Services provided include:
- Collection and Reporting of data associated with reportable diseases.
- Works closely with medical providers in the Nolan, Fisher, & Mitchell County areas to prevent and control the spread of communicable diseases.
- Monitor trends that might indicate a biological or chemical threat
FAQ’s about Communicable Disease Reporting and Surveillance
1. Why report? Several Texas laws require that certain conditions be reported to the state or local health department (the Sweetwater-Nolan County Health Department).
- The Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Act (Health & Safety Code, Chapter 81)
- Article 97, Title 25, Texas Administrative Code
All reports and sources of reports are strictly confidential.
2. Who is responsible for reporting communicable diseases?
- Physicians, dentists, veterinarians, chiropracters
- Hospitals and hospital laboratories
- School authorities, including a superintendent, principal, teacher, school health official or counselor
- Any person having knowledge of a suspected reportable condition
3. How long can I wait to report? The sooner a disease is reported, the better. Timely reports enable:
- Early outbreak detection
- Identification of risk factors
- Intervention to interrupt spread of disease
- Implementation and assessment of control factors
- Determination of extent of morbidity/mortality
- Dissiminating of information
- Planning for the future
4. Where do I report a suspected reportable condition?
Call…
The Sweetwater-Nolan County Health Department Surveillance at (325) 235-5463
All information is confidential including the source of a communicable disease report.
5. What is reportable? Confirmed or suspected cases of the following and any outbreaks, exotic disease, or unusual group expression of illness:
To view what is reportable, click on this link: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/idcu/investigation/conditions/
Laboratories are required to report vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus species, vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus species, and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae directly to the Texas Department of Health.
Laboratories, blood banks, mobile units and other facilities in which a laboratory examination of a blood specimen is made are required to report patients with a CD4+ T lymphocyte cell count below 200 cells per microliter of CD4+ T lymphocyte percentage less than 14%.
To report a suspected or confirmed case of a condition listed above, contact :
Shelia Ellison, L.V.N. – (325) 235-5463 Ext. 1002
Source : Article 97, Title 25, Texas Administrative Code
