Communicable Diseases & Outbreak Reporting
Reporting Quicklinks
Why Report?
Under the California Code of Regulations, Title 17 (Section 2500), medical providers and others are mandated to report certain diseases or conditions to the Imperial County Public Health Department. Physicians, surgeons, veterinarians, podiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, nurse midwives, infection control practitioners, medical examiners, coroners, dentists, and administrators of health facilities and clinics that know of a case or suspected case of a communicable disease are required to report to the local health department (CCR , Title 17, Section 2500). In addition, anyone in charge of a public or private school, kindergarten, or preschool is required to report communicable diseases (Section 2508). Laboratories are also required to report to the local Public Health Department (Section 2505).
Failure to report is a misdemeanor (Health and Safety Code §20295) and is a citable offense under the Medical Board of California's Citation and Fine Program (CCR, Title 16 §2800 1364).
Reportable diseases are diseases considered to be of great public health importance. Local, state, and national health agencies require that certain diseases be reported when they are diagnosed by doctors or laboratories. Reporting allows for the collection of statistics that show how often the disease occurs. This helps in the identification of disease trends and tracking of outbreaks. This information can help control future outbreaks. All states have a "reportable diseases" list. It is the responsibility of the health-care provider, not the patient, to report cases of these diseases.
What to Report?
Reportable Diseases
List of Reportable Diseases |
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The list of Reportable Diseases includes all diseases and conditions that must be reported to the local health authority and the time frame and method of contact to submit reports. |
Disease Outbreak Reporting
Health care providers, schools, or administrators of a health facility, clinic, or other congregate setting must report outbreaks of ANY DISEASE in compliance with California Code of Regulations, Title 17, (CCR) 2500, 2593, 2641.5-2643.20, and 2800-2812 Reportable Diseases and Conditions.
How to Report
Follow These Steps When Reporting Outbreaks:
- Complete and submit the electronic Outbreak Reporting Form that can be seen below.
- Check your email for the Outbreak Reporting Excel Form.
- Complete the Outbreak Reporting Excel Form with all suspected or confirmed cases.
- Email the completed Excel form to ICPHD-EPIOutbreakReport@co.imperial.ca.us
Respiratory Virus Guidance for Healthcare Settings
(Hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities)
Interim Guidance from CDPH and CDC
- Interim Guidance for Healthcare Personnel with Acute Respiratory Viral Infections CDPH website
- Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 CDC website
Healthcare Settings as recommend by the CDC:
Skilled Nursing Facilities:
Guidance for Non-Healthcare Facilities
School Guidance:
- TK-12 Guidance 2024-25 School Year CDPH website
- Considerations when a Child has Symptoms of Illness in Child Care School CDPH website
Guidance for the General Public and Non-Healthcare Portions of Jails, Shelters, etc:
For any questions, email ICPHD-EPIOutbreakReport@co.imperial.ca.us and call 442-265-7482
Complete the Confidential Morbidity Report seen in the links below to report those diseases mandated by Title 17, California Code of regulations.
Please complete and fax to (442) 265-1477 or you can register to the CalREDIE Provider Portal for electronic reporting.
The California Reportable Disease Information Exchange (CalREDIE) is a secure system that the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has implemented for electronic disease reporting and surveillance. The purpose of CalREDIE is to improve the efficiency of surveillance activities and the early detection of public health events through the collection of complete and timely surveillance information on a statewide basis. This allows for 24/7/365 reporting and receipt of notifiable conditions.
The Provider Portal module provides secure access for healthcare providers to electronically submit Confidential Morbidity Reports (CMRs), required by California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 17, Section 2500 directly to Local Health Departments (LHD).
For onboarding assistance, please call (442) 265 7492.
Provider Account Set-up:
- Visit CalREDIE Account Request Portal
- Click “Provider Portal User Account Authorization Form”
- Complete and submit form
- A designated local health department staff will approve the form and submitted to CalREDIE Help
- CalREDIE Help will process the account and send the user the login credentials
- For any questions contact Calrediehelp@cdph.ca.gov
Reporting Forms
Animal Bite Report From |
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An Animal Bite Report form is used to document incidents of animal bites, providing essential information for tracking and managing potential health risks, including the transmission of diseases like rabies, and aiding in follow-up medical care and public health interventions. |
The Confidential Morbidity Report (CMR) is the form used to report most diseases and other conditions to the Public Health Department. Other CMR forms are available to report suspected cases of tuberculosis and conditions reportable to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. These forms are used to collect and report specific information about certain communicable diseases to public health authorities, ensuring accurate tracking, monitoring, and appropriate response to potential health threats while maintaining patient confidentiality.
Confidential Morbidity Report (CMR) |
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Use this form for reporting all conditions except Tuberculosis and conditions reportable to DMV. Initial report required from provider for any reportable disease. |
Confidential Morbidity Report (Tuberculosis) |
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Only use this form for reporting Tuberculosis. |
Confidential Morbidity Report for COVID-19 |
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Only use this form for reporting COVID-19. |
Confidential Morbidity Report for DMV |
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Use this form for reporting lapses of consciousness, Alzheimer's disease, or other conditions which may impair the ability to operate a motor vehicle safely (pursuant to H&S 103900). |
Confidential Morbidity Report for Animals |
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Only use this form for reporting animal patients. |
Health care providers shall report HIV to the Local health Officer (LHO) in the health provider’s jurisdiction within seven calendar days of receipt from a laboratory of a patient’s confirmed HIV test or determination by the health care provider of a patient’s confirmed HIV test.
Please call (442) 265-7476 for more information.
All reports containing personal information, including HIV/AIDS case Reports, shall be sent to the LHO or his designee by:
- Courier services, U.S. Postal Service Express or Registered mail, or other traceable mail.
- Person-to-person transfer with the LHO or his designee.
Make sure to use a double-envelope system. Outer envelope must have no reference to HIV/AIDS (should only include the sender or recipient address or label) and the Inner envelope should be marked confidential, sealed, and addressed to an authorized individual.
The health care provider shall not submit reports to the LHO or his designee by electronic mail or by non-traceable mail.
Adult HIV Confidential Case Report Form |
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(Patients Aged ≥ 13 Years of Age at Time of Diagnosis |
Pediatric HIV Confidential Case Report Form |
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(Patients Aged < 13 Years at Time of Perinatal Exposure or Patient Aged < 13 Years at Time of Diagnosis) |
Reporting FAQs
Under the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 17 (Section 2500), public health professionals, medical providers, and others are mandated to report more than 80 diseases or conditions to the Imperial County Public Health Department. In addition, persons in charge of any type of school are also required to report these diseases (Section 2508), as are laboratories (Section 2505).
Refer to the list of reportable diseases for specific diseases and conditions and the time frames for reporting. Outbreaks of any disease (whether on the list or not) are reportable. This list is also located on the back of the Confidential Morbidity Report (CMR).
Physicians, surgeons, 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 to the local health department (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. Laboratories are also required to report communicable diseases.
Certain diseases and conditions must be reported immediately by telephone. These include cases of anthrax, botulism, rabies, hemolytic uremic syndrome, and dengue. Two or more cases or suspected cases of foodborne disease from suspected households that are believed to have the same source of illness must be reported to the Public Health Department immediately by telephone. Refer to the list of reportable diseases for the reporting time frame for other diseases and conditions.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) allows communicable disease reporting as part of permitted disclosures for public health activities. No consent or authorization is required.
Yes, all cases of reportable diseases that are diagnosed by an Imperial County health-care provider, veterinarian, clinic, lab, hospital, or other facility are required to be reported to the Imperial County Public Health Department.
For more information about reporting disease cases or outbreaks, call (442) 265-1464 or send an email 24/7 to phepireport@co.imperial.ca.us
Contact
Jovana Araujo
Epidemiology Supervisor(442) 265-7476
(442)-265-1477
phepireport@co.imperial.ca.us