MCHD remains busy during Carnival season 03.06.25

March 6, 2025

MCHD remains busy during Carnival season

MOBILE, Ala. —The Mobile Police Department reports than an estimated 1,367,141 people attended parades in the city, which is an increase of 260,000 from last year.

“Our staff has and continues to be very busy ensuring that visitors and residents experience a safe and exciting Mardi Gras season,” said Dr. Kevin Michaels, Health Officer for Mobile County.

The Mobile County Health Department’s (MCHD) Inspection Services issued temporary permits to 42 food vendors and four temporary bars over the course of Carnival season in Mobile and Dauphin Island. An additional two to three vendors are expected at the Trinity Gardens parade this coming weekend. Inspection Services also responded to one foodborne illness complaint supposedly linked to a Mardi Gras food vendor.

MCHD’s Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) team was present at the parades from Feb. 20 through March 2. The department had eight staff members who distributed more 25,000 condoms and 100 Pride kits. They also assisted with the distribution of hand sanitizer.

“We ensured that all the local downtown bars and any businesses that requested them were supplied with condoms,” said Cherrite Peterson, who oversees the team. “In addition, we provided condoms to local hair salons and barbershops. Our STD staff walked the parade routes, handing out individually wrapped condoms and hand sanitizer to parade-goers and vendors.”

To increase its ability to help make sure citizens and visitors had an enjoyable experience, MCHD’s Public Health Response Unit trailer and Rapid Response Vehicle were present at the corner of Dauphin Street and Saint Joseph Street near Bienville Square for the second straight year.

Public Health Response Unit 1 was used as command center for MCHD’s Inspection Services. It also served as a base for MCHD staff that conducted outreach activities during parades, such as the STD team.

MCHD’s Infectious Disease & Outbreaks team did not receive any complaints or labs dealing with illnesses pertaining to Mardi Gras vendors. However, there were 57 “vaccine preventable disease” investigations during Carnival season, including one flu death. Some of those cases involved the recent vaccine preventable Pertussis outbreak, which has now reached 30 patients – twice as many as recorded in all of 2024.