Communicable Disease Control
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is required to report a communicable disease?
The health department is dependent upon the below disciplines to report both suspect and confirmed diseases so that we
may fulfill our mission of safeguarding the health of our community by preventing or minimizing the spread of communicable
diseases.
The Public Health and Related Laws of North Carolina issued by the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health:
Article 6 Communicable Diseases
130A-135 Physicians
130A-136 School principals and child care operators
130A-137 Medical facilities
130A-138 Operators of restaurants & food or drink establishments
130A-139 Persons in charge of laboratories
Why report a communicable disease?
To ensure "control measures prescribed by the Commission have been given to prevent the spread of all reportable
communicable diseases or communicable conditions and any other communicable disease or communicable condition that
represents a significant threat to the public health."
Who receives these reports?
The reports are given to the Communicable Disease Nursing Supervisor who writes a referral with the information obtained.
Following the N.C. Communicable Disease Manual or the most recent Vaccine Preventable Manual, an investigation
is done by a generalized public health nurse. The necessary information is shared with the Medical Director. If the report
is on an enteric disease, the Environmental Health supervisor is notified if the person is in a sensitive occupation dealing
with food, beverage, medical care, daycare. In some cases, it is necessary to inform a director of a daycare, school
nurse, or restaurant manager of the name and diagnosis of the infected individual in order to control the spread of the
disease.
A communicable report card is required by state law to be forwarded to the Division of Health and Human Services
(DHHS) Division of Public Health (DPH). The General Communicable Disease Control Branch at the DPH maintains a statistical
database. DPH deletes names and addresses and forwards information on a weekly basis to the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). CDC publishes weekly statistics on communicable diseases reported in the United States in the
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
For more information, go to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
For information on DPH, go to ncgov.com or the
N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
For more information on General Communicable Disease Branch, go to Epidemiology in North Carolina.
How confidential are these reports?
The North Carolina Communicable Disease statutes require that all information/records on anyone reported with a
communicable disease or suspect communicable disease remain strictly confidential. Only under the following circumstances
can the information be made public:
- Release is made of specific medical or epidemiological information for statistical purposes in a way that no person is identified;
- Release is made with written consent of the person identified or their guardian;
- Release is made to health care personnel providing medical care to the patient;
- Release is necessary to protect the public’s health;
- Release is made pursuant to a subpoena or court order;
- Release is made to another state or local public health agency for the purpose of preventing or controlling the spread of a communicable disease or condition;
- Release is made by the state, under separate restrictions, for bona fide research purposes.
Is there a law for reporting communicable diseases?
North Carolina Communicable Disease Laws (General Statutes 130A)
North Carolina Administrative Code (Title 10A - Chapter 41)
How to Report a Communicable Disease?
The initial report for disease and conditions required to be reported within 24 hours should be made by telephone to the
appropriate person at the local health department of the county the resident lives in. Telephone reports must include
the disease, date of onset, patient name, date of birth, race, sex, address, phone number and name and phone number of
person reporting disease. Lab confirmation should be faxed to the health department. Those conditions that must be
reported within seven days, a communicable disease report card should be completed with above information and mailed
to the appropriate person at the Health Department site.
For Forsyth County Dept. of Public Health reports should be sent to:
Linda Means, R.N.
Communicable Disease Nursing Supervisor
P.O. Box 686
Winston–Salem, NC 27102-0686
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