COMMUNICABLE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

When your doctor makes the diagnosis or the lab test comes back, your doctor or the lab is required by law to report certain illnesses to the local health department. They may do this by phone, fax, or through the Ohio Department of Health Disease Report System, which is a computerized database.

• • Your illness impacts more people than just yourself, which is why the Fairfield County Health Department will be alerted.
• • Your illness may be caused by a bacteria which is becoming more resistant to the medications used to treat it.
• • You may have a sickness which could be easily spread to other family members or the public. 
  For instance, you might have an illness that could spread through food, water or animals.
• • Your illness may be one that you can identify the exact person who gave it to you. The Health District can get in touch with that person so they can seek treatment.

Some diseases can be spread by food, water or even coughing, for instance. The Fairfield County Health Department asks for specific information from you depending on your illness so that others who might become sick can be identified. We also look at possible food or water sources so that a potential outbreak can be controlled.

If you have questions about the communicable disease program, the reporting process, or diseases in general, you can call the Fairfield County Health Department at 740-652-2800 and ask to speak with the epidemiologist or the communicable disease nurse. Our staff will be happy to answer your questions, but these staff members will not diagnosis illnesses. You will be referred to your doctor for specific questions about your symptoms and/or treatment options.

RESOURCES

• • What to do if you get the Flu
• • Staph Infections
• • Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
• • Pandemic Flu
• • ODH Reportable Disease Form