Disease Categories

Twelve disease categories are used to help you quickly find what you're looking for within your local area. Most of the categories refer to where the disease affects your body, such as Gastrointestinal for cholera or Respiratory for pneumonia. We also keep track of environmental risks (i.e. beach closures due to sewage) and animal diseases (i.e. foxes found with rabies) to provide you a broader picture of diseases in your area.

The number of alerts in each category determines the order in which they appear in the Outbreaks Near Me section. The category with the greatest number of alerts appears first. Categories that have no alerts in your area are not displayed.

Animal

Diseases affecting domestic animals, livestock, and wildlife.

Environmental

Changes in the environment that may impact human health (natural/man-made disaster, heat wave, volcanic eruption).

Fever/Febrile

Diseases characterized by a high body temperature (fever).

Gastrointestinal

Diseases causing vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal cramping.

Hemorrhagic

Diseases causing severe bleeding.

Hospital Acquired Infection

Diseases contracted or primarily spread in health care settings (i.e. hospitals, nursing homes, etc.).

Neurologic

Diseases affecting the nervous system (i.e. brain, spinal cord, or nerves).

Other

Undiagnosed diseases, diseases affecting plants/crops, chronic or parasitic diseases, including those that produce vague symptoms.

Respiratory

Diseases primarily causing symptoms such as cough, congestion, difficulty breathing, etc.

Skin/Rash

Diseases primarily affecting the skin or that produce a rash.

STD

Diseases that are associated with or primarily spread through sexual contact.

Vectorborne

Diseases transmitted to people or animals by arthropods including mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and fleas.