Communicable Disease Reporting

Reporting a Communicable Disease

Ashtabula County Health Department follows-up on cases of reportable infectious disease as well as conducts disease outbreak investigations. Reports of suspected and confirmed cases of disease and outbreaks should be made to the local health jurisdiction of the case’s residence or location of outbreak. To report diseases or outbreaks in Ashtabula County, please call (440) 576-6010, option # 2, or confidential  fax to  Ashtabula County Health Department at (440) 576-3378.  The following reporting form can be opened, filled out electronically, and  faxed to us at (440) 576-3378, or it can printed and filled out by hand, then faxed, or mailed to us at 12 W. Jefferson Street, Jefferson OH  44047.

Ohio Confidential Reportable Disease Form

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The level of urgency and method of reporting varies depending on the disease classification. Please refer to the Reportable Infectious Diseases in Ohio guide at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/pdf/IDCM/intro1.pdf.

CLASS A – Report By Telephone Immediately
Ohio laws require that the following diseases must be reported by telephone to the local health department with jurisdiction where the case resides.

• Anthrax
• Botulism, Foodborne
• Cholera
• Diptheria
• Influenza A – Novel Virus
• Measles
• Meningococcal Disease
• Plague
• Rabies, Human
• Rubella (not congenital)
• SARS
• Smallpox
• Tuleremia
• Viral Hemorrhagic
• Yellow Fever

As well as any unexpected pattern of cases, suspected cases, deaths or increased incidence of any other disease of major public health concern, because of the severity of disease or potential for epidemic spread, which may indicate a newly recognized infectious agent, outbreak, epidemic, related public health hazard or act of bioterrorism.

Call your physician’s office or hospital.  Or it can be reported  after normal business hours by FAX – (440) 576-3378   or dialing   (440) 576-6010 option # 2.

CLASS B (1) – Report by the end of the next business day
The existence of a case, a suspected case, or a positive laboratory result is known for diseases of public health concern needing timely response because of potential for epidemic spread

CLASS B (2) – Report by the end of the work week
The existence of a case, a suspected case, or a positive laboratory result is known for diseases of significant public health concern.

CLASS C – Report by the end of the next business day
Outbreaks:   Community, Food borne, Healthcare – associated, Institutional, Waterborne, Zoonotic

HIV or STDsContact the Ashtabula County Health Department, Nursing Division at  440-576-6010 option #2.

Communicable Disease Fact Sheets
Below are various links to fact sheets on Communicable Diseases.   You may  also acquire any disease information by going to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at     www.cdc.gov

Antibiotics and Skin Infections

Lead Poisoning – Myths and Facts

Meningitis

MRSA