Grand County Public Health responds to infectious disease outbreaks and other local emergencies with public health implications. Communicable disease prevention, investigation, and control is a core public health service in Colorado. The majority of reportable diseases/conditions require some type of public health investigation, mainly related to controlling further disease spread. Follow this link for updated Communicable Disease information from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Many diseases must be reported by the medical community (hospitals, physicians, laboratories) to local and state health departments. A list of diseases and medical conditions which must be reported is available on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website.

Quick Links to more frequently reported communicable diseases and prevention in Grand County:

Food Poisoning (germs such as Salmonella, Norovirus, E.coli, Listeria, Campylobacter)

Giardia (often from drinking contaminated water - especially from mountain streams/lakes)

Hantavirus (severe respiratory illness from inhaling 'aerosolized' infected deer mouse droppings)

Plague (infection from a flea bite from a rodent flea that is carrying the plague bacterium)

Rabies & Safety and Risk Management of Bats (includes safe capture and exposure information)

Tick-borne diseases (such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, includes how to safely remove a tick)

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (such as Hepatitis A & B, measles, shingles, chickenpox, whooping cough, tetanus, seasonal flu)

West Nile Virus (mosquito-borne illness)

Questions and Concerns

Please reach out to Michelle Mitchell, RN with questions or concerns about communicable diseases. E-mail: mmitchell@co.grand.co.us, call us at (970) 725-3288.