ROCKINGHAM — The number of reported communicable diseases are, for the most part, down or holding steady, according to the Richmond County Department of Human Services.

Health director Tommy Jarrell presented the report to county commissioners at Tuesday’s board meeting, showing the only rise was in cases of salmonella, from 15 to 20.

“That’s really not out of range,” Jarrell said in his office Thursday. Since 2008, the number of reported cases has averaged around 18 per year. “Any time you’re dealing with 10 or less numbers, just one or two can throw off your rates and make you look really good or really bad.”

Jarrell reminded commissioners that this was just the number of reported cases, adding the actual number of cases was likely higher.

“There are people that contract salmonella and never go to get treated,” he said. Jarrell added that others may be treated, but not tested or diagnosed. Positive tests for communicable diseases are required to be reported to the local health department.

“Sometimes, it’s difficult to find out what made them sick,” he said, adding that not everybody remembers what and where they ate. Although it’s not likely, some cases of salmonella could be fatal.

The number of cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, dropped from nine last year to only three. Jarrell credits vaccination rates for the drop.

“Vaccination rates have remained relatively high,” he said, pointing out that some areas of the state have pockets of parents who are wary of vaccines and refuse to inoculate their children. “We’ve been fortunate in our area there’s not a lot of resistance.”

Jarrell said other parts of the country have higher rates than Richmond County, partly due to children from other parts of the world who haven’t been vaccinated.

The report shows there was only one confirmed case for each of tuberculosis, chronic hepatitis B and invasive streptococcus A.

The number of cases of campylobacter — an infection caused by bacteria found in the reproductive organs, intestinal tract and oral cavity of swine, poultry and humans which causes fever and gastroenteritis — dropped from six to four.

There were no reported cases of: acute hepatitis A, B or C; shigellosis; hemophilus influenza; cryptosporidiosis; Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or Lyme; vibrio; malaria; H1N1 (swine flu); listeriosis; Creutzfeldt-Jacob (“mad cow”) Disease; or erlichiosis.

While the numbers of hepatitis cases in the county are low, Jarrell said the medical community is concerned it could go back up.

He said those who abuse prescription drugs are finding that heroin is cheaper and one of the main ways the disease is spread is through the sharing of needles.

STDs: UP AND DOWN

Not included in this year’s report to the commissioners was the county’s rate of sexually transmitted diseases. Jarrell said the omission was not intentional, just an oversight.

Last year, the report showed that the number of chlamydia cases had nearly doubled from the previous year — from 195 to 331. There was an increase of 45 cases this year, bringing the total to 376.

In 2011-12, there were no cases reported in the county. The highest number of the past eight years was 253 in 2007-08.

Jarrell told commissioners last year that chlamydia was more prevalent among the young adult population, adding that there was a “high rate among teens, as well.”

“The pattern continues to be about the same,” he said in an email Friday.

After more than two years with the number of reported gonorrhea cases at 56, this year’s data shows the amount has been cut by more than half, with only 21, continuing an eight-year downward trend.

Syphilis cases also dropped from two to one, after being unseen in the county for three years.

Health department stats show there were two cases of HIV reported for 2014-15, up from one case each of the previous two years. There were 18 cases reported in 2006-07.

Reach reporter William R. Toler at 910-817-2675 and follow him on Twitter @William_r_Toler.

Jarrell
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By William R. Toler

[email protected]

STDS IN RICHMOND COUNTY

CHLAMYDIA

2014-15: 376

2013-14: 331

GONORRHEA

2014-15: 21

2013-14: 56

SYPHILIS

2014-15: 1

2013-14: 2

HIV

2014-15: 2

2013-14: 1