Disease Reporting Oct. 24, 2024

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. Public health would like to share the following laws and rules related to disease reporting. 

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.” Reporting timelines for reasonably suspected and confirmed cases of communicable disease are listed in 10A NCAC 41A .0101. Timelines range from immediately to 24 hours to 7 days.

As it relates to HIPAA and confidentiality 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 other sexually transmitted diseases”.

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

To Report HIV/AIDS/STDs:
FAX: 704-336-6200 Phone: 980-314-9220 or 704-614-6510

To Report Tuberculosis:
FAX: 704-432-3493 Phone: 980-314-9470

We appreciate your cooperation as we work to prevent and control communicable diseases in Mecklenburg County