Overview
An outbreak is defined by
CDC as an occurrence of cases of disease that is more than
expected, or is clustered by time, space, or common
behaviors. Washington
Administrative Code (WAC) 246-101 includes a number of
responsibilities related to reporting outbreaks.
All outbreaks or
suspected outbreaks of foodborne or waterborne disease are
immediately notifiable to the local health jurisdiction in
which the patients reside. Potential reporters include
health care providers, health care facilities, laboratories,
veterinarians, schools, child day care facilities, and food
service establishments.
Outbreaks or
suspected outbreaks of disease that occur in a health care
facility or are treated by a health care provider are also
notifiable to the local health jurisdiction. These
include, but are not limited to, suspected or confirmed
outbreaks of chickenpox, influenza, viral meningitis,
nosocomial infection suspected due to contaminated food
products or devices, or environmentally related disease.
Veterinarians must notify the local
health officer of any suspected case or suspected outbreak
of any disease that is transmissible from animals to humans,
including anthrax, brucellosis, viral encephalitis, plague,
rabies, psittacosis, tuberculosis, and tularemia.
Child day care facilities and schools
must notify the local health department of outbreaks and
suspected outbreaks of notifiable conditions that may be
associated with the child day care facility or school.
For more
information regarding outbreaks associated with food, water,
or a specific communicable disease, please refer to the
notifiable condition
involved.
Purpose of Reporting
and Surveillance
-
To identify sources of
transmission (e.g., a medical product or restaurant) and to prevent further transmission from
such sources.
-
To assure the adequate
treatment of infected individuals in order to curtail
infectiousness and prevent complications from infection.
Reporting
Requirements
- Foodborne or Waterborne
diseases: All suspected or confirmed outbreaks are
immediately notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction
by all reporting entities
- Local health jurisdictions
must immediately notify DOH of all suspected or
confirmed outbreaks, with case investigation
completion or summary information required within 21
days
-
For other conditions, the following entities must report
suspected or confirmed outbreaks to the Local Health
Jurisdiction in which the patients reside:
- Health care providers
- Health care facilities
- Laboratories: see
disease-specific requirements
- Veterinarians
- Child day care facilities
- Schools
Last guideline update
August 2007 |
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