Preliminary
Infectious Disease Summary, Utah, July 2007
Disease Data and Graphics
A preliminary total number of confirmed and suspect cases for selected diseases, reported by Utah health districts, is provided below (Table I and Figure I). These numbers are subject to change upon the completion of ongoing disease investigations. "Suspect" cases are cases that may become confirmed upon final investigation or may be dismissed as a case when the investigation has been completed. Figure II represents the percent change in selected communicable disease incidence in 2007 when compared to a 5-year average.
Click on the disease names in the table to access their corresponding fact sheets. Click here for sexually transmitted disease epidemiologic data. Click here for AIDS/HIV epidemiologic data.
July 2007 Epidemiology Highlights
Cryptosporidiosis
The number of suspected Cryptosporidium infections reported in Utah (from along the Wasatch Front) was higher than expected during July. Outbreaks of Cryptosporidium infections are associated with ingesting water or other materials contaminated with the Cryptosporidium cysts. Important routes of transmission include person-to-person, fecal-oral, animal-to-person, and waterborne. Several cases under investigation have reported swimming in public pools. It is advised that people to do not swim if they are experiencing diarrhea and for 2 weeks after diarrhea has stopped.
Click here for more information about Cryptosporidium infections.
Tularemia
The number of reported tularemia infections has been higher than expected in Utah for the summer, particularly due to outdoor exposures on the west side of Utah Lake. While tularemia cases have occurred after exposures in this area in previous years, the number of cases has been considerably greater this year than in the past. Several local health departments are investigating the outbreak of this disease, which is commonly transmitted by a deer fly bite. The common signs/symptoms have been fever, body aches, flu-like symptoms, skin lesions and tender lymph nodes. Many affected individuals reported having received deer fly bites. Click here for more information about the disease.
