Epidemiologists collect and analyze data to help keep our communities healthy and reduce the spread of communicable diseases. They work closely with healthcare providers, and the process of monitoring a reportable disease begins when a patient seeks care. Once a patient is tested and receives a positive result, the healthcare provider informs the local public health department, and we then contact the patient to provide education, guidance, and resources to help slow or stop the spread of the disease. For information on specific diseases commonly found in Southwest Utah, please see our pages on COVID-19, Influenza (Flu), Measles, Rabies, Tuberculosis, Valley Fever, and West Nile Virus, each of which offers community-focused guidance and prevention tips.