Questions and Answers
Why is communicable disease reporting important?
Communicable disease reporting is the cornerstone of
public
health surveillance and disease control. Prompt reporting gives the local health agency time to
interrupt disease transmission, locate and prophylax or treat exposed contacts,
identify and contain outbreaks, ensure effective treatment and follow-up of
cases, and alert the health community. The information
obtained through disease reporting is used to monitor disease trends over time,
identify high risk groups, allocate resources, develop policy, design prevention
programs, and support grant applications.
Who is responsible for reporting communicable diseases?
Under
Arizona Administrative Code (AAC) R9-6-202, 203, and 204, a health
care provider,
an administrator of a health care facility, an administrator of a school,
child care establishment, or shelter, or their authorized representatives
shall submit a communicable disease report to the local health agency. The local
health agency is usually the county health department or tribal health agency.
Clinical laboratory directors or their representatives shall submit
laboratory reports to the state health department. Violation of reporting
rules is a class III misdemeanor and is subject to referral to the facility's
licensing agency or provider's
state licensing board.
Which communicable diseases are reportable?
There are eighty-seven reportable communicable diseases in Arizona.
When are communicable diseases to be reported?
Most diseases on the list are to be reported to the local health agency within
five business days of diagnosis or treatment. Cases or suspect cases of diseases
requiring urgent intervention are reportable within 24 hours of diagnosis. Also,
cases, suspect cases, or carriers of enteric diseases in food handlers, nursing
home caregivers, or child care workers are reportable within 24 hours of diagnosis.
Outbreaks of foodborne or waterborne disease should be reported within 24 hours
as well.
How are communicable diseases to be reported?
Reporting directions are delineated at the top of the communicable disease
list. Reports must contain the information on an Arizona Department of Health
Services Communicable Disease Reporting (CDR) form CDR
in PDF - requires Acrobat
Reader™ to view. The CDR can be mailed, telephoned,
or faxed to the
local health agency. |
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