Falling ill is a stranger to no one, whether it’s a common cold or something more extreme, we have all been there before, some of us more than others. Infectious diseases are on the rise in Adams County. In 2025, there were 647 investigations on communicable diseases. Only 530 were deemed reportable, with 144 deemed not a case.

Communicable diseases are infectious illnesses that are spread from one living system to another, such as person-to-person or animal-to-person. This infection is caused by bacteria, parasites, fungi or viruses. These infections can range from influenza to syphilis.

Adams County has seen an increase in reportable communicable disease infections over the years, which is why Adams County Health Department communicable disease (CD) workers sat down to talk about what this means for the community while combining their personal experiences working within the field. The CD workers combine their work with local healthcare providers and Illinois Department of Public Health, in which they report cases and collaborate in disease investigation processes.

“Thankfully we’re still pretty protected here, but as time goes on and people are choosing to not vaccinate, that will become an issue,” Emily Hendrickson, director of nursing, said.

In terms of risks, there has been an increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), in Adams County. Infectious diseases such as HIV, chlamydia and syphilis have shown higher rates of infection in past years with 2025 having higher than normal rates.

Infectious diseases do not discriminate in who is the next victim, so it is important to take the proper precautions. Using protection while having intercourse is the easiest way to prevent contracting STIs if you choose to have sexual partners, whether you are familiar with them or not. No matter your gender, sex or age, the possibility of contracting an STI is never zero.

“You can get STIs from sharing needles, sharing IV drugs, or having unprotected sex. It’s usually baby boomers who didn’t know they had it and it was dormant for a long time, and they get tested since it’s recommended. Or it’s a lot of younger people who are simply at risk,” Tara Bealor, infectious disease supervisor, said.

Being protected from this type of infection takes a lot of responsibility. If you contract an infectious disease, it does not make you any less of a person. Education is incredibly important when talking about communicable diseases, but unfortunately many people do not receive the proper information about how to prevent, what to do if you contract, and what will life look like moving forward post diagnosis.

“There’s a lot of different ways to come in contact with these types of diseases, conditions, or viruses. A lot of times it’s lifestyle, but not always. A lot of patients don’t know any different because they were never educated. It’s almost second nature for a lot of people, so we do try to push educating our patients,” Janae McKenzie, family nurse practitioner, said.

With the risk of contracting communicable diseases rising, it’s important to keep yourself healthy and protected. Get tested routinely, have honest conversations with your partners about prevention, and stay home when you’re not feeling well.