May 1, 2001

Stanislaus County Health Services Agency issued an annual report card that cites stroke as one of the most common causes of death in the county and hepatitis C as an emerging health issue.

This third annual report chats trends in birth rates, communicable diseases and deaths among the county's population of nearly half a million.

"We know that much of what we reported is reflected in the larger cities in Stanislaus County, and Turlock is one of those cities," said Health Services Agency Associate Director Cle Moore, discussing the report and its significance to Turlock.

Turlock's population of just over 50,000 makes up just under 10 percent of the county's population.

The report provides information on various community health improvement projects and activities the Health Agency is implementing, the report says.

Moore explained that in the year 2000, Turlock accounted for 15 percent of the total births in Stanislaus County, and about 12 percent of those births were of mothers 19 years or younger. She added that the 4.2 percent birth rate is not considered high.

According to the county report, the teen birth rate has continued to decline in Stanislaus County as well as across the state.

Turlock reported 55 cases of HIV-AIDS, a low rate according to Moore. The report indicates that newly diagnosed cases of AIDS in Stanislaus County have always been much lower than the California average. In recent years since the early 1990's the rates in the county and state have significantly dropped.

Representing a concern is the sexually transmitted disease, chlamydia. Turlock scored the highest rate in the county with 444 cases reported, Moore said.

This disease is the most commonly reported disease in the county as well as the state despite a slight decline over the past six years, the report said.

Cases of chlamydia are highest among African-American and Hispanic populations, and the rate of infection is highest in the 15-to-24-year-old age groups. According to the report, the county Health Agency has taken strategic steps to change these numbers with outreach and education programs.

Tuberculosis in Stanislaus County has consistently remained well below that of California, and 12 cases were reported in Turlock.

Hepatitis C is noted as an "emerging health issue" in the report, exceeding the state rates consistently in the past six years. Turlock reported 127 cases. Symptoms of hepatitis include signs commonly associated with a common cold, including fever, fatigue and nausea. It is transmitted through sexual contact and blood transfusions.

The Health Agency is calling the increased number of diagnosed Hepatitis C an "epidemic of awareness more that a real epidemic of infection." The report attributes increased awareness about Hepatitis C to more to better education and media coverage.

The report indicates no sign of decline of stroke which is the most common cause of death after heart disease and all cancers. Stroke caused 255 deaths in Stanislaus County, the county rate being higher than state rates.

The report encourages a commitment to long-term strategies and program development. Moore said that community health clinics have been decentralized to meet the needs of expectant mothers and to treat tuberculosis.

Scott Smith is a reporter at the Turlock Journal. His e-mail address is scotts@turlockjournal.com

Reprinted by permission of the Turlock Journal.