morehead city — Carteret County saw a 51% increase in communicable diseases (CD) in 2022 compared to the previous year, according to a report presented at the county’s General Human Services Committee meeting on Nov. 14.
The board oversees the Department of Health and the Department of Social Services. The meeting was held in the conference room of the Health Bureau.
The county also saw a 31% increase in COVID-19 cases, while COVID-related deaths decreased, according to the 2022 Communicable Disease Report.
Additionally, sexually transmitted diseases increased by 9% in 2022 compared to 2021.
Statistics for 2023 have not yet been released, according to county health officials.
Among the multiple CDs included in the report, there were significant increases in chronic hepatitis C infection, salmonella cases and three confirmed cases of Vibrio, an infectious disease, said Mikayla Walters, an infectious disease public health nurse. A water-borne bacterium commonly associated with diet. Undercooked seafood. There has also been a significant increase in tick-borne diseases, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Walters said of the increase in chronic hepatitis C infections, “Injection drug use is the most common infection risk reported. The increase may be due to higher rates of substance use in our area.”
The report, which covers multiple infectious diseases, shows the total number of CD cases reported in the county in 2022 was 174, compared with 115 cases in 2021.
The county reported 8,713 COVID-19 cases in 2022, compared to 6,629 in 2021. As for COVID-related deaths, the county reported 64 in 2022 compared to 74 in 2021. As of May 12, 2023, COVID-19 is no longer reported.
Walter said the increase in COVID-19 cases but the decrease in deaths was attributed to COVID-19 vaccine coverage.
As for sexually transmitted infections, the county reported 255 cases in 2022, compared to 233 cases in 2021. Of note is an increase in cases of chlamydia and syphilis. In 2022, there were 194 confirmed cases of chlamydia in the county, compared to 159 cases in 2021. In 2022, there were 11 cases of syphilis in the county, compared to seven cases in 2021. In 2022, one of the syphilis cases was congenital and was passed from a pregnant mother to her child.
Walters pointed out that the global syphilis incidence rate is close to 32%. Contributing factors include multiple sex partners, unsafe sex and illicit drug use, including sex for drugs.
Health Director Nina Oliver said the department is still administering flu and COVID-19 vaccines to help curb the spread of COVID-19 and influenza.
“We offer high-dose (over 65) and regular flu vaccines for anyone six months and older, as well as the newer Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine,” she said.
The health department also recommends that eligible people should receive RSV (respiratory syncytial vaccine). The health department currently only has an RSV vaccine for infants. Those who want more information about RSV vaccine eligibility can call the health department, which follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Oliver added that the health department will offer free at-home COVID-19 testing by February 2024.
For those interested in scheduling a vaccination, please call 252-728-8550, option 2.
Contact Cheryl Burke at 252-726-7081, extension 255; email Cheryl@thenewstimes.com; or follow on Twitter @cherylccnt.