Programs that protect the public health through comprehensive efforts to track the incidence and distribution of disease in the population and prevent, control and eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases, vector and food-borne illnesses, diseases that are transmitted person-to-person and other diseases that are spread by direct or indirect contact. Activities include routine surveillance of communicable disease activity, assessment of the community immunization level through school records and immunization studies, investigation of epidemic outbreaks, reporting of cases of infectious diseases to the proper authorities and taking appropriate measures such as isolation and contact tracing/notification to prevent disease transmission.

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Programs that protect the public from unhealthful or unsanitary environmental conditions by establishing and enforcing health codes and regulations; taking and responding to complaints or reports regarding environmental hazards that pose a threat to public health or the environment; providing general information about environmental pollutants that constitute public health hazards; inspecting homes, public buildings, restaurants and other food facilities, and other property for compliance with health standards; cleaning up environmental hazards, when necessary; and/or initiating litigation against individuals and organizations who consistently have failed to comply with regulations, when warranted.

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Programs that protect and improve the health of the community through the use of public health nurses whose services are available through departments of public health, schools and voluntary agencies, typically in connection with medical programs supervised by physicians. Activities may include home visits to provide nursing under medical supervision for acutely ill patients and people who are chronically ill; outreach to populations who may not seek out health care through a traditional medical facility; support for physicians in public health clinics and disease detection programs; first aid and screening programs for school children; nutrition counselling; family planning information and a wide range of health education and prevention programs for the community at large which deal with personal health practices that can help to prevent illness.

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