COVID wasn’t the only disease spreading in 2021: Highlights from Ottawa County’s annual disease report
OTTAWA COUNTY — Sexually transmitted diseases were on the rise in Ottawa County last year, according to a communicable disease report from the health department.
The 2021 report shows cases of reportable, communicable disease throughout the county, along with cases from the previous four years. Last year, STDs hit a five-year high in Ottawa County.
Derick Chia, epidemiologist at the Ottawa County Department of Public Health, said there were no specific outbreaks associated with the rise, but several potential factors in the increase.
He said there were fewer screening and testing options in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic that returned in 2021 that, in addition to increased community outreach by OCDPH, could have led to more screening and cases. Chia also noted increased interactions between people in 2021 compared to 2020 could have played a role.
The increase was primarily driven by chlamydia. There were 1,007 cases of the disease in the county in 2021, up from 808 in 2020. Gonorrhea cases were also up, rising to 257 from 201 in 2020 and 161 in 2019.
Lyme disease, a vectorborne condition usually caused by bites from blacklegged ticks, also saw a five-year high in 2021 with 28 cases. Although it's not a high percentage of the population, Chia said OCDPH is monitoring that increase.
“That’s something we’re watching closely and urging people to take precautions outdoors,” he said. “That’s especially relevant now when ticks are out there, but it’s a time when we want to be outside to enjoy the beautiful Michigan summer.”
Precautions against Lyme disease include wearing insect repellent with DEET, wearing long sleeves and pants when feasible and performing tick checks after spending time outdoors.
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On a positive note, the county saw a five-year low in foodborne illnesses, such as norovirus and salmonella, during 2021. A total of 171 cases were reported in 2021, down from 239 in 2020 and 421 in 2019.
Chia noted that an increased awareness around hand hygiene may have led to safer food handling and preparation in 2020 and 2021, helping to cut down on foodborne illness. He said it's also possible people with mild illness were less likely to seek care during the pandemic, which could lead to underreporting.
There were zero reported cases of pertussis — also known as whooping cough — in 2021. Pertussis cases have decreased every year since at least 2017, when 32 cases were reported in the county.
“We have seen a decrease in pertussis cases over time, which is a really promising trend to see. For them to hit zero, that’s definitely a remarkable thing,” Chia said. He noted that COVID-19 mitigation efforts like masking and distancing, along with pertussis vaccinations, likely helped drive cases down.
Despite increases in several categories of the report, Chia highlighted the preventable nature of each disease listed.
“These conditions, ranging from STDs to Lyme disease and even to COVID, all these conditions are easily preventable,” he said. “We’re looking to work with the community to get everyone engaged with being equipped with the right information and educational materials to be able to prevent these diseases.”
To view the full 2021 communicable diseases report, visit the OCDPH website.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: STDs up, food-borne illnesses down in Ottawa County in 2021
