Protects the health of the community by working to prevent the spread of diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, STD's and HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases. Nurse epidemiologists follow-up on communicable disease reports from medical providers and laboratories to identify the source of a disease or outbreak, and prevent further spread of illness through assuring appropriate medical assessment and treatment of patients and their contacts. Programs include: - public health consulting, - communicable disease epidemiology and investigation, - STD/HIV services - antibiotic resistance prevention, - immunization referral, - tuberculosis control, - public health emergency preparedness and response - and refugee health.