Report a Disease
Why Report?
We rely on medical providers, school officials and other community partners to notify us when they encounter cases or suspected cases of certain diseases or conditions. Reporting allows local health departments to keep track of the diseases in the community and to take action to prevent diseases from spreading.
Who is required to report?
- Healthcare Providers (Title 17 CCR §2500)
- Veterinarians (Title 3 CCR § 797) must report animal cases of anthrax, brucellosis (except Brucella canis), plague, rabies, tularemia, and viral hemorrhagic fever
- Laboratorians (Title 17 CCR §2505) must report to the state electronic reporting system (CalREDIE)* or to a system that is linked to CalREDIE.
- Schools (Title 17 CCR §2508)
- Childcare Programs (Title 22 CCR §101212(d)(g))
- Residential Care Facilities (Title 22 CCR §87211)
How do I report?
To report a disease or condition, fill out the appropriate Confidential Morbidity Report (CMR) and fax to the designated Contra Costa Public Health program as indicated in the table below:
Disease or Condition |
Form |
Public Health Program |
Contact Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any Communicable Disease (other than TB or any STD) | Communicable Diseases other than TB and HIV/AIDS (110a) | Communicable Disease Programs - Disease Investigation & Control | Phone: 925-313-6740 FAX: 925-313-6465 or CalREDIE* |
| Tuberculosis (TB) | Tuberculosis (110b) | Communicable Disease Programs – Tuberculosis | |
| Disorder Characterized by Loss of Consciousness | Conditions Reportable to Department of Motor Vehicles [DMV] (110c) | Communicable Disease Programs & CA Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) | |
| Animal Diseases | Animal Patients | Communicable Disease Programs - Disease Investigation & Control | |
| Sexually Transmitted Diseases (except HIV) | Sexually Transmitted Diseases (110a) | HIV/AIDS & STD Program | Phone: 925-313-6750 FAX: 925-313-6758 or CalREDIE* |
| HIV/AIDS | HIV/AIDS Case Report Form (CDPH 8641A) | HIV/AIDS & STD Program | Phone: 925-313-6771 FAX: 925-313-6798 |
| Pesticide-Related Illness | Confidential Report of Known or Suspected Pesticide-Related Illness (OEH 700) | Contra Costa Public Health or CA Poison Control System (CPCS) | Phone: 925-313-6740 FAX: 925-313-6465 or CalREDIE* CPCS: 1-800-411-8080 |
| Other Locally Reportable Conditions:
(1) Vaping-Related Lung Illness (VAPI) - E-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) |
Communicable Disease Programs | Phone: 925-313-6740 FAX: 925-313-6465 or CalREDIE* |
* CalREDIE (California Reportable Disease Information Exchange) can be used by health care providers or administrators to submit reports via the Provider Portal (PP) module. Laboratories can comply with reporting requirements by participating in Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR) to securely transmit reportable lab results
What is permitted in the law as disclosures to Public Health?
The Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 sets standards for the use and disclosure of private health information. The Privacy Rule does allow communicable disease reporting as part of permitted disclosures for public health activities (CFR Title 14 §164.512). No consent or authorization is required.
Physicians who need to report a suspected public health emergency should contact the Public Health division immediately at 925-313-6740; or after hours, call the sheriff's dispatch at 925-646-2441 and ask for the Health Officer On Call.
Examples of public health emergencies include a suspected or confirmed case of measles, suspected or confirmed meningococcal disease, suspected botulism, suspected illness due to a bioterrorism agent, a severe outbreak or any unusual illness that requires immediate containment.