Report: Ohio should do more to prevent infectious disease

A new national report gives Ohio low marks for its efforts to protect against infectious disease (Source: “Ohio scores low against infectious diseases,” Columbus Dispatch, Dec. 18, 2013).

The report by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation gave Ohio a score of four on a 10-point scale. Ohio was one of 10 states to get a score of four, with only nine states scoring lower. 

"From antibiotic-resistant Superbugs to Salmonella to the seasonal flu, infectious diseases disrupt lives and communities," said Jeffrey Levi, PhD, executive director of TFAH. "Fighting these diseases requires constant vigilance. The bad news is that we found major gaps in the country's ability to prevent, control and treat outbreaks, leaving Americans at an unacceptable level of unnecessary risk."