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County public health staff and volunteers will go door-to-door in south county neighborhoods Thursday to distribute information about an upcoming community health assessment led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to address sewage contamination along the Tijuana River Valley.
More than 6,000 households will receive flyers and door hanger information about the study, known as Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER).
Those who live in the area may notice volunteers walking in pairs wearing reflective vests.
“We know that many community members are concerned about their health and that of their families due to sewage contamination in our ocean waters and the Tijuana River Valley,” said Interim Public Health Officer Dr. Ankita Kadakia. said. “We are pleased to have the support of the CDC to partner with counties to listen to these concerns and experiences and provide a complete picture of the needs in these areas.”
About the CASPER survey
The CASPER survey is a CDC tool that quickly gathers information about the needs of affected communities through a series of questions.
Households interviewed are drawn from a large sample of homes in 30 blocks or “clusters” of affected areas. From these 30 blocks, 7 households from each block are sampled for a total of 210 households to be interviewed.
County health officials are encouraging community members to share their experiences if a household is randomly selected for the survey.
Responses from the assessment will be analyzed and used by public health authorities in decision-making. This helps determine what public health measures to take, find information gaps, determine what resources are needed, and understand new and changing needs within the community. Helpful.
Continuous epidemiological monitoring
While CASPER is a point-in-time assessment of the southern region’s population, county public health epidemiologists monitor regional public health data 365 days a year.
These disease researchers discover, assess, and respond to communicable disease cases, outbreaks, and health conditions in their communities. They are working to understand which areas and groups of people are affected to keep our communities safe and healthy.
The Epidemiology and Immunization Services Division investigates more than 15,000 high-priority infectious disease cases and more than 100,000 new infectious disease reports each year. Recent studies have investigated the rise in hepatitis A among people experiencing homelessness, MPOX, whooping cough, dengue fever, and norovirus outbreaks associated with oysters and salmonella in raw milk.
Regarding health concerns from sewage pollution and odors in the Tijuana River Basin, weekly reports monitor a spike in gastrointestinal illnesses, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms among residents of the southern region. This website is regularly updated with additional information, including links to other wastewater agencies and how people and families can protect themselves.
To learn more about the health concerns and impacts of sewage and pollution in the Tijuana River Valley and the upcoming CASPER study, visit sandiegocounty.gov/southregionhealth.
