South Region Health Concerns
CDC Health Survey
Page originally published 10/01/2024. Page last updated 11/5/2024.
On October 17-19, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the County of San Diego completed a survey called a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, or CASPER. The purpose of this survey was to help public health and emergency response leaders learn more about health concerns and impacts from sewage and pollution in the Tijuana River Valley.
On this page:
What is a CASPER?
A Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, or CASPER, is a type of household survey developed by the CDC.
- It is a way to quickly gather information about the needs of an affected community.
- It is a point-in-time survey.
How is a CASPER Done?
A CASPER is done by interviewing people face-to-face in their community.
- A CASPER uses a two-stage sampling method and is designed to pick just the right number of households to interview. First, 30 blocks (clusters) are selected, then 7 households are randomly selected from block.
- A total of 210 interviews will be conducted.
What Will the Data be Used For?
Input from interviews will help us better understand the health status, experiences, and needs in the South Region of San Diego County related to sewage exposure from the Tijuana River Valley, including air and water exposures.
Results from CASPER help public health and emergency response
leaders:
- Start important public health actions,
- Find missing information,
- Plan and respond better to disasters,
- Share resources where they are needed, and
- Understand new or changing needs in the community.
Why is a Survey Needed?
There has been a long history of cross-border flows containing untreated sewage, sediment, and trash entering the Tijuana River Valley. This impacts local recreation, damages sensitive habitats, threatens public health, and causes beach water contact closures.
- There have been more concerns in recent years about water quality in the Tijuana River Valley due to more frequent infrastructure failures and increased flows all year round.
- Trash and raw sewage flowing from the Tijuana River Valley into American waterways have been at elevated levels due to two years of near-record rainfall and infrastructure failures on both sides of the border.
Visit the County’s Role webpage for more information on how the County continues to investigate and address health concerns and impacts around sewage and pollution from the Tijuana River Valley.
When Will Results of the Survey be Published?
The CDC is responsible for the timing and publication of data and any after action reports.
- Information collected from the surveys will be analyzed over the upcoming weeks.
- The CDC expects to share results in early 2025.
County News Center:
- CDC and County Launch Health Survey in Tijuana River Valley (October 18, 2024)
- Tijuana River Valley Health Assessment in Partnership with CDC Begins (October 17, 2024)
- Volunteers Fan Out in Sewage Impacted South County Neighborhoods (October 4, 2024)
- County Distributing Information to Residents Ahead of CDC Community Health Assessment (October 2, 2024)
- County Expands its Health-Focused Response to Tijuana River Valley Sewage Crisis (September 5, 2024)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Educational Materials
For more information, send an e-mail to the Epidemiology Unit.
