Who is required to report a communicable disease?

Medical doctors, osteopaths, veterinarians, podiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, nurse midwives, infection control practitioners, medical examiners, coroners, dentists, and administrators of health facilities and clinics knowing of a case or suspected case of a communicable disease are required to report it to the local health department according to (California Code of Regulations (CCR),Title 17, Section 2500). In addition, anyone in charge of a public or private school, kindergarten, boarding school, or preschool also is required to report these diseases (See section 2508). Laboratories are required to report certain communicable diseases (See section 2505).

• Health Care Providers are required to report communicable diseases or suspected communicable diseases to the local public health department
• Schools are also required to report communicable diseases to the local health department
• Laboratories are required to report the discovery of the following diseases to the local health department.

What is reportable?

The link below will take you to a list of reportable diseases and the time frames for reporting.  Please note that outbreaks of any disease (whether on the list or not) are reportable.

• Mandatory Disease Reporting Guidelines

How to report

Diseases and outbreaks may be reported by phone, fax, or mail, as outlined in the guidelines above.  The link below will take you to the Confidential Morbidity Report (CMR) form that you can print out, complete, and send by mail or fax.  There is another version of the communicable disease list with the form.  The second link will take you to a page with instructions to assist you in completing the CMR.

• CMR Form
• Reportable Communicable Disease List
• Instructions for Completing CMR
• Exposure Notices for Schools and Child Care
• Exposure Notice Table

For More Information, Please Contact:
Santa Clara County Disease Prevention & Control Program
976 Lenzen Avenue, Suite 1700
San Jose, CA 95126
Phone: 408-885-4214
Fax: 408-885-4249
Email: disease@phd.sccgov.org