Reporting Guidelines for Health Professionals and Mandated Reporters
Illinois Notifiable Disease and Conditions Poster
Control of Communicable Diseases Code
Information on Reporting entities and Manner of Reporting (Section 690.200 Reporting).
How Do Health Care Professions Report Communicable Disease On-Line?
Doctors and other health care providers are required to report a number of communicable diseases to local health departments. Now you can electronically report infectious diseases to the state and local health departments through the Illinois National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (I-NEDSS). Once you learn the process of reporting online, the process is quick and efficient. Online reporting will enhance our ability to respond to potential health emergencies. For I-NEDSS training you may call the Illinois Department of Public Health: 217-782-2016
How do I report a suspect measles case to the health department?
A suspected measles case must be reported to the local health department immediately. Cases may be reported by calling the CD investigator at 217-531-2917 or calling the CUPHD main line at 217-352-7961 and asking to speak with a staff member immediately regarding measles. After hours, please call the main line and ask the answering service to contact the CD investigator on call.
The clinician measles testing flowchart provides a clinical decision-making algorithm to help assess the likelihood of measles and whether testing is recommended. CUPHD will work with you to ensure that any high suspicion cases are tested at the state lab to ensure rapid diagnosis and timely public health intervention to minimize the spread of infection. All suspect measles cases must isolate at home until a negative test result is received or after 4 days from the onset of the rash.
What should I do if I have a patient with suspected avian influenza?
If you have a patient who presents with flu-like symptoms within 10 days of contact with sick birds, poultry, or infected dairy farms, please contact the CD investigator at 217-531-2917. CUPHD will work with IDPH to determine whether testing at the state lab is recommended and to ensure timely diagnosis. If H5N1 testing is indicated, the patient should be instructed to isolate at home until negative test results are received.
What do I do if my patient with a notifiable enteric disease works as a food handler or in a sensitive occupation?
Please report to the Communicable Disease Investigator at 217-531-5361.
IDPH defines a food handler as any person who has the potential to transmit foodborne pathogens to others from working with unpackaged food, food equipment, clean utensils, oral medications or food-contact surfaces; any person who has the potential to transmit foodborne pathogens to others by directly preparing or handling food or drinks or by providing oral medications or oral care. Food handler does not include individuals in private homes preparing or serving food for individual family consumption.
IDPH defines a sensitive occupation as an occupation, excluding healthcare workers, involving the direct care of others, especially young children and the elderly, or any other occupation designated by the Department or other local health authority including but not limited to child care facility personnel.
When food handlers or people who work in day care centers or nursing homes are diagnosed with notifiable enteric diseases such as Shigella, Salmonellosis and E. coli they must get follow-up tests to confirm that they are free of the disease before going back to work. These tests are free to those who have no insurance coverage for the tests. Contact the Public Health Communicable Disease Investigator at 217-531-5361 for test kits and information.
If your patient is a healthcare worker, please notify the designated infection preventionist to address any potential work restrictions.
