Public health officials on alert during RNC | News

TAMPA, Florida (AP) - The Hillsborough County Health Department's epidemiology program is asking health care providers to be "extra vigilant" when reporting diseases to public health officials in the weeks before, during and after the Republican National Convention.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that public health officials want to hear immediately from health care professionals who see any patients with an unusual rash, a food-related illness, one case of bloody diarrhea or any unexplained severe infectious illness or death in an otherwise healthy person.

They're also interested in any suspected illnesses from potential bioterrorism, such as anthrax, botulism, brucellosis, plague, or viral hemorrhagic fevers.

The convention will be held from Aug. 27-30 in Tampa.