Communicable Disease
The main objectives for Catawba County Public Health's Communicable Disease staff, under the direction of and in collaboration with the NC General Communicable Disease Control Branch, are:
- To promptly investigate disease outbreaks and unusual situations, and to implement control measures to minimize further transmission of disease
- To monitor disease reporting by physicians and laboratories in order to detect trends
- To provide a channel of communication between Catawba County Public Health, private physicians, and hospital and occupational infection control personnel, as an essential part of disease control efforts
- To explain public health interventions and disseminate health education messages to the community in order to enhance disease control efforts.
There are nearly 100 diseases mandated by law as reportable to the State of NC Communicable Disease Branch(page 2 of the PDF). These diseases include foodborne, airborne, blood borne, waterborne or vector borne (e.g., insect bites). In addition to legally reportable diseases, Catawba County Communicable Disease nurses assist with other public health concerns such as MRSA, lice, dog bites, and others to ensure the affected persons and their contacts are receiving proper health care.
Health care providers should report communicable diseases using the Reporting Form for Health Care Providers(page 1 of the PDF). Some diseases must be reported within 24 hours, while others have as many as 7 days to report.
For more information on communicable diseases in North Carolina, please visit the North Carolina Communicable Disease Branch.
As of February 2026, there is an ongoing measles outbreak in South Carolina and additional cases in several North Carolina counties. Nearly all cases are in people who have not been vaccinated for measles.
Information for Health Care Providers
Information for the Public, Child Care, Schools, Businesses, and Other Groups
A goal of Catawba County Public Health is to control the human risk of exposure and offer prophylaxis to people who have potentially been exposed to the deadly rabies virus, which attacks the nervous system of its victims.
Public Health works in partnership with Catawba County Animal Control to control human risk to the rabies virus. People who have been bitten by an animal should report the bite to Catawba County Animal Control by calling (828) 466-6814.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable, potentially deadly disease that usually affects the lungs but can attack other parts of the body as well. Catawba County Public Health providesTB skin tests and risk assessments, access to chest X-rays, and preventive medication therapy.
TB can be in an active or latent state:
Active TB: Patients with active TB are contagious and can spread the disease when they breathe out the disease-causing bacteria, which are then inhaled by another person. Active TB is treatable and usually curable, although new drug-resistant strains are appearing that are very difficult to treat. It is vital that patients with active TB faithfully follow their treatment regimen and take all medications as directed, for as long as directed, or the disease can recur in a drug-resistant form.
Latent TB: People with latent TB are not contagious and do not feel sick or have symptoms. Some cases of untreated latent TB can progress to active TB, so it is vital that people with a positive TB test are proactive in treating the disease. Treatment of latent TB aims to prevent the progression to active TB, and usually involves a single drug, taken for a duration of a few months.
Learn more about the difference of active and latent TB here.
The Communicable Disease team supports providers by answering questions regarding the administration and interpretation of tests. Medical providers who interpret a test as potentially positive should refer the patient to Catawba County Public Health for follow up.
Providers can call our Communicable Disesae staff at 828-695-5823.
For more information, visit the North Carolina Epidemiology page.
Seasonal influenza is an illness that can cause serious health complications, including pneumonia and death. The best defense against the flu is vaccination. Each year, Catawba County Public Health offers appointments in our immunization clinic for flu shots.
For information about the flu shot, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s flu shot page.
For more information on this year’s seasonal flu vaccine or to schedule a flu shot, call (828) 695-5881.
Hepatitis A, B, and C are viral infections that affect the liver and can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. Catawba County Public Health providesfree testing and immunizations for individuals at increased risk, including current or former persons who use drugs, individuals living with HIV, those experiencing homelessness, and adults born between 1945 and 1965. Patients are evaluated through the Adult Health Clinic prior to testing. Public Health also offers vaccination for Hepatitis A and B and provides referrals for medical evaluation and treatment, particularly for those diagnosed with Hepatitis C, to reduce transmission and improve community health outcomes.