A number of resources about disease outbreaks and control are available from federal government resources:
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) list recent outbreaks, including diseases and food-borne illnesses.
- Find out how the CDC is responding to the recent West Africa Ebola outbreak and learn more about the risk of exposure, symptoms, and prevention.
- The Enterovirus D68, a respiratory virus, has infected 678 people in 46 states since mid-August.
- Summaries of data about reported healthcare-associated cases of Hepatitis B and C are also available from the CDC.
- The most common infectious disease in the United States is seasonal influenza. You can see the most recent weekly number of positive influenza reports, mortality rates, and an overview of influenza surveillance, also provided by the CDC. Remember that the best way to avoid the flu is through an influenza vaccination.
Be sure to take a look at government reports, hearings, and handbooks on infectious diseases, superbugs, and global health, available at the Government Documents exhibit near library’s Reference Desk. For further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact the reference librarian on duty or the government information librarian at ecrogers@valdosta.edu or 229.245.3748.
Stay informed and stay well!