Orange County Health Department
Encyclopedia
Orange County Health Department is a unit of the Florida Department of Health
, charged with protecting the health and safety of visitors and residents of Orange County, Florida
. The estimated daytime population of Orange County is 1.5 million people. Orange County has an estimated 51 million visitors per year including the major theme parks of Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Sea World. The County seat is Orlando, Florida
.
from the period of 1875 onward. Dr. Hicks served as a physician with the Orlando City Health Department in the 1880's, and was President of the Orange County Board of Health. He was the first of a line of Health Officers
to serve in the Central FL area, and one of many who have served in the state of Florida. He also served as president of the FL Medical Association circa 1887. Dr. Hicks and his colleagues, such as Dr. John Wall of Tampa, CY Porter of Key West, and others, were instrumental in convincing the FL Legislature of the necessity of organizing the first state board of health following devastating Yellow Fever Epidemics in the 1800's.
The Florida Board of Health began in Jacksonville in 1889. Dr. C.Y. Porter was the first leader of public health in the State of Florida. The oldest county health department in Florida was in Pensacola
and dated from 1825. Orange County
was a fairly rural county in the late 19th and early 20th Century. It was the sixth leading county in the US in agricultural production as recently as 1965. Orange County was originally a part of a much larger county known as "Mosquito County", when the state was added to the Union in 1845. Local county health departments were formed to help track and abate mosquito-borne diseases, organize local sanitation efforts, and provide basic immunizations and maternal and child health services.
During the 1920s, tuberculosis
was a leading cause of death in this community. The Orange County Health Department began during the Great Depression
, in 1937, in the Old County Courthouse in downtown Orlando
. There were also several outlying clinics which provided prenatal care, and well child care. The Orlando
City Health Department continued in the former "Holiday Hospital", near the present day Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
in Orlando. The City Health Department provided mainly womens health services. In the 1960's era reorganization of public health in FL, the Orlando City, and Orange County Health Departments were combined under the new state public health agency then known as Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services
. Today the Orange County Health Department is the fifth largest county health department in the State of Florida.
The Florida Department of Health's responsibilities include epidemiology, investigating foodborne, zoonotic and water-borne diseases, emergency preparedness and bioterrorism, controlling communicable disease, health promotion and education, school health, women's health, public health dentistry and oral health, WIC and nutrition, vaccine preventable diseases, eliminating health disparities, provision of vital records, and protecting the public's environmental health. In 2006, the Department opened a first in the U.S., hospital based vital records office, at Winter Park Memorial Hospital Florida Hospital. Publications by staff have included CDC
MMWR investigations of food borne, water-borne, zoonotic, and other infectious diseases. "Storyboards" have been published, with graphics in toolkits, by the Public Health Foundation in Washington DC demonstrating that quality improvement efforts improved STD and HIV public health outcomes. WIC and nutrition program staff collaborated with the Department of Health and published "The Whole Grain Choo-Choo Train" , a children's book which teaches small children about proper eating habits and nutrition. In 2009, the department received a series of recognition awards for best practices in public health including Davis Productivity Awards, and the National Association of County and City Health Officials
. Current initiatives include the use of Certified Nurse midwives in a local hospital to improve pregnancy outcomes, The BABY program (better weight for a better you) global climate change and health, pioneering bedside birth records in hospitals, and an award-winning video of value to H1N1 swine flu prevention efforts entitled, "Protect Don't Infect".
, also known as PAM, has prompted a public health investigation in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control.http://www.orchd.com/news/absolutenm/templates/alerts.asp?articleid=408&zoneid=18 PAM is a water-borne infection caused by the amoebic organism, Naegleria fowleri
, that enters the brain through the nose, usually resulting in death. PAM is associated with swimming and water sports in fresh water bodies and inadequately chlorinated swimming pools. An increase of Naegleria fowleri may be seen with global climate change, given that PAM is more likely in warm water.
Orange County, Fla. has had 16 cases of Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis
, in 47 years, of 32 PAM cases recorded in the
State of Florida. As of 1990, about 200 cases of PAM, Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis
, had been reported worldwide, and as of 2007, 132 cases in the U.S. PAM occurs throughout the world including colder climates, such as, the UK and Belgium. In 2007, PAM cases were also reported in Texas and Arizona. Water-borne diseases investigated by the Orange County Health Department, the Florida Department of Health and the CDC here, have also included Giardia
, Cyclosporiasis
and Cryptosporidiosis
. Techniques for identifying Cyclosporiasis were first developed in central Florida. The Orange County Health Department, the Florida Department of Health and the CDC advises swimmers and water sports enthusiasts to wear nose plugs when the ambient temperatures exceed 80 degrees, when choosing to participate in fresh water activities. However these have not been shown to prevent the disease. Avoiding fresh water during the hot season appears to be the safest practice. Naegleria fowlerii infection of young teenagers is best described as one of a number of very rare, "orphan diseases".
website listed suspect H1 N1 Orlando Disney on its website within three days of WHO announcing the global pandemic. This turned out to be a false report in that the index case did not involve the Disney World theme park, but occurred off property. Xinhua news agency, Pravda
, and major newspapers quoted stories from Orange County Health Department involving the H1N1 pandemic
.
, MD, MBA, who presented an announcement to the local community of a $6.632 Million dollar award for tobacco prevention policy and systems changes to prevent tobacco use and to help current smokers to quit smoking. This announcement was part of a satellite announcement with 3 other locations for similar grants under the Communities Putting Prevention to Work funding from the CDC. These are "stimulus grants" under the American Recovery, and Reinvestment Act. The local grant was the largest single award ever received in Orange County, Fla. for public health. Tobacco is one of the top winnable battles from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Orange County Health Department is engaged with the other winnable battles and the following reference describes this in more detail. , The local projecct for tobacco is part of a national effort to help change policies and systems in favor of tobacco use prevention. The local project is known as "ALL IN", and its board is chaired by former US Surgeon General, Dr. Antonia Novello
, MD, MBA, the Medical Director of the Disney Pavillion for Children of the Florida Hospital Orlando
System. Recently, and as a result of this coalition's efforts, the cities of Orlando
, Ocoee
, Winter Park
, Eatonville
, Apopka
, Belle Isle
, Oakland
, Orange County itself, as well as the Orange County Florida School District, Valencia College, and the University of Central Florida
, have all passed tobacco free resolutions or smoking bans involving campuses.
Florida Department of Health
The Florida Department of Health is responsible for protecting the public health and safety of the residents and visitors of the State of Florida. It is a cabinet level agency of the state government, headed by a State surgeon general who reports to the Governor...
, charged with protecting the health and safety of visitors and residents of Orange County, Florida
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
. The estimated daytime population of Orange County is 1.5 million people. Orange County has an estimated 51 million visitors per year including the major theme parks of Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Sea World. The County seat is Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
.
History
A local physician, Dr. J.W. Hicks worked in OrlandoOrlando
Orlando is a major city in the U.S. state of Florida.Orlando may also refer to-Places:* in Florida** Orlando, a major city** Greater Orlando, the 27th-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
from the period of 1875 onward. Dr. Hicks served as a physician with the Orlando City Health Department in the 1880's, and was President of the Orange County Board of Health. He was the first of a line of Health Officers
Health Officers
Health Officers is a common term used in the United States and elsewhere for public health officials. Public health officials may serve at the global, federal, state, county, or municipal level...
to serve in the Central FL area, and one of many who have served in the state of Florida. He also served as president of the FL Medical Association circa 1887. Dr. Hicks and his colleagues, such as Dr. John Wall of Tampa, CY Porter of Key West, and others, were instrumental in convincing the FL Legislature of the necessity of organizing the first state board of health following devastating Yellow Fever Epidemics in the 1800's.
The Florida Board of Health began in Jacksonville in 1889. Dr. C.Y. Porter was the first leader of public health in the State of Florida. The oldest county health department in Florida was in Pensacola
Pensacola
Pensacola is a city in the western part of the U.S. state of Florida.Pensacola may also refer to:* Pensacola people, a group of Native Americans* A number of places in the Florida:** Pensacola Bay** Pensacola Regional Airport...
and dated from 1825. Orange County
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
was a fairly rural county in the late 19th and early 20th Century. It was the sixth leading county in the US in agricultural production as recently as 1965. Orange County was originally a part of a much larger county known as "Mosquito County", when the state was added to the Union in 1845. Local county health departments were formed to help track and abate mosquito-borne diseases, organize local sanitation efforts, and provide basic immunizations and maternal and child health services.
During the 1920s, tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
was a leading cause of death in this community. The Orange County Health Department began during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, in 1937, in the Old County Courthouse in downtown Orlando
Downtown Orlando
Downtown Orlando is the historic core and central business district of Orlando, Florida, United States. It is bordered by East Marks St in the north, Mills Ave in the east, Orange Blossom Trail in the west, and Kaley Ave in the south...
. There were also several outlying clinics which provided prenatal care, and well child care. The Orlando
Orlando
Orlando is a major city in the U.S. state of Florida.Orlando may also refer to-Places:* in Florida** Orlando, a major city** Greater Orlando, the 27th-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
City Health Department continued in the former "Holiday Hospital", near the present day Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
The Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is a 158-bed pediatrics hospital facility located in Orlando, Florida, United States. The hospital is part of Orlando Health and is supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation. It was ranked as one of the nation's Top 30 pediatric hospitals for...
in Orlando. The City Health Department provided mainly womens health services. In the 1960's era reorganization of public health in FL, the Orlando City, and Orange County Health Departments were combined under the new state public health agency then known as Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services
Florida Department of Health
The Florida Department of Health is responsible for protecting the public health and safety of the residents and visitors of the State of Florida. It is a cabinet level agency of the state government, headed by a State surgeon general who reports to the Governor...
. Today the Orange County Health Department is the fifth largest county health department in the State of Florida.
Orange County Health Department
The Orange County Health Department is responsible for a single county jurisdiction that is larger in population than 8 US States and the District of Columbia.The Florida Department of Health's responsibilities include epidemiology, investigating foodborne, zoonotic and water-borne diseases, emergency preparedness and bioterrorism, controlling communicable disease, health promotion and education, school health, women's health, public health dentistry and oral health, WIC and nutrition, vaccine preventable diseases, eliminating health disparities, provision of vital records, and protecting the public's environmental health. In 2006, the Department opened a first in the U.S., hospital based vital records office, at Winter Park Memorial Hospital Florida Hospital. Publications by staff have included CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
MMWR investigations of food borne, water-borne, zoonotic, and other infectious diseases. "Storyboards" have been published, with graphics in toolkits, by the Public Health Foundation in Washington DC demonstrating that quality improvement efforts improved STD and HIV public health outcomes. WIC and nutrition program staff collaborated with the Department of Health and published "The Whole Grain Choo-Choo Train" , a children's book which teaches small children about proper eating habits and nutrition. In 2009, the department received a series of recognition awards for best practices in public health including Davis Productivity Awards, and the National Association of County and City Health Officials
National Association of County and City Health Officials
The National Association of County and City Health Officials is the national U.S. organization representing local health departments...
. Current initiatives include the use of Certified Nurse midwives in a local hospital to improve pregnancy outcomes, The BABY program (better weight for a better you) global climate change and health, pioneering bedside birth records in hospitals, and an award-winning video of value to H1N1 swine flu prevention efforts entitled, "Protect Don't Infect".
Ameoba deaths
In 2007, the death of three children in or near Orange County, due to a rare, deadly infection, Primary amoebic meningoencephalitisPrimary amoebic meningoencephalitis
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis is a disease of the central nervous system caused by infection from Naegleria fowleri.-Presentation:...
, also known as PAM, has prompted a public health investigation in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control.http://www.orchd.com/news/absolutenm/templates/alerts.asp?articleid=408&zoneid=18 PAM is a water-borne infection caused by the amoebic organism, Naegleria fowleri
Naegleria fowleri
Naegleria fowleri is a free-living excavate form of protist typically found in warm bodies of fresh water, such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and hot springs. It is also found in soil, near warm-water discharges of industrial plants, and unchlorinated swimming pools in an amoeboid or temporary...
, that enters the brain through the nose, usually resulting in death. PAM is associated with swimming and water sports in fresh water bodies and inadequately chlorinated swimming pools. An increase of Naegleria fowleri may be seen with global climate change, given that PAM is more likely in warm water.
Orange County, Fla. has had 16 cases of Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis is a disease of the central nervous system caused by infection from Naegleria fowleri.-Presentation:...
, in 47 years, of 32 PAM cases recorded in the
State of Florida. As of 1990, about 200 cases of PAM, Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis is a disease of the central nervous system caused by infection from Naegleria fowleri.-Presentation:...
, had been reported worldwide, and as of 2007, 132 cases in the U.S. PAM occurs throughout the world including colder climates, such as, the UK and Belgium. In 2007, PAM cases were also reported in Texas and Arizona. Water-borne diseases investigated by the Orange County Health Department, the Florida Department of Health and the CDC here, have also included Giardia
Giardia
Giardia is a genus of anaerobic flagellated protozoan parasites of the phylum Metamonada in the supergroup "Excavata" that colonise and reproduce in the small intestines of several vertebrates, causing giardiasis, commonly known as Beaver fever...
, Cyclosporiasis
Cyclosporiasis
Cyclosporiasis is an infection with the protozoan Cyclospora cayetanensis, a pathogen transmitted by feces or feces-contaminated fresh produce and water. Outbreaks have been reported due to contaminated raspberries. It is not spread from person to person...
and Cryptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidiosis, also known as crypto, is a parasitic disease caused by Cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite in the phylum Apicomplexa. It affects the intestines of mammals and is typically an acute short-term infection...
. Techniques for identifying Cyclosporiasis were first developed in central Florida. The Orange County Health Department, the Florida Department of Health and the CDC advises swimmers and water sports enthusiasts to wear nose plugs when the ambient temperatures exceed 80 degrees, when choosing to participate in fresh water activities. However these have not been shown to prevent the disease. Avoiding fresh water during the hot season appears to be the safest practice. Naegleria fowlerii infection of young teenagers is best described as one of a number of very rare, "orphan diseases".
Legionnaire's outbreak
On March 14, 2008, a legionella outbreak involving two guests of a hotel in Orlando was epidemiologically traced to possible inadequate chlorination of the pool spa. On March 20 a third guest was confirmed to have had the disease. On April 4, a fourth guest was confirmed to have had the disease. The Orange County Health Department worked with management to assess guest rooms, indoor air quality (IAQ), heating, ventilation and A/C (HVAC) systems, and other variables. The hotel was partially closed for a weekend while individual room assessments took place. The rooms and air conditioning systems tested negative for the disease. The Jacuzzi was the most likely source, though the first set of cultures, weeks after the possible exposures, was also negative.H1 N1 Pandemic influenza
The department received focus in state and national media for reporting of a first case of H1 N1 influenza in this jurisdiction because of its proximity to large theme parks. The WHOWho
Who may refer to:* Who , an English-language pronoun* who , a Unix command* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism- Art and entertainment :* Who? , a 1958 novel by Algis Budrys...
website listed suspect H1 N1 Orlando Disney on its website within three days of WHO announcing the global pandemic. This turned out to be a false report in that the index case did not involve the Disney World theme park, but occurred off property. Xinhua news agency, Pravda
Pravda
Pravda was a leading newspaper of the Soviet Union and an official organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party between 1912 and 1991....
, and major newspapers quoted stories from Orange County Health Department involving the H1N1 pandemic
Pandemic
A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic...
.
Tobacco Grant
On Friday, March 19, 2010, The Orange County Health Department was visited by the US Surgeon General, Regina BenjaminRegina Benjamin
Vice Admiral Regina Marcia Benjamin, USPHS is an American physician who serves as the 18th Surgeon General of the United States. Dr. Benjamin previously directed a nonprofit primary care medical clinic in Bayou La Batre, Alabama and served on the Board of Trustees for the Morehouse School of...
, MD, MBA, who presented an announcement to the local community of a $6.632 Million dollar award for tobacco prevention policy and systems changes to prevent tobacco use and to help current smokers to quit smoking. This announcement was part of a satellite announcement with 3 other locations for similar grants under the Communities Putting Prevention to Work funding from the CDC. These are "stimulus grants" under the American Recovery, and Reinvestment Act. The local grant was the largest single award ever received in Orange County, Fla. for public health. Tobacco is one of the top winnable battles from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Orange County Health Department is engaged with the other winnable battles and the following reference describes this in more detail. , The local projecct for tobacco is part of a national effort to help change policies and systems in favor of tobacco use prevention. The local project is known as "ALL IN", and its board is chaired by former US Surgeon General, Dr. Antonia Novello
Antonia Novello
Antonia Coello Novello, M.D., is a Puerto Rican physician and public health administrator. She was a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and served as fourteenth Surgeon General of the United States from 1990 to 1993...
, MD, MBA, the Medical Director of the Disney Pavillion for Children of the Florida Hospital Orlando
Florida Hospital Orlando
Located in Orlando, Florida, Florida Hospital treats over 32,000 inpatients and 53,600 outpatients annually. This 900+ bed, acute-care community hospital also serves as a major tertiary facility for much of the Southeast...
System. Recently, and as a result of this coalition's efforts, the cities of Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Ocoee
Ocoee, Florida
Ocoee is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. According to the 2000 census, the city proper had a population of 24,391. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 30,654. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Ocoee is...
, Winter Park
Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,090 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 28,083. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Eatonville
Eatonville, Florida
Eatonville is a town in Orange County, Florida, six miles north of Orlando. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee metropolitan statistical area. The population was 2,432 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S...
, Apopka
Apopka, Florida
Apopka is a city located in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,969 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2006, the city grew to 53,563. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Apopka is an Indian word for “Potato...
, Belle Isle
Belle Isle, Florida
Belle Isle is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,531 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2006, the city had a population of 6,457. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:The area now known as Belle...
, Oakland
Oakland, Florida
Oakland is a town in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 936 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,101...
, Orange County itself, as well as the Orange County Florida School District, Valencia College, and the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
, have all passed tobacco free resolutions or smoking bans involving campuses.
External links
- Florida Department of HealthFlorida Department of HealthThe Florida Department of Health is responsible for protecting the public health and safety of the residents and visitors of the State of Florida. It is a cabinet level agency of the state government, headed by a State surgeon general who reports to the Governor...
- Charles V. ChapinCharles V. ChapinCharles Value Chapin was a pioneer in public- health practice, serving as one of the Health Officers for Providence, Rhode Island between 1884 and 1932...
- AAPHP