The Indiana Administrative Code 410 IAC 1-2.5; directs physicians, hospitals and labs to report certain diseases to the local health department where the patient lives. The patient information is sent to the Indiana Department of Health and sometimes on to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This information is reviewed to determine things such as disease trends, risk factors, and the effectiveness of various vaccines and medications. The Health Department is allowed, to release information to the public and media about the specific diseases and number of cases reported.
Click here for a list of reportable diseases in Indiana
Confidential Report of Communicable Disease Form
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Health Department find out I am sick?
- When your healthcare provider or hospital makes the diagnosis or the lab test comes back positive, your healthcare provider, hospital or the lab is required by law to report your illness to the Health Department. They may do this by phone, fax, or through the Indiana National Electronic Disease Surveillance System, which is a computerized database.
Why does the Health Department need to know about my illness?
There can be several reasons:
- Monitor the spread of disease in the community
- To perform infection control measures
- Identify people at risk for certain diseases
- Identify sources of disease – food, water, mosquitoes, bats
Why does the Health Department need to know where I went or where I ate?
- To help identify a possible source of the disease
Who will you tell about my illness?
- The Health Department keeps communicable disease reports confidential. We will talk to parents about their child’s illness except in cases of sexually transmitted diseases, in which a minor 14 years and older can seek treatment without parental consent.
Who can I talk to if I have more questions?
- If you have questions about the communicable disease program, the reporting process, or diseases in general, you can call the Vanderburgh County Health Department at 812-435-2400 and ask to speak with a Communicable Disease Team Member. Our staff will be happy to answer your questions, but will not diagnose illnesses. You will be referred to your healthcare provider for specific questions about your symptoms and/or treatment options.
