Infectious Diseases

People at highest risk for HIV infection may be able to secure a free HIV test through the Comprehensive Care Clinics (Vermont providers of HIV specialty care) or through the Community Health Center of Burlington (a Federally Qualified Health Center)...

We support free HIV testing at a range of community sites. These sites also offer referral and links to prevention interventions that may help you stop the spread of HIV. People who are sexually active may receive referrals to STD...

Health care providers in Vermont are required to report certain infectious diseases to the Health Department. This information is then used by epidemiologists to track the spread of disease across the state.

There are three main types of botulism: foodborne, intestinal and wound.

Several infectious diseases are either not seen in Vermont, or are no longer a serious threat here. But even rare diseases require attention due to the possibility of importation from people traveling abroad.

Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaire's disease, a more severe infection, and Pontiac fever, a milder illness. People get sick from breathing in mists from a contaminated water source.

Pneumococcal disease is caused by a bacterium known as Streptococcus pneumoniae, also called pneumococcus, one of the most common causes of severe pneumonia.

Group A strep infections are caused by a type of bacteria responsible for a range of health problems: strep throat, scarlet fever, impetigo (a skin infection) and necrotizing fasciitis.

Because of the risk of pregnant mothers giving the infection to their babies during childbirth, the Health Department recommends that all women be tested for group B strep at 35 to 37 weeks pregnant.

TB is spread through the air when a person with active TB disease coughs, laughs, sings or sneezes. Latent TB infection cannot be spread from one person to another.