Epidemiology Main Page

Epidemiology is “the study of the distribution and determinants of health and disease in a population.” . In simpler terms, epidemiologists act as “disease detectives,” using data to answer key questions such as: Who is getting sick? What is making them sick? Where and when is the problem occurring? Why are some people more affected than others? How widespread is the issue in our population? How can we better understand the disease? And most importantly, how can we prevent others from getting sick and keep our population healthy?

The Epidemiology Program is part of the Division of Epidemiology, Surveillance, & Data Management within the Fresno County Department of Public Health. The Program focuses on the health of the diverse populations that make up the Fresno County community, with the primary goal of using data to monitor trends and improve local health outcomes.

Working in collaboration with other Department programs, epidemiologists and support staff conduct disease surveillance and health data collection, investigate issues in our community, analyze and manage data, assess community health needs, and communicate findings to partners and the public. The Program also provides support and services to external agencies and community members.