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How to Report a Communicable Disease
Disease Reporting is more important than ever. The Merced County Department of Public Health’s ability to conduct disease surveillance and control activities depends on timely disease reporting. Public Health could not perform these critical duties without the commitment of local health care providers. Ever disease report contributes to our ability to measure illness levels, identify outbreaks, initiate a timely public health response; and improve the community health.
The following items are key items to help local health care providers and other mandated reporters in reporting to local health departments:
1. List of Reportable Diseases and Conditions (Title 17, CCR Section 2500) Physicians and health care providers who suspect any of these diseases or conditions (that are listed) are required by law to notify public health within the specified time frame.
2. Confidential Morbidity Report (CMR) Forms (three versions: A, B, and C):
Version B, only for reporting tuberculosis; and
Version C, only for reporting to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) conditions which may impair a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.
3. Reporting to Other Local Health Departments (non-Merced County Patients):
Under the California Code of Regulations, Title 17 (Section 2500), public health professionals, medical providers, and others are mandated to report approximately 85 diseases or conditions to their local health department.
Additionally, anyone in charge of any type of school is also required to report these diseases (Section 2508), as are laboratories (Section 2505).
To report to Local Health Department using CalREDIE, please contact local communicable disease program.
The primary objectives of disease surveillance are:
The reports remain confidential. The Merced County Department of Public Health shares much of its information with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and they in turn report certain diseases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
These reports enable appropriate public health follow-ups with patients, help identify outbreaks, and provide a better understanding of morbidity patterns (at local, state, and national levels).
The following items are key items to help local health care providers and other mandated reporters in reporting to local health departments:
1. List of Reportable Diseases and Conditions (Title 17, CCR Section 2500) Physicians and health care providers who suspect any of these diseases or conditions (that are listed) are required by law to notify public health within the specified time frame.
2. Confidential Morbidity Report (CMR) Forms (three versions: A, B, and C):
- The CMR gives us critical information we need to follow-up on cases. This is the initial report form required from providers for any reportable disease or condition. Providers who suspect any of the diseases listed on the back of the CMR are required by law to notified public health.
- There are now three versions of the CMR form:
Version B, only for reporting tuberculosis; and
Version C, only for reporting to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) conditions which may impair a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.
3. Reporting to Other Local Health Departments (non-Merced County Patients):
- In the event that you need to report persons residing in counties other than Merced, blank CMR forms are posted at: State of California Reportable Disease Page
- For List of non-Merced County Health Departments, see: California Local Health Department (LHD) Contact Information for Health Care Providers/Labs to Report Communicable Diseases and Submit
Mandates
Under the California Code of Regulations, Title 17 (Section 2500), public health professionals, medical providers, and others are mandated to report approximately 85 diseases or conditions to their local health department.
Additionally, anyone in charge of any type of school is also required to report these diseases (Section 2508), as are laboratories (Section 2505).
CalREDIETo report to Local Health Department using CalREDIE, please contact local communicable disease program.
- To apply for CalREDIE use, please contact the department of Public Health for proper steps.
- Tutorial Video on how to report using CalREDIE.
Why Report?
The primary objectives of disease surveillance are:
- Protecting the health of the public
- Determining the extent of morbidity within the community
- Evaluating the risk of transmission
- Intervening rapidly when appropriate
The reports remain confidential. The Merced County Department of Public Health shares much of its information with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and they in turn report certain diseases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
These reports enable appropriate public health follow-ups with patients, help identify outbreaks, and provide a better understanding of morbidity patterns (at local, state, and national levels).