Communicable Disease

Public health communicable diseases refer to infectious diseases that are a significant focus for public health authorities due to their potential to spread rapidly within populations. These diseases are caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, and can be transmitted from person to person, animal to human, or through vectors (such as mosquitoes).

For Providers and Healthcare Professionals: 

Providers Reporting STI's

Reporting Sexually Transmitted Infections link

Rabies Flowchart

Rabies Flowchart for Providers Link

Provider Resources

Provider Resource links

Notifiable Conditions

Notifiable Conditions Link

Long-Term Care Resources

Resources for Long Term Care Facilities Link

For the General Public:

STI Information

Sexually Transmitted Disease Information and Resources

Rabies Information

Concerns Regarding Rabies & Bats Link

Key Aspects of Public Health and Communicable Diseases:

  1. Transmission and Spread:

    • Communicable diseases can spread through direct contact (e.g., skin-to-skin, sexual contact), indirect contact (e.g., touching contaminated surfaces), airborne particles (e.g., through coughing or sneezing), contaminated food or water, and vector-borne routes (e.g., via mosquitoes, ticks).

  2. Surveillance:

    • Public health agencies closely monitor the spread of communicable diseases through surveillance systems, tracking cases, identifying outbreaks, and predicting potential risks. Surveillance helps detect new cases early, preventing larger-scale outbreaks.

  3. Prevention:

    • Preventing communicable diseases is a cornerstone of public health strategies. This can include vaccination programs (e.g., for influenza, measles, or COVID-19), promoting hygiene (e.g., handwashing), using personal protective equipment (e.g., masks), quarantine measures, and vector control (e.g., mosquito nets).

  4. Vaccination:

    • Vaccines are a primary tool in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Immunization programs are used to reduce the incidence of diseases like polio, measles, hepatitis, and flu. Vaccination campaigns are crucial to controlling outbreaks and preventing long-term public health crises.

  5. Treatment and Care:

    • For communicable diseases that are treatable, timely medical interventions (e.g., antibiotics, antiviral medications, or antimalarial drugs) are essential. Public health initiatives ensure access to treatment and reduce transmission rates by encouraging prompt healthcare access.

  6. Outbreak Management:

    • When outbreaks of communicable diseases occur, public health authorities respond with strategies to control the spread, including isolating affected individuals, informing the public, providing treatment, and distributing resources like vaccines or medications. Effective outbreak management helps to prevent the disease from becoming an epidemic or pandemic.

  7. Global Health and Communication:

    • Public health agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) play key roles in global health by coordinating responses to outbreaks, sharing information, and setting standards for disease prevention and control.

Common Public Health Communicable Diseases Include:

  • Influenza (Flu): Seasonal outbreaks, significant public health concern.
  • Syphilis: Spread through blood, sexual contact, or from mother to child.
  • Tuberculosis (TB): Airborne bacterial infection.
  • HIV/AIDS: Spread through blood, sexual contact, or from mother to child.
  • COVID-19: Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, global pandemic impact.
  • Measles: Preventable through vaccination, but still causes outbreaks in some regions.
  • Hepatitis: Viral infection affecting the liver, spread through blood or bodily fluids.

Public health agencies use education, regulation, and coordinated response efforts to minimize the impact of communicable diseases on the population. Regular updates from trusted sources (like the CDC and WHO) are crucial in understanding and managing these diseases effectively.