Disease Surveillance and Investigations

Monitoring Illness, Preventing Outbreaks, Protecting Our Community

Two Rivers Public Health Department (TRPHD) works to protect residents from communicable diseases through ongoing disease monitoring, investigation, education, and prevention.

Serving Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney, and Phelps Counties, our public health team works closely with healthcare providers, laboratories, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and community partners to identify health concerns and reduce the spread of illness.

What Is Disease Surveillance?

Disease surveillance is the ongoing process of collecting, reviewing, and monitoring information about illnesses in our communities.

By tracking disease trends, TRPHD can recognize unusual increases in illness, identify potential outbreaks, and respond to emerging health threats.

We monitor a variety of reportable diseases and health conditions, including:

• Respiratory illnesses, such as influenza
• Foodborne illnesses, including Salmonella and E. coli
• Sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia and gonorrhea
• Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles and pertussis
• Tuberculosis
• Animal exposures and rabies concerns
• Other reportable diseases and emerging health threats

How Does TRPHD Investigate Diseases?

When a reportable illness is identified, our public health team reviews the available information to determine whether additional investigation or follow-up is needed.

Depending on the illness, our team may:

1. Review Disease Reports: Receive and review information from healthcare providers, laboratories, and state disease reporting systems.
2. Investigate Potential Exposures: Contact individuals to better understand symptoms, possible exposures, and opportunities to prevent additional illness.
3. Identify Community Health Risks: Look for connections between cases, unusual disease patterns, or potential outbreaks.
4. Provide Education and Guidance: Share information about preventing the spread of disease, recognizing symptoms, and accessing appropriate healthcare.
5. Coordinate Public Health Responses: Work with healthcare providers, schools, businesses, state agencies, and community partners when additional prevention or response activities are needed.

Not every reported illness requires the same level of investigation. TRPHD considers the type of disease, potential risk to others, and applicable public health guidance when determining the appropriate response.

Why Is Disease Investigation Important?

Disease surveillance and investigation are essential public health services that help TRPHD:

• Monitor community health: Identify changes in disease patterns and emerging health concerns.
• Investigate health threats: Determine possible sources of illness and opportunities to prevent further spread.
• Keep residents informed: Provide accurate, timely information about health risks and prevention.
• Strengthen partnerships: Coordinate with healthcare providers, schools, laboratories, and other public health agencies.
• Protect community health: Support evidence-based prevention measures and public health responses.

These activities reflect the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 10 Essential Public Health Services, particularly assessing community health, investigating health problems, communicating health information, and mobilizing partnerships.

Protecting Your Privacy

TRPHD takes the confidentiality of personal health information seriously.

Disease investigation information is handled in accordance with applicable state and federal confidentiality requirements. When sharing public health updates, TRPHD works to protect individual privacy while keeping residents informed about important community health concerns.

Nebraska Disease Reporting Requirements

Nebraska law requires certain diseases, illnesses, poisonings, and laboratory findings to be reported to public health authorities.

These requirements help local and state health departments identify health threats, investigate outbreaks, and coordinate disease prevention activities.

Applicable Nebraska laws and regulations include:

• Nebraska Revised Statute § 71-501: Establishes local public health authority and responsibilities for preventing the spread of contagious diseases.
• Nebraska Revised Statute § 71-502: Establishes DHHS authority for statewide communicable disease control.
• Nebraska Revised Statute § 71-503: Establishes disease reporting responsibilities for attending physicians.
• Nebraska Revised Statute § 71-503.01: Addresses confidentiality of disease reports and investigations.
• Nebraska Administrative Code, Title 173, Chapter 1: Establishes reportable disease requirements, reporting procedures, and communicable disease control provisions.

Healthcare providers and laboratories should consult Nebraska DHHS for current reporting requirements and reportable conditions.