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Texas (KLTV) – When a test comes back positive for a reportable illness in East Texas, epidemiologists at the Northeast Texas Public Health District get to work — tracing contacts, reviewing exposures, and searching for a common
NET Health monitors diseases in East Texas year-round, working to prevent outbreaks of nearly 100 reportable illnesses. The process begins at a doctor’s office. When a test comes back positive for a reportable illness — such as a foodborne infection like cyclospora or a respiratory virus like COVID-19 — NET Health epidemiologists are notified
Epidemiologists then work with the patient and their doctor to determine whether the case is connected to other cases or a common exposure
“That type of info is what our epidemiologists learn after they get in touch with a person to try to identify what the actual said
The district is currently tracking five reported cases of cyclospora in East Texas. Officials say the cases do not appear to be connected
Ates said prevention is a central part of the district’s work after identifying active diseases in the area
“A majority of those reportable conditions are preventable through handwashing, as well as vaccinations. So there are ways to prevent acquiring an illness in the first place,” Ates said
The goal, Ates said, is to catch problems early — before they spread through schools, workplaces, or restaurants
“It’s a lot of investigative work, a lot of detective work, trying to make sure we do not have any local outbreaks,” Ates said
NET Health officials say anyone experiencing stomach symptoms or fever should call their doctor and ask whether testing is needed. Patients should be prepared to answer questions about recent travel, food, and close contacts
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