About Lake County General Health District

The Lake County General Health District was established in 1919/1920 under the Hughes – Griswold Act, a direct response to the influenza epidemic (pandemic) of 1918/19 in which more than one-half million people died in the United States, and more than 20 million worldwide.  Prior to its adoption, municipalities were responsible for their own health programs, meaning that nearly 2,150 health departments existed in Ohio. Most departments had little medical training or public health knowledge. Since the formation of public health agencies, the life expectancy of Americans has increased dramatically through the prevention of diseases through safe food and water supplies, sanitation, nutrition, vaccines, and antibiotics. These are the services and educational programs that are delivered through your local and county health departments in Ohio. Currently there are 121 health departments in Ohio. Lake County General Health District was the 14^th health department in Ohio to become accredited, in August 2016, under the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) standards.