Public Health Nuisances

The Public Health Nuisances indicator is measured by the number of reported public health nuisances per 1,000 residents. Public health nuisances are strongly tied to poor housing conditions, improper sanitation, unsafe drinking water, and exposure to animals carrying disease such as mosquitoes. Poor housing conditions are associated with a wide range of health conditions, including respiratory infections, asthma, lead poisoning, injuries, and mental health. Features of substandard housing, including lack of safe drinking water, absence of hot water for washing, ineffective waste disposal, intrusion by disease vectors (e.g., insects and rats), and inadequate food storage have long been identified as contributing to the spread of infectious diseases. Mosquito-borne diseases are those spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Diseases that are spread to people by mosquitoes include Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue, and malaria. Finally, the most common concern for a loose or stray pet is rabies. Rabies is a deadly viral disease that infects the brain and spinal cord of mammals. The virus is spread from exposure to saliva or nervous tissue from an infected animal, usually through a bite. Data for this indicator is available through request via the Jefferson County Department of Public Health.

Neighborhoodsort descending Indicator Value Rank
Acipco-Finley 123.2 88
Airport Highlands 171.4 95
Apple Valley 33.7 21
Arlington - West End 96.5 76
Belview Heights 76.7 60
Bridlewood 29.2 19
Brown Springs 67.3 47
Brownsville Heights 142.5 92
Brummitt Heights 84 65
Bush Hills 90.9 69
Central City 16.1 11
Central Park 97.6 78
Central Pratt 186.6 96
College Hills 66.7 45
Collegeville 81.6 64
Crestline 23.2 16
Crestwood North 27.8 17
Crestwood South 22.6 14
Dolomite 48.4 30
Druid Hills 52.5 33
East Avondale 46.4 28
East Birmingham 92.9 73
East Brownville 61.4 38
East Lake 92.2 72
East Thomas 105.3 83
Eastwood 34 22
Echo Highlands 13.3 9
Enon Ridge 212.8 98
Ensley 110 86
Ensley Highlands 64.9 44
Evergreen 69.8 49
Fairmont 70.1 50
Fairview 79.3 62
Five Points South 11.5 4
Forest Park 22.8 15
Fountain Heights 61.5 39
Garden Highlands 55.3 35
Gate City 9.8 3
Germania Park 85.9 66
Glen Iris 9.4 2
Grasselli Heights 73.2 53
Graymont 42.5 25
Green Acres 72.9 52
Harriman Park 167.6 94
Highland Park 12 6
Hillman 100.6 79
Hillman Park 54.9 34
Hooper City 190.6 97
Huffman 28.6 18
Industrial Center 12.3 7
Inglenook 96 75
Jones Valley 109 85
Killough Springs 46.7 29
Kingston 73.3 54
Liberty Highlands 45.7 27
Maple Grove 89.8 68
Mason City 69.4 48
North Avondale 49.6 31
North Birmingham 130.1 90
North East Lake 104 82
North Pratt 73.8 55
North Titusville 58.5 36
Norwood 91.6 71
Oak Ridge 73.9 56
Oak Ridge Park 22.1 13
Oakwood Place 114.5 87
Overton 2.9 1
Oxmoor 11.8 5
Penfield Park 49.8 32
Pine Knoll Vista 62.2 40
Powderly 102.2 81
Redmont Park 14.7 10
Riley 97.3 77
Rising - West Princeton 124.7 89
Roebuck 64 43
Roebuck Springs 61.3 37
Roosevelt 94.1 74
Sandusky 75.5 58
Sherman Heights 141 91
Smithfield 67.1 46
Smithfield Estates 45.5 26
South East Lake 77.9 61
South Pratt 221 99
South Titusville 62.8 42
South Woodlawn 147 93
Southside 17 12
Spring Lake 32.6 20
Sun Valley 12.3 7
Tarpley City 37.6 23
Thomas 73.9 56
Tuxedo 38.6 24
Wahouma 90.9 69
West Brownville 62.5 41
West End Manor 79.3 62
West Goldwire 75.9 59
Woodland Park 72.5 51
Woodlawn 106.5 84
Wylam 87.4 67
Zion City 101.6 80

Key Citations:
1. Krieger, J., & Higgins, D. L. (2002). Housing and Health: Time Again for Public Health Action. American Journal of Public Health, 92(5), 758–768.
2. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/outdoor/mosquito-borne/default.html.
3. http://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/infectiousdiseases/rabies.html