Working Together

...to promote a healthy Cape Cod community through disease prevention and control, health and safety education, environmental protection and emergency preparedness.

Welcome!

The Department of Health and Environment was established in 1926 to provide regional efficiencies throughout the 15 towns of Barnstable County, while supporting the autonomy of local boards of health. The Department provides a diversity of services that promote public health and environmental protection, from emergency planning, to monitoring of water, land, and air, to disease prevention, inspectional services, COVID-19 pandemic response, and even the practical application of providing loans for septic system repair and replacement. The physical and mental well-being of Barnstable County’s residents, alongside protection of our sensitive ecosystems, are our top priorities.


News

The Sandwich Enterprise: Did you know that the Cape’s Emergency Shelters Welcome Pets?

By AIMEE ROTHMAN, The Sandwich Enterprise In the event of an emergency, the Sandwich Middle High Schools opens up to the public to offer shelter. Both people and pets are […]

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Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment Issues a Public Health Advisory to Heighten Awareness around Avian Influenza (H5N1) 

County webpage provides current Cape-specific information to protect residents, pets and poultry amid nation-wide bird flu concerns January 30, 2025 (Barnstable, MA) – The Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment […]

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Barnstable County, Mass Maritime Academy, and Air Force Emergency Management Host Presentation by Boston Marathon Bombing Leadership

Last week, the Barnstable County Incident Management Team, in cooperation with Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Air Force Emergency Management hosted retired Boston Police Chief Dan Linskey for his presentation “Leading […]

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Contract Epidemiologist Lea Hamner’s Work Highlighted for Essential Role in Local Community Health

Article from the Massachusetts Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) Newsletter Local epidemiologists play an essential role in safeguarding community health by identifying and addressing emerging health threats through data-driven actions. […]

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Quarterly Community Health E-Newsletter | Issue 2 | January 2025

Welcome to the second issue of our new and improved quarterly Community Health Newsletter! Our goal is to discuss important public health and environmental health issues impacting our region, while […]

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State Action for Public Health Excellence Passes in Massachusetts

In a significant stride towards enhancing public health in Massachusetts, the State Action for Public Health Excellence (SAPHE 2.0) initiative has successfully passed, setting a new standard for public health […]

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Upcoming Meetings & Events

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