Disease Reporting and Introduction to Communicable Disease and HIV/STD Staff Sept. 13, 2023

Reporting cases of communicable diseases and related conditions has been and remains a vital step in controlling and preventing the spread of communicable disease. These reports are useful in many ways, including assurance of provision of appropriate medical therapy, detection of common-source outbreaks, and planning and evaluating prevention and control programs.

General statute § 130A-135 reads “A physician licensed to practice medicine who has reason to suspect that a person about whom the physician has been consulted professionally has a communicable disease or communicable condition declared by the Commission to be reported, shall report information required by the Commission to the local health director of the county or district in which the physician is consulted.” Suspected cases of vaccine-preventable disease are required to be reported within 24 hours.

General statute § 130A-144b reads “Persons in charge of medical facilities or laboratories shall, upon request and proper identification, permit a local health director or the State Health Director to examine, review, and obtain a copy of medical or other records in their possession or under their control which the State Health Director or a local health director determines pertain to the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a communicable disease or communicable condition. A physician or a person in charge of a medical facility or laboratory who permits examination, review or copying of medical records shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed as a result of complying with a request. HIPAA laws do not affect the reporting of general communicable diseases, HIV disease or sexually transmitted diseases”.

To Report a Communicable Disease:
FAX: 704-353-1202 | Phone: 980-314-9201 or 704-432-1742
Urgent or emergency communicable disease matters: Call 704-432-0871
 

We appreciate your cooperation as we work to prevent and control communicable disease in

Sincerely,

Dr. Raynard Washington
Health Director