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CDC > Vets > Call for Assistance
Call for Veterinarian Assistance to
Boulder County Public Health
Zoonotic diseases, such as
plague,
hantavirus and
West Nile virus,
have been of concern in Colorado for many years. As you are
aware, animals are also adversely affected by many of these
conditions. In Colorado last year, veterinarians voluntarily
reported 23 cats statewide that were diagnosed with plague to public health.
Already this year, the state has recorded
two human plague cases, and 10 counties, including Boulder
County, have had animal cases of plague.
Veterinarians played a critical role in the initiation of
the ensuing investigations and subsequent control measures
by immediately reporting their findings to public health.
Thus, you and your colleagues greatly enhanced our ability
to rapidly implement prevention measures for zoonoses.
Veterinarians are in the unique position to further
strengthen the county surveillance system by voluntarily
reporting zoonotic illness to local public health.
Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) is asking for your
assistance in this area of incredible need and would like to
establish a closer relationship with veterinarians by
working together to expand and build on the primary goal of
all health professionals: to protect the health of those we
serve.
To accomplish this, we would like to collect information
about specific animal cases. Enclosed is an information
packet (ZooRAP) that outlines some of the conditions we are
most concerned about, as well as how and when to report
these conditions to public health. Additionally, BCPH will
have a staff member designated to help veterinarians with
reporting these conditions and to answer questions as they
arise.
Information about animal health will be treated no
differently than human health information, and all
identifiers collected will remain confidential in a secure
database. The data collected will only be used to identify
areas of zoonotic activity and will allow us to provide
timely, preventative information to the public, to health
care providers, and to veterinarians. In addition, BCPH will
provide you and your staff with resourceful information
concerning many of these diseases that can be used, as
needed, in your practice.
Together we can help to better understand the risks
associated with zoonotic diseases, help to educate the public, and work together to improve the health of
our communities in Boulder County.
If you have any questions, please contact us at
303-413-7503.
For more information:
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