Disease Prevention

Communicable or infectious diseases are infections transmitted from an infected person, animal or reservoir to another person. These infections can be spread from direct or indirect contact. Knowing how infectious diseases are spread can help minimize the risk of infection. Adopting healthy behaviors can reduce illness. There are simple things you can do to prevent illness.

• Keep Immunizations up to date
• Wash your hands often
• Be aware of what you eat, and be careful how you prepare it
• Use antibiotics exactly as prescribed
• Report to your doctor any worsening infection that does not get better after you take a prescribed antibiotic
• Be cautious around wild and domestic animals that are not familiar to you
• Avoid areas of insect infestation
• Avoid unsafe unprotected sex and injection drug use
• Stay alert to disease threats when you travel
• When sick, allow yourself time to heal and recover.

Please use the links for additional information about disease prevention:

Tickborne Illness prevention
West Nile Virus
Bacterial Skin Infections  En Espanol
How to Prevent Infectious Diseases Daily with Health Behavior
10 Things To Do To Prevent Infectious Diseases
Influenza
Animal Safety for Kids
Tattoos and Piercings: Be Safe!
Hand Hygiene
Hand Hygiene Activity Book for Children
Food Safety
Camp Safety
Animal Bite Treatment

Other Resources:
CDC Healthy Living
Medline Germs and Hands
American Lung Association Cold and Flu
WHO Foodborne Disease
WHO Infectious Diseases
CDC Healthy Pets Healthy People