Medical providers, public health officials, and other individuals and organizations are mandated by Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations to report suspected, lab-confirmed, and clinical diagnoses of specific diseases and conditions within a specified time frame. Health care providers must report diseases even if the laboratory has already reported.

Under the California Code of Regulations, Title 16, (Section 1364.10), failure to report a communicable disease is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $1,000, or by imprisonment for a term of not more than 90 days, or both. Each day the violation is continued is a separate offense. The Medical Board of California has made failure to report in a timely manner a citable offense under California Business and Professions Code (Section 2234), "Unprofessional Conduct."

Report a Disease or Contact Public Health

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm
Phone: (831) 454-4114
Fax: (831) 454-5049
HIV Fax: (831) 454-5220
After Hours/Weekends: (831) 471-1170

HIPAA Confidentiality and Reporting

PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES ARE EXEMPT FROM HIPAA
Many health care professionals remain unsure of the legality of disease reporting in light of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. Congress established the HIPAA regulations to safeguard personal medical information from inappropriate disclosures and misuse. Full implementation was mandated in April 2003. While much has been written about HIPAA and Public Health, health care providers continue to question the legality of disease reporting without obtaining prior patient consent. HIPAA privacy regulations do not prevent sharing information with public health officials. In fact, HIPAA regulations contain specific language permitting reports to public health agencies of disease conditions as listed in state public health laws and regulations. Patient authorization is not required when healthcare professionals or laboratory workers suspect or diagnose a disease of public health importance. Public Health exemptions can be found at this webpage (Section 164.512b).

Useful Contact Information

Department Hours Available Contact Information
Animal Services Authority Open Daily except Wednesdays  
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.		 Phone: 831-454-7200  Fax: 831-454-7210  After hours: 831-471-1182
Communicable Disease  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.  
Monday - Friday 
24/hr H.O. on call		 Phone: 831-454-4114  Fax: 831-454-5049  After Hours: 831-471-1170
Environmental Health Food Program 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.  
Monday - Friday		 Phone: 831-454-2022
HIV Testing Information 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.  
Monday - Friday		 Phone: 831-454-4730
HIV/AIDS Surveillance CARe Team 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.  
Monday - Friday		 HIV/AID Surveillance: 
Phone: 831-454-4114  Fax: 831-454-5220 
 
CARe Team: Phone: 831-454-4730
Immunizations  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.  
Monday - Friday		 Phone: 831-454-4645  Fax: 831-454-5049
Tuberculosis Control 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.  
Monday - Friday 
24/hr H.O. on call		 Phone: 831-454-4114  Fax: 831-454-5049 
After Hours: 831-471-1170
Syringe Services Program  Mondays & Fridays 
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 
Tuesday 
5 p.m. - 7 p.m. 
Wednesday & Thursday 
4 p.m. - 6 p.m.		 Phone: 831-454-2437
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System  8:30 a.m - 8 p.m. EST 
Monday - Friday		 Phone: 800-822-7967  Fax: 877-721-0366 
E-mail: info@vaers.org

Reportable Diseases and Conditions

Reportable Diseases and Conditions

 

Download printable PDF of Reportable Diseases grid

Title 17, California Code of Regulations (CCR) §2500, §2593, §2641.5-2643.20, and §2800-2812 requires that healthcare providers report known or suspected cases of disease or condition, listed below, to the jurisdiction in which the patient resides *

REPORT IMMEDIATELY BY PHONE
During Business hours: (831) 454-4114
After hours: (831) 471-1170
  • Anthrax, human or animal
  • Botulism (Infant, Foodborne, Wound, Other)
  • Brucellosis, human
  • Cholera
  • Ciguatera Fish Poisoning
  • Diphtheria
  • Domoic Acid Poisoning (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning)
  • Flavivirus infection of undermined species
  • Foodborne Disease (when two or more cases or suspected cases of foodborne disease from separate households are suspected to have the same source of illness)
  • Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
  • Influenza due to novel strains (human)
  • Measles (Rubeola)
  • Meningococcal Infections
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
  • Novel Virus with Pandemic Potential
  • Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
  • Plague, Human or Animal
  • Rabies, Human or Animal
  • Scombroid Fish Poisoning
  • Shiga Toxin (detected in feces)
  • Smallpox (Variola)
  • Tularemia, human
  • Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, human or animal (Crimean-Congo, Ebola, Lassa, and Marburg viruses)
  • Occurrence of any unusual disease
  • Outbreak of any disease (including diseases not listed in §2500)

REPORT WITHIN ONE WORKING DAY
PHONE: (831) 454-4114 
FAX: (831) 454-5049
  • Babesiosis
  • Campylobacteriosis
  • Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)
  • Chickenpox (Varicella) (outbreaks, hospitalizations, and deaths)
  • Chikungunya Virus Infection
  • Cryptosporidiosis
  • Dengue Virus Infection
  • Encephalitis, specify etiology (Viral, Bacterial, Fungal, Parasitic)
  • Escherichia coli: Shiga toxin-producing (STEC), including E. coli 0157:H7
  • Foodborne Disease
  • Haemophilus influenzae, invasive disease (only in persons less than 5 years of age)
  • Hantavirus Infections
  • Hepatitis A, acute infection
  • Listeriosis
  • Malaria
  • Meningitis, specify etiology (Viral, Bacterial, Fungal, Parasitic)
  • Paratyphoid Fever
  • Pertussis (whooping cough)
  • Poliovirus Infection
  • Psittacosis
  • Q Fever
  • Relapsing Fever
  • Salmonellosis (other than Typhoid Fever)
  • Shigellosis
  • Syphilis (all stages, including congenital)
  • Trichinosis
  • Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Typhoid Fever, Cases and Carriers
  • Vibrio Infections
  • West Nile Virus Infection
  • Yellow Fever
  • Yersiniosis
  • Zika Virus Infection

REPORT BY PHONE, FAX OR MAIL WITHIN 7 CALENDAR DAYS
PHONE: (831) 454-4114 
FAX: (831) 454-5049
MAIL: Attn: Communicable Disease 1060 Emeline Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
  • Anaplasmosis
  • Brucellosis, animal (except infections due to Brucella canis)
  • Chancroid
  • Coccidioidomycosis
  • Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (CJD) and other Transmissible spongiform
  • Cyclosporiasis
  • Cysticercosis or Taeniasis
  • Ehrlichiosis
  • Giardiasis
  • Gonococcal Infections
  • Hepatitis B (specify acute, chronic, or perinatal)
  • Hepatitis C (specify acute, chronic, or perinatal)
  • Hepatitis D (Delta) (specify acute case or chronic)
  • Hepatitis E, acute infection
  • Influenza, deaths in laboratory-confirmed cases for persons less than 18 years old
  • Legionelllosis
  • Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease)
  • Leptospirosis
  • Lyme Disease
  • Mumps
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus-associated deaths in laboratory-confirmed cases less than five years of age
  • Rickettsial Diseases (non-Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever), including Typhus and Typhus-like illnesses
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
  • Rubella (German Measles)
  • Rubella Syndrome, congenital
  • Tetanus
  • Toxoplasmosis
  • Tularemia, animal

REPORT BY PHONE, FAX OR TRACEABLE MAIL WITHIN 7 CALENDAR DAYS
PHONE: (831) 454-4838
FAX: (831) 454-5049
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), any stage
  • HIV infection, progression to stage 3 (AIDS)

Case reports or laboratory reports must be placed in a sealed envelope and sent via
traceable mail (USPS Certified, FedEx, or UPS) marked "Confidential", with attention to:

Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency
ATTN: HIV Surveillance Coordinator
1060 Emeline Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

REPORTABLE NONCOMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND
CONDITIONS §2800–2812 and §2593 (b)
PHONE: (831) 454 - 4114
FAX: (831) 454 - 5049
MAIL: Attn: Communicable Disease 1060 Emeline Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
  • Disorders Characterized by Lapses of Consciousness (§2800-2812)
  • Pesticide-related illness or injury (known or suspected cases) **
  • Cancer, including benign and borderline brain tumors (except (1) basal and squamous skin cancer unless occurring on genitalia, and (2) carcinoma in-situ and CIN III of the Cervix) (§2593) ***
  • * This list is designed for health care providers to report those diseases mandated by Title 17, California Code of Regulations (CCR). Failure to report is a misdemeanor (Health & Safety Code §120295) and is a citable offense under the Medical Board of California Citation and Fine Program (Title 16, CCR, §1364.10 and 1364.11).
  • ** ailure to report is a citable offense and subject to civil penalty ($250) (Health and Safety Code §105200).
  • *** The Confidential Physician Cancer Reporting Form may also be used. See Physician Reporting Requirements for Cancer Reporting in CA at: www.ccrcal.org.

Confidential Morbidity Report (CMR)

For STD's or TB, use the forms under those categories below. In the absence of a condition-specific form, please use the General Confidential Morbidity Report form.

Outbreaks and Foodborne Illness

Outbreaks of any disease are reportable to the Communicable Disease Unit. This is true whether or not the disease is a reportable condition. An outbreak is defined as the occurrence of a number of cases of a disease that is unusually large or unexpected for a given place and time. For example, a foodborne illness outbreak may be defined as an incident in which two or more persons experience a similar illness resulting from the ingestion of a common food, whereas an outbreak of smallpox is defined as one confirmed case. Outbreaks often originate from a common food or water source, however person-to person transmission of an illness can also result in an outbreak, as can exposure to common surfaces (e.g. pedicure spas). The aim in reporting outbreaks is to detect an outbreak as early as possible so as to control the spread of disease among the population at risk. Thus, even if you only suspect an outbreak, you should alert the Communicable Disease Unit.

COVID-19 Outbreak Reporting

COVID-19 Outbreak Reporting

WHERE TO REPORT:
Communicable Disease Unit
Phone: 831-454-4114
Fax: 831-454-5049
After Hours: 831-471-1170

Foodborne Illness

WHERE TO REPORT:
Environmental Health Department
Hours: 8am – 5 pm weekdays
Phone: 831-454-2022
Fax: 831-454-3128

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)

Tuberculosis (TB)

What and When to Report

*Please do not wait for lab results to confirm a diagnosis of active TB prior to reporting*

  1. ACTIVE TB, CONFIRMED
    A person who has had a specimen (from any body site) with final result of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) or M.tb complex (by culture, or molecular test).
    • WHEN: Within 1 working day.
    • HOW: By CalRedie portal, faxing a TB CMR to the Communicable Disease Unit (check “Confirmed box” in status section), or phone.
  2. ACTIVE TB, SUSPECT
    A person for whom a health care provider suspects, after evaluating signs, symptoms, and/or, laboratory/radiographic evidence, is likely to have TB in any body site.
    • WHEN: Within 1 working day
    • HOW: By CalRedie portal, faxing a TB CMR to the Communicable Disease Unit (check “Suspect box” in status section), or phone.
  3. CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OF AGE DIAGNOSED WITH LATENT TB INFECTION
    Either a positive TB skin test (TST) or a TB blood test (interferon gamma release assay), and a negative chest x-ray (PA and Lateral).
    • WHEN: Within 1 week
    • HOW: By CalRedie portal, faxing a TB CMR to the Communicable Disease Unit (check “Infected, no disease -converter box” in status section), or phone.
  4. INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH LATENT TB DURING A CIVIL SURGEON EXAM
    A TB blood test (interferon gamma release assay), and a negative chest x-ray.
    • WHEN: Within 1 week
    • HOW: By CalRedie portal, faxing a TB CMR to the Communicable Disease Unit (check “Infected, no disease box” in status section), or phone.

WHERE TO REPORT

Communicable Disease Unit
Fax: 831-454-5049
Phone: 831-454–4114
After Hours: 831-471–1170

*Isolate all suspect, or confirmed cases of active pulmonary, laryngeal, or pleural TB until advised otherwise by the Santa Cruz County Communicable Disease Unit*

Tuberuclosis Confidental Morbidity Report

California law (California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Sections 2641.5–2643.2), requires medical providers, laboratories, hospitals and others to report cases indicative of HIV or AIDS to the local health department within 7 calendar days. As with many other communicable diseases, this is a dual reporting process in which both health care providers and laboratories report.

Reporting Procedures
What cases must be reported?

Cases must be reported for all persons testing positive for HIV and all persons with a condition or test results meeting AIDS case diagnosis criteria.

For the most current HIV/AIDS case definitions and updates, refer to the CDC’s 2014 publication Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
Who reports?

Health care providers and laboratories are required to report all patients with a test indicative of HIV to the local health department within 7 calendar days.

In Santa Cruz County, all HIV disease reports are processed by the HIV Surveillance Coordinator, a part of the Communicable Disease Unit.

When a laboratory has a test indicative of HIV infection, the lab reports a limited amount of information to the HIV Surveillance Coordinator and sends the results to the ordering provider. The provider then forwards a completed Case Report Form to the HIV Surveillance Coordinator.

How to report

Do not send any information by email.

FFor laboratory-specific California HIV reporting regulations, click here.

For healthcare provider reporting instructions, you may submit the required information in the following ways:

Option 1: Report by Fax or Mail

Option 2: Report by Phone

Complete the report over the telephone, by calling 831-454-4730. We will assist either a physician or a designated staff member in gathering the required information and completing the form with you.

Why prompt reporting is critical

To ensure linkage of care for any newly infected patients or continuation of care for previously diagnosed patients. To monitor current trends in the epidemic and to ensure proper funding for local HIV treatment and prevention services.
Connect with HIV & Hepatits C Case Management (a.k.a. CARe Team)

Our HIV Partner Services Program provides opportunities for intervention to prevent onward transmission. With different options for disclosure, a trained staff will help notify partners of exposure to HIV and/or STDs and provide linkages to testing and medical care.

For more information about connecting your patient to our Community Advocacy Resource/Education (CARe) Team please click here.

For more information about HIV/AIDS reporting please visit the Office of AIDS – HIV Reporting Laws

Santa Cruz County HIV/AIDS Reporting Requirements
Tests indicative of HIV infection include AIDS defining conditions:
  • Confirmed positive HIV antibody test (for more information click here) 
  • Any viral load test  
  • Positive P24 antigen test  
  • Positive viral isolation test  
  • Positive Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT)  
  • CD4+T-cell test (clinical laboratories may withhold report if they can demonstrate that the CD4+T-cell test is unrelated to a diagnosed case of HIV infection)
  • CD4+ T-lymphocyte count <200 mL/mm3
  • Candidiasis of the bronchi, trachea, or lungs
  • Candidiasis, esophageal
  • Cervical cancer, invasive
  • Coccidioidomycosis, disseminated or
  • extrapulmonary
  • Cryptococcosis, extra-pulmonary
  • Cryptosporidiosis, chronic intestinal
  • Cytomegalovirus disease
  • Cytomegalovirus retinitis
  • Encephalopathy, HIV-related
  • Herpes simplex: chronic ulcers; or bronchitis,
  • pneumonitis or esophagitis
  • Histoplasmosis, disseminated or extrapulmonary
  • Isosporiasis, chronic intestinal
  • Kaposi's Sarcoma
  • Lymphoma, Burkitt's
  • Lymphoma, immunoblastic
  • Lymphoma, primary in the brain
  • Mycobacterium avium complex or M. kansasii,
  • disseminated or extrapulmonary
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis, any site
  • Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
  • Pneumonia, recurrent
  • Progressive multifocal Leukoencephalopathy
  • Salmonella septicemia, recurrent
  • Toxoplasmosis of the brain
  • Wasting syndrome due to HIV

Rabies And Animal Bites

Pesticide Illness Report

Pesticide Illness Report


Are you concerned about the care that your loved one is receiving in a residential care facility within Santa Cruz County?  Your best resource to provide support and advocate for your person is the Ombudsman or call 831-429-1913.