Reporting

Last content update: 3/19/24

Health care providers and other individuals and organizations are required to report certain illnesses to the local health department. Health care providers must report diseases even if the laboratory has already reported.

Complete and timely reporting is essential for initiating disease investigation and response activities that protect the health of the public and prevent future disease transmission and outbreaks. Data from these reporting forms are used for statistics on mortality, morbidity, health behavior, and health outcomes which aid our communities and leaders in developing effective public health policies and programs. Visit the Health data and statistics webpage to see the latest health data reports. 

If you have questions regarding reporting or need to report a disease urgently, please call (408) 885-4214. Thank you for your assistance in caring for our community through monitoring and investigating communicable diseases.​​​

What is reportable to Public Health?

• List of Reportable Diseases and Conditions - Title 17, California Code of Regulations §2500, §2593, §2641.5- 2643.20, and §2800-2812
• List of Reportable Conditions: Notifications by Laboratories to Public Health - Title 17, California Code of Regulations §2505​
• ​Guidance for Reporting SARS-CoV-2, Influenza Virus, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Multiplex Test Results​
• Letter to Laboratories Regarding SARS-CoV-2, Influenza Virus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Reporting
• Letter to Healthcare Providers and Laboratories Regarding Reporting of Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Candida auris, and Carbapenemase-producing Organisms​

Please note: Providers should refer to the lists above for information on urgency of reporting. Some diseases must be reported immediately by phone or electronic transmission. Other diseases must be reported within one working day of identification or within seven calendar days of identification.

For additional information on disease reporting, visit the California Department of Health (CDPH) Reportable Diseases and Conditions webpage.

For a list of reportable diseases for animal patients, refer to the California Department of Food & Agriculture’s List of Reportable Conditions for Animals and Animal Products.
 

Who is required to report a communicable disease?

• Medical doctors, osteopaths, podiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, nurse midwives, infection control practitioners, medical examiners, coroners, dentists, and administrators of health facilities and clinics with two or more health care providers (17 Cal. Code Regs. §2500)
• General acute care hospitals, acute psychiatric hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, and home health agencies (22 Cal. Code Regs. §§ 70737, 71535, 72537, 73533, and 74725)
• Laboratories (17 Cal. Code Regs. §2505)
• Veterinarians (17 Cal. Code Regs. §2500; 3 Cal. Code Regs. §797)
• Anyone in charge of a public or private school, kindergarten, boarding school, preschool, or child care facility licensed by CDSS (17 Cal. Code Regs. §2508; 22 Cal. Code Regs. §101212)
• Most licensed facilities subject to Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations must, at minimum, report outbreaks or unusual occurrences of disease (22 Cal. Code Regs.)

Please note: All groups are required to report independent of one another. For example, if a provider knows that a lab has already reported a disease, the provider is still required to report the disease.

The Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) allows for communicable disease reporting as part of permitted disclosures for public health activities (45 CFS 164.512 (b)). No consent or authorization is required.

How to report

Most cases of reportable disease can be reported to the Public Health Department via fillable forms submitted by electronic transmission (CalREDIE), phone, or fax. Certain diseases must be reported by phone. For a complete list of reportable diseases and acceptable reporting methods and timeframes, please refer to the What is reportable to Public Health? section.

For information on COVID-19 reporting, see the COVID-19 Reporting section.

Please note: Information in this section is not exhaustive. For a complete list of reportable diseases and acceptable reporting methods and timeframes, please refer to the What is reportable to Public Health? section. Entities should also consult their respective state or federal regulatory or licensing agencies or governing bodies for additional guidance or requirements that may be applicable.

Disease or condition	Form	Submission methods
All reportable diseases except HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis, perinatal hepatitis B, or conditions that may impair ability to operate a motor vehicle safely	Confidential Morbidity Report (CMR)	Electronically via CalREDIE* Phone: (408) 885-4214 Fax: (408) 885-3709
HIV and AIDS	Adult HIV/AIDS Case Report Form Pediatric HIV/AIDS Confidential Case Report Form For more information on HIV/AIDS reporting, visit the CDPH HIV Surveillance Case Reporting Resources webpage.	Electronically via CalREDIE* Phone: (408) 792-3720 Fax: (408) 792-​3721
Tuberculosis	Tuberculosis CMR Form GOTCH (Tuberculosis Report/Readmission/Transfer/Discharge Plan) Form Latent TB Infection CMR Form (for Civil Surgeons)​ For more information on TB reporting, visit the Reporting cases of suspected or confirmed tuberculosis webpage.	Electronically via CalREDIE* Email: [email protected] TB Provider Line: (408) 885-2440 Fax: (408) 885-​2331
Perinatal Hepatitis B	Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program Patient Information Form Hospital Report Form Notification of HBsAg-exposed Infant or Child	Electronically via CalREDIE* Phone: (408) 970-2830 Fax: (408) 885-3709
Lapses of Consciousness or Control, Alzheimer's Disease, or Other Condition Which May Impair the Ability to Operate a Motor Vehicle Safely	Lapses of Consciousness or Control, Alzheimer's Disease, or Other Condition Which May Impair the Ability to Operate a Motor Vehicle Safely CMR Form	Electronically via CalREDIE* Phone: (408) 885-4214 Fax: (408) 885-3709
Animal patients - All reportable diseases in animal patients (e.g. rabies virus, brucellosis)	Confidential Morbidity Report (CMR) for Animal Patients	Electronically via CalREDIE* Phone: (408) 885-4214 Fax: (408) 885-3709

*CalREDIE (California Reportable Disease Information Exchange) can be used by health care providers, administrators and/or laboratories to securely submit reports to Public Health and comply with statewide regulatory requirements. Providers and Administrators can report electronically via CalREDIE (California Reportable Disease Information Exchange) Provider Portal (PP) to comply with provider disease reporting requirements as outlined in Title 17 CCR §2500. Laboratories must report to CalREDIE or to a system that is linked to CalREDIE via Electronic Lab Reporting (ELR) to comply with laboratory reporting requirements as outlined in Title 17 CCR § 2505.

CMR form Instructions