The Disease Surveillance and Investigation unit is responsible for monitoring and investigating communicable diseases in Black Hawk County. Our team monitors all reportable diseases in Iowa like food-borne illnesses, mosquito-borne illnesses, and influenza. More information about reportable communicable diseases is located at Reportable Communicable Diseases and Infectious conditions.
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal. Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is tracking an outbreak of monkeypox that has spread across several countries that do not normally report monkeypox, including the United States. Cases of monkeypox have been reported in Iowa.
Follow this link to the CDC Website for more information on monkeypox.
Black Hawk County Public Health is currently working with Linn County Public Health (our regional vaccine depot location) to offer vaccine to individuals. If you are interested in receiving vaccine please go to this Interest Form from Linn County's website. If you are eligible for vaccine, your name and contact information will be sent to Black Hawk County. We will contact you to schedule an appointment when vaccine is available. The number of appointments available will increase as we get more vaccine.