How it’s spread

You can get gonorrhea by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has gonorrhea. A pregnant person with gonorrhea can give the infection to their baby during childbirth.

What Can I do Today

The only way to completely avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.  If you are sexually active, the following things can lower your chances of getting chlamydia: being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and does not have chlamydia; and using condoms the right way every time you have sex.

Gonorrhea:

Gonorrhea is an STD that can cause infection in the genitals, rectum, and throat. It is very common, especially among young people ages 15-24 years.

Signs and Symptoms

Gonorrhea often has no symptoms, but it can cause serious health problems, even without symptoms. Most women with gonorrhea do not have any symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they are often mild and can be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. Symptoms in women can include: painful or burning sensation when peeing; increased vaginal discharge; and vaginal bleeding between periods. Men who do have symptoms may have: A burning sensation when peeing; a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis; and painful or swollen testicles (although this is less common).

 

How it’s spread

You can get chlamydia by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia. Also, you can still get chlamydia even if your sex partner does not ejaculate (cum). A pregnant person with chlamydia can give the infection to their baby during childbirth.

What can I do Today

The only way to completely avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.  If you are sexually active, the following things can lower your chances of getting chlamydia: being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and does not have chlamydia; and using condoms the right way every time you have sex.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common STD that can cause infection among both men and women. It can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system. This can make it difficult or impossible to get pregnant later. Chlamydia can also cause a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy that occurs outside the womb).

Signs and symptoms

Chlamydia often has no symptoms, but it can cause serious health problems, even without symptoms. If symptoms occur, they may not appear until several weeks after having sex with a partner who has chlamydia. Even when chlamydia has no symptoms, it can damage a woman’s reproductive system. Women with symptoms may notice an abnormal vaginal discharge; and a burning sensation when peeing. Symptoms in men can include a discharge from their penis; a burning sensation when peeing; and pain and swelling in one or both testicles (although this is less common).

How it’s spread

It takes very few Campylobacter bacteria to make someone sick. A single drop of juice from raw chicken can contain enough bacteria to infect someone.

Most Campylobacter infections are probably acquired by eating raw or undercooked poultry or eating something that touched it. Campylobacter are also transmitted by other foods, including seafood, meat, and produce; by contact with animals; and by drinking untreated water.

People can get infected when a cutting board that has been used to cut and prepare raw chicken isn’t washed before it is used to prepare foods that are served raw or lightly cooked, such as salad or fruit. People can also get infected through contact with dog or cat feces. Very rarely, people have become infected through a transfusion of contaminated blood.

Campylobacter does not usually spread from one person to another.

Campylocaberiosis

Campylobacter infection, or campylobacteriosis, is caused by Campylobacter bacteria. It is the most common bacterial cause of diarrheal illness in the United States. Data from the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) indicate that about 20 cases are diagnosed each year for every 100,000 people. The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) indicates that about 20 cases are diagnosed each year for every 100,000 people. Many more cases go undiagnosed or unreported. CDC estimates Campylobacter infection affects 1.5 million U.S. residents every year. Most cases are not part of recognized outbreaks, and more cases occur in summer than in winter.

Signs and symptoms

People with Campylobacter infection usually have diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach cramps. Nausea and vomiting may accompany the diarrhea.  Symptoms usually start two to five days after infection and last about one week. Some people experience complications, such as irritable bowel syndrome, temporary paralysis, and arthritis. In people with weakened immune systems, such as those with a blood disorder, with AIDS, or receiving chemotherapy, Campylobacter occasionally spreads to the bloodstream and causes a life-threatening infection.

What can I do today

Campylobacter and other harmful germs can survive on your hands. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water during these times: before, during, and after preparing food; before eating food; after using the toilet; after changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; before and after caring for someone who is sick; before and after treating a cut or wound; after touching pets and other animals or their food or poop; after touching garbage

How its spread

Crypto can be spread by: Putting something in your mouth or accidentally swallowing something that has come in contact with the stool of a person or animal infected with Crypto. Swallowing recreational water contaminated with Crypto. Recreational water can be contaminated with sewage or feces from humans or animals. Swallowing water or beverages contaminated by stool from infected humans or animals. Eating uncooked food contaminated with  Crypto. All fruits and vegetables you plan to eat raw should be thoroughly washed with uncontaminated water. Touching your mouth with contaminated hands. Hands can become contaminated through a variety of activities, such as:

    • touching surfaces (e.g., toys, bathroom fixtures, changing tables, diaper pails) that have been contaminated by stool from an infected person,
    • changing diapers,
    • caring for an infected person, and
    • handling an infected animal such as a cow or calf.

Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that causes the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis. Both the parasite and the disease are commonly known as “Crypto.”

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of cryptosporidiosis generally begin 2 to 10 days (average 7 days) after becoming infected with the parasite. The most common symptom of cryptosporidiosis is watery diarrhea. Symptoms include: watery diarrhea; stomach cramps or pain; dehydration; nausea; vomiting; fever; weight loss

Some people with Crypto will have no symptoms at all.

What can I do today

  • Help keep yourself and your loved ones healthy by washing your hands often with soap and water, especially during key times when you are likely to spread germs.
  • Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective against Crypto. Washing hands at key times with soap and water can help prevent infections.
  • Do not swim or let kids swim if sick with diarrhea.
    • If crypto is diagnosed, wait 2 weeks after diarrhea has stopped to go swimming.
  • Do not swallow the water.
  • Take young children on bathroom breaks or check their diapers every 60 minutes.
    • Change diapers in a bathroom or diaper-changing area—not waterside—to keep germs and poop out of the water.

How It’s Spread

West Nile virus is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito.

Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes then spread West Nile virus to people and other animals by biting them.

In a very small number of cases, West Nile virus has been spread through:

West Nile Virus

West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States.  It is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Cases of WNV occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall. 

Signs and Symptoms

No symptoms in most people. Most people (8 out of 10) infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms.

Febrile illness (fever) in some people. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with febrile illness due to West Nile virus recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.

Serious symptoms in a few people. About 1 in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).

What can I do Today

Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients below. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

  • DEET
  • Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
  • IR3535
  • Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
  • Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
  • 2-undecanone

Find the right insect repellent for you by using EPA’s search tool.