Disease

Read more about Chronic Disease and Vector-Borne Disease in Florence County, Wisconsin. Learn more about Heart Disease, Stroke, COPD, Lung Cancer, Lyme Disease, COVID-19, and West Nile Virus.

COVID-19

(Coronavirus Disease)

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm.

Chronic Disease

Deaths from heart disease, stroke, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and lung cancer are lower in both the state and region than Florence County. This could be due to the fact that we are a “retirement community” with an aging population which are more prone to these conditions.

Heart Disease

Overall, Florence’s rate of heart disease as primary cause of death is higher than the state and the Northern region for both males and females.

Stroke

Primary cause of death listed as stroke is significantly higher for males in the region and state as well as Florence County.

COPD

Primary cause of death listed as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease continues to be higher in Florence County, than the region and state for both sexes.

Lung Cancer

Primary cause of death listed as lung cancer is higher for males in both the northern region and the state. However, Florence County shows an opposite trend, whereas females have a higher percentage of lung cancer than males.

Vector-Borne Disease

Vector-Borne Disease is a disease that results from an infection transmitted to humans and other animals by blood-feeding anthropods, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. Examples of vector-borne diseases include Dengue fever, West Nile Virus, Lyme disease, and malaria.

Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease is an illness caused by a bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted to humans by a tiny tick named Ixodes scapularis (commonly called the blacklegged or deer tick). Lyme disease may cause signs and symptoms affecting the skin, nervous system, heart, or joints of an infected person. More than 20,000 cases of the disease have been reported in Wisconsin residents since surveillance for Lyme disease began in 1980.

West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. In temperate climates, West Nile virus infections generally occur during warm weather months when mosquitoes are active. For information, contact the Health Officer (LHO) at 715-528-4837.

Communicable Disease

Communicable diseases may be transmitted (spread) either by: • one infected person to another, • from an animal to a human, or • from some inanimate object (doorknobs, table tops, etc.) to an individual. Hospitals/clinics and schools are required by law to report certain communicable disease to the local health department and it is the local health department’s responsibility to follow up on these diseases/illnesses as they are considered to have great public health impact. To see a list of reportable diseases and how to report them click on the link below: • DHS: Control of Communicable Diseases To learn more about communicable diseases call Florence County Health Department at 715-528-4837 or click on the link below to search for communicable disease fact sheets. • DHS: Communicable Disease Fact Sheets

Travel Health Notices

Travel Health Notices inform travelers and clinicians about current health issues that impact travelers’ health, like disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, and natural disasters, in destinations around the world. Click here for travel recommendations and other travel health notices.

Zika Virus

Zika virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito, but can also be transmitted through sexual interaction or from mother to child. Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause birth defects. The mosquitoes that can become infected with and spread Zika virus live in many parts of the world, including parts of the United States. To learn more, go to Wisconsin Department of Health Services webpage on Zika.

Keep your visit to the Fair or Petting Zoo

Fun and Healthy

Informational video brought to you by Bureau of Communicable Disease.