Our Mission

To protect and promote the highest level of health possible for the communities we serve.

Public Health Services

Explore our Community Service programs designed to provide essential information supporting your daily life, travel plans, and overall well-being—because your health is no small matter.

Water & Sewer Inspection

For new or replacement water well or sewage systems

Dental Services

For preventative, restorative, prosthetic, surgical, or cosmetic care

Food Service Licensing

For license applications, inspections, or emergency contact information.

Immunizations

Services and appointments for both children and adults.

Beach Monitoring

See the latest updates on beach water quality and safety.

View All Services

See all service details.

Latest News & Events:

Providing you with local, state and national news to keep you informed and ready in the Van Buren and Cass communities.

Hepatitis Awareness Month: Get Tested and Vaccinated for Hepatitis B and C in Van Buren & Cass Counties

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. It’s a good time to learn about hepatitis B and…

Stay Safe This Summer: Avoid Foam on Michigan Waterways

As the weather warms up, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) urges…

New Michigan Law Requires Lead Testing for Children: What You Need to Know

To protect children from the dangers of lead exposure, Michigan’s new law requires all children…

View All News

Health Topics A-Z

Select a letter below to search for a Health Topic

Bed Bugs

Bird Flu

Avian influenza or bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses have occurred.

Campylobacter

Campylobacter causes an estimated 1.5 million illnesses each year in the United States.

People can get Campylobacter infection by eating raw or undercooked poultry or eating something that touched it. They can also get it from eating other foods, including seafood, meat, and produce, by contact with animals, and by drinking untreated water.

About Campylobacter (Campylobacteriosis) / CDC

Chickenpox (Varicella)

Chickenpox is very contagious. If one person has it, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected. Chickenpox can also be serious, even life-threatening, especially in babies, adolescents, adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. Before the vaccine was available, about 4 million people got chickenpox each year in the United States, over 10,500 of those people were hospitalized, and about 100-150 people died.

COVID-19

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2. It is very contagious and has quickly spread around the world.

Learn more at CDC:

COVID-19 in Michigan

Coronavirus / Michigan.gov
Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) Michigan
Van Buren Cass District Health Department: Covid information

Cryptosporidium

Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria normally live in the intestines of people and animals. Most E. coli are harmless and actually are an important part of a healthy human intestinal tract. However, some E. coli are pathogenic, meaning they can cause illness, either diarrhea or illness outside of the intestinal tract. The types of E. coli that can cause diarrhea can be transmitted through contaminated water or food, or through contact with animals or persons.

Food Safety

Giardia

Giardia is a tiny parasite (germ) that causes the diarrheal disease giardiasis. Giardia is found on surfaces or in soil, food, or water that has been contaminated with feces (poop) from infected people or animals.

You can get giardiasis if you swallow Giardia germs. Giardia spreads easily and can spread from person to person or through contaminated water, food, surfaces, or objects. The most common way people get sick is by swallowing contaminated drinking water or recreational water (for example, lakes, rivers, or pools).

About Parasites – Giardia / CDC

Hand, Foot, and Mouth (HFMD)

Head Lice

Adult head lice are roughly 2–3 mm long. Head lice infest the head and neck and attach their eggs to the base of the hair shaft. Lice move by crawling; they cannot hop or fly. Head lice infestation, or pediculosis, is spread most commonly by close person-to-person contact. Dogs, cats, and other pets do not play a role in the transmission of human lice. Both over-the-counter and prescription medications are available for treatment of head lice infestations.

About Head Lice / CDC

Hepatitis

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis. However, hepatitis is often caused by a virus. In the United States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

Many people with hepatitis do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms occur with an acute infection, they can appear anytime from 2 weeks to 6 months after exposure. Symptoms of acute hepatitis can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools, joint pain, and jaundice. Symptoms of chronic viral hepatitis can take decades to develop.

Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is caused by a fungus that lives in soil, particularly where there’s a large amount of bird or bat poop. People can get histoplasmosis by breathing in fungal spores, and infection can be mild or life-threatening. It can be misdiagnosed because its symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses, like pneumonia caused by bacteria. This often results in delayed treatment. Here are some important things to know about histoplasmosis and Histoplasma, the fungus that causes this illness.

About Histoplasmosis: A Common Fungal Lung Infection / CDC

HIV

Influenza (flu)

Kawasaki Disease (KD)

Kawasaki disease (KD), also known as Kawasaki syndrome, is an acute febrile illness of unknown cause that primarily affects children younger than 5 years of age. The disease was first described in Japan by Tomisaku Kawasaki in 1967, and the first cases outside of Japan were reported in Hawaii in 1976. Clinical signs include fever, rash, swelling of the hands and feet, irritation and redness of the whites of the eyes, swollen lymph glands in the neck, and irritation and inflammation of the mouth, lips, and throat.

About Kawasaki Disease / CDC

Legionella

Listeria

Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die. The infection is most likely to sicken pregnant women and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems.

Measles

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can lead to complications. Learn about its history, answers to common questions, and, if you’re a parent, how you can protect your child.

Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. A bacterial or viral infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord usually causes the swelling. However, injuries, cancer, certain drugs, and other types of infections also can cause meningitis. It is important to know the specific cause of meningitis because the treatment differs depending on the cause.

Mpox

MRSA

What is MRSA?

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that is resistant to several antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus (staph) is a type of bacteria found on people’s skin. Staph bacteria are usually harmless, but they can cause serious infections that can lead to sepsis or death.

Who is at risk?

Anyone can get. The risk increases with activities or places that involve crowding, skin-to-skin contact, and shared equipment or supplies. Some of the people who carry MRSA can go on to get a MRSA infection. Non-intact skin, such as when there are abrasions or incisions, is often the site of an MRSA infection. Athletes, daycare and school students, military personnel in barracks, and those who receive inpatient medical care or have surgery or medical devices inserted in their body are at higher risk of MRSA infection.

Mumps

Mumps is a contagious disease that is caused by a virus. It typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Then most people will have swelling of their salivary glands (often referred to as parotitis when the parotid gland, located in front and below the ear, swells). This is what causes the puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw.

Norovirus

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Pharyngitis (Strep Throat)

Pneumococcal Disease (Strep Pneumonia Invasive)

Pneumococcal [noo-muh-KOK-uhl] disease is a name for any infection caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus. Pneumococcal infections can range from ear and sinus infections to pneumonia and bloodstream infections. There are vaccines to help prevent pneumococcal disease.

Rabies

Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most commonly transmitted by a rabid animal bite. In the U.S., rabies is mostly found in wild animals such as bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. The virus infects the central nervous system. If a person does not receive the appropriate medical care after a potential exposure to rabies, the virus can infect the brain and result in death. Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, staying away from wildlife and stray animals, and seeking medical care after a bite and before symptoms begin.

Michigan Emerging Diseases: Rabies

Learn about Michigan’s Bats

RSV

Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States.

Rubella (German Measles)

Rubella is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Most people who get rubella usually have a mild illness, with symptoms that can include a low-grade fever, sore throat, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Rubella can cause a miscarriage or serious birth defects in a developing baby if a woman is infected while she is pregnant. The best protection against rubella is MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine.

Salmonella

CDC estimates Salmonella bacteria cause about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States every year. Food is the source for most of these illnesses.

Most people who get ill from Salmonella have diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.

Symptoms usually begin 6 hours to 6 days after infection and last 4 to 7 days.

Most people recover without specific treatment and should not take antibiotics. Antibiotics are typically used only to treat people who have severe illness or who are at risk for it.

Some people’s illness may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized.

Scabies

Scabies is an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis). The microscopic scabies mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin where it lives and lays its eggs. The most common symptoms of scabies are intense itching and a pimple-like skin rash. The scabies mite usually is spread by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with a person who has scabies.

About Scabies / CDC

Shigella - Shigellosis

Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

About 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles, also known as herpes zoster, in their lifetime. An estimated 1 million people get shingles each year in this country. If you’ve ever had chickenpox, you can get shingles. Even children can get shingles. Your risk of shingles increases as you get older.

STDs

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are very common. Millions of new infections occur every year in the United States.

STDs pass from one person to another through vaginal, oral, and anal sex. They also can spread through intimate physical contact like heavy petting, though this is not very common.

STDs don’t always cause symptoms or may only cause mild symptoms. Therefore, it is possible to have an infection and not know it. That is why getting an STD test is important if you are having sex. If you receive a positive STD diagnosis, know that all are treatable with medicine and some are curable entirely.

There are dozens of STDs. Some STDs, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, are spread mainly by sexual contact. Other diseases, including Zika, Ebola, and mpox, can be spread sexually but are more often spread through ways other than sex.

STDs are preventable. If you have sex, know how to protect yourself and your sex partner(s) from STDs.

Tetanus

Tetanus is an infection caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani. Spores of tetanus bacteria are everywhere in the environment, including soil, dust, and manure. The spores develop into bacteria when they enter the body. Unlike other vaccine-preventable diseases, tetanus is not spread from person to person.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.

Basic TB Facts / CDC

Vaccines & Immunizations

Vector-Borne Disease

Vector-borne pathogens are spread to people and animals primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito, tick, or flea. Only a few mosquito-borne viruses can be prevented with vaccines. In most cases, people need to protect themselves from mosquito, tick, and flea bites to prevent infection.

Vibriosis

Yersiniosis

Yersiniosis is an infection caused most often by eating raw or undercooked pork contaminated with Yersinia enterocolitica bacteria. CDC estimates Y. enterocolitica causes almost 117,000 illnesses, 640 hospitalizations, and 35 deaths in the United States every year. Children are infected more often than adults, and the infection is more common in the winter.

About Yersinia enterocolitica (Yersiniosis) / CDC

B - F

G - L

M - R

S - Y

B - F

G - L

M - R

A powerful lightning storm illuminates the sky as weather warning notifications appear on a mobile device. Severe storms can bring high winds, heavy rain, and power outages. Stay updated, follow emergency alerts, and prepare for potential impacts.

S - Y

Following the storms on March 29-30 that left over 300,000 homes without power, another round of severe weather is expected late Wednesday, April 2, into Thursday morning, April 3. The National Weather Service warns of high winds, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and large hail. Road conditions may be dangerous, and power outages could continue or worsen.

Health Risks and Safety Tips

Cold-related illnesses can be dangerous, especially for those without power or shelter.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious risk if using gas-powered generators or heaters indoors. Ensure proper ventilation and follow safety guidelines.

Emergency Resources
Cold Weather and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention

Mental Health Support

Disaster Distress Helpline: Call 800-985-5990 (Available 24/7)
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 (Available 24/7)

Environmental Health Hotline

MDHHS Environmental Health Hotline: 800-648-6942 (Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, with emergency after-hours service)

Michigan's Reports & Statistics on Health Services

The Department of Health & Human Services oversees the collection of data on various health-related issues. This information helps monitor and improve the general health and well-being of Michigan's residents.

These data are useful for health program development, targeting and evaluation of program progress. The information is used to identify emerging health issues and trends and can be made available for epidemiological research. Statistics are developed from the data collected to provide basic information on these health events in Michigan. The data are provided at the state, county and community level. Click the link below to see the categories of available services and choose a topic.

Michigan Department of Health & Human Services: Reports & Statistics – Health Services

Board of Health

To contact any of these individuals, please reach out to the Board of Health Secretary at (269) 621-3143, extension 1336.

Randall Peat

Van Buren County Commissioner
peatr@vanburencountymi.gov

Jeremiah Jones

Cass County Commissioner
jeremiahj@cassco.org

Tina Leary

Van Buren County Commissioner and Chairperson
learyt@vanburencountymi.gov

Roseann Marchetti

Cass County Commissioner and Vice Chairperson
roseannm@cassco.org

Robert Linderman

Van Buren County Member at Large
rwlinderman@yahoo.com

Priscilla Gatties

Cass County Member at Large
priscilla.gatties@pokagonband-nsn.gov

Don Hanson

Van Buren County Member at Large
dshanson@btc-bci.com

View Board of Health Information

Your Health is No Small Matter

Your closest grocery store may be a gas station. Your downtown might consist of one, or maybe two, intersections. And your high school football team may only have eight players. But we want you to know that even if you live in a small town, your health is no small matter.

Learn how we can help keep you and your small town healthy.

Visit Our Community Page

Stay Connected with VBCDHD

We’re here to support your health every step of the way. Whether you’re looking for the latest news, need to access services, or want to learn more about health topics, VBCDHD is your go-to resource.

Lawrence Location

260 South Street
Lawrence, MI 49064
269 - 621 - 3143
Hours Of Operation

Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dowagiac Location

302 S. Front Street
Dowagiac, MI 49047
269 - 782 - 0064
Hours Of Operation

Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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