Central Oregon Communicable Disease Report (January 1, 2020 – September 30, 2020)

The Central Oregon Region (Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties) has observed a decrease in the number of infectious disease cases being reported (not including COVID-19) from 2019 to 2020. The highest reported cases for the region were sexually transmitted infections (STI), including chlamydia and gonorrhea, and hepatitis C. An increased number of Campylobacteriosis (campy) was also reported for both Deschutes and Crook counties. The entire region saw a decrease in the number of reported hepatitis C infections, but Crook County had the largest drop in cases with 26 cases reported in 2019 and 7 cases reported in 2020 (from January 1 to September 30th). Jefferson County had the highest reported hepatitis C infections in Central Oregon, and their rate was also higher than the state’s. 

When comparing 2019 to 2020, the number of reported chlamydia and hepatitis C cases in Oregon decreased, and most counties in Oregon saw a decrease in the rate of reported chlamydia and hepatitis C infection from 2019 to 2020. 

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) could be impacting health-seeking behavior, explaining the decrease in the number of communicable diseases being reported. This is concerning for two reasons: 1. The high transmission rate of hepatitis C, chlamydia, and gonorrhea;