Current Health Issues
Measles
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) identified multiple cases of measles in 2025. The number of cases was up significantly last year in Ramsey and other Minnesota counties.
Avian Influenza
Avian influenza viruses are spread to people through direct contact with infected birds or their environments. Person-to-person spread is extremely rare. There is no food safety risk associated with this virus; the only risk is for workers at commercial farms or, potentially, owners of small urban flocks.
Insectborne Disease
Diseases spread by mosquitoes, ticks and other pests.
Hepatitis C and Hepatitis A
A deadly consequence of the opioid crisis is increased incidence of blood-borne infections, including hepatitis B, virus and hepatitis C, and HIV. Using contaminated needles is a primary transmission route for both HIV and hepatitis C. With injection drug use on the rise, new populations, including young people, are at risk.
Ramsey County Public Health is working to stop the spread of infectious diseases among people who inject drugs (PWID). Our syringe services program provides access to prevention and treatment services for HIV and other blood-borne diseases, such as hepatitis C and hepatitis B.
Since May 2019, there has been an increase in Hepatitis A diagnoses among people in Minnesota who are living homeless or injecting drugs. Minnesota’s outbreak-associated cases have risk factors that are consistent with other outbreaks nationwide.
Tuberculosis
Ramsey County has experienced a significant increase in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in recent years. The majority of cases have impacted Hmong American residents, and Public Health works directly with community partners, hospitals and healthcare facilities to prevent future cases through appropriate screening and treatment.
Our clinic provides screening for persons that have been in contact with active TB disease, as well as treatment and case management of persons with either latent TB infection or active TB disease. This clinic is by referral only: You will be notified if it has been determined that you may have come in contact with someone with active TB and you should be seen in our clinic.
- Learn more about TB (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Facts about TB (PDF poster in English and Hmong)