MCHD remains busy during Carnival season 2-27-26

February 27, 2025

MCHD remains busy during Carnival season

MOBILE, Ala. — The Mobile Police Department reports that an estimated 1,341,358 people attended parades in the city. This includes 125,030 parade-goers on Fat Tuesday.

“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.

Here are some figures recorded by MCHD’s teams:

• Inspection Services dealt with 47 vendors and issued notices to two illegal vendors.
• Vector Services assisted with handing out 3,900 bottles of hand sanitizers to assist will slowing the spread of flu like illnesses and other germs.
• STD Outreach attended 14 parades in Mobile and Prichard areas. While there they distributed 20,000 condoms, 100 pride kits, and assisted with handing out hand sanitizers.

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 third 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.

“As of last week, surveillance data showed no increase in influenza-like illness in Mobile County, and this remained true throughout the Mardi Gras season,” Dr. Michaels added. “Historically, we have not observed a notable rise in gastrointestinal illness associated with Mardi Gras activities, and this year’s post–Mardi Gras reports were consistent with that pattern.”