Communicable Diseases Reporting

Provider Type

  • Physicians 
  • Participating Physician Groups (PPG)
    (does not apply to HSP)
  • Hospitals
  • Ancillary

To protect the public from the spread of infectious, contagious and communicable diseases, every health care provider knowing of or in attendance on a case or suspected case of any of the communicable diseases and conditions specified in Title 17, California Code of Regulations (CCR), Section 2500, are required by law to notify the local health department (LHD). A health care provider having knowledge of a case of an unusual disease not listed must also promptly report the facts to the local health officer.

The term health care provider includes physicians and surgeons, veterinarians, podiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses, nurse midwives, school nurses, infection control practitioners, medical examiners, coroners, and dentists.

Notification

Providers must report cases of communicable diseases using the Confidential Morbidity Report (PDF) . They must send a completed copy of the report to the Communicable Disease Control division of the County Health Department. The time frame for reporting suspected cases of communicable diseases varies according to disease and ranges from immediate reporting by telephone or fax to seven days by mail.

The notification must include the following, if known:

  • Name of the disease or condition being reported
  • Date of onset
  • Date of diagnosis
  • Name, address, telephone number, occupation, race or ethnic group, Social Security number (SSN), age, sex, and date of birth for the case or suspected case
  • Date of death, if death has occurred
  • Name, address and telephone number of the person making the report