Denton County Heat-Related Illness Surveillance
Although Heat-Related Illnesses (HRIs) are not reportable conditions in the state of Texas, Denton County Public Health conducts syndromic surveillance for HRIs during the summer months. An HRI occurs when the body is unable to cool itself properly, resulting in conditions such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, sunburn, and even death.
In Denton County
To date in the 2023 season, there have been 247 cases of HRI in Denton County residents, with 1 of these cases observed in week 37. The leading cause of reported HRI cases this season is heat exhaustion at 46% followed by other heat-related illness (which includes heat-related overexposure, rash, stress, and malaise) at 34%. Males between the ages of 18 and 35 have experienced the largest amount of HRI cases among all age groups.
Denton County has reported 3 heat related deaths in the 2023 season which occurred in MMWR Week 30, a newly reported case in Week 31, and Week 34. Heat deaths are included in the report after they have been confirmed by a medical examiner.
HRI Illness Report
View the weekly HRI Illness Reports.
