Communicable Diseases

Incidents of communicable and reportable diseases are forwarded to the New Jersey Department of Health for permanent records and statistical purposes.

Immediate Reporting

The Department also investigates disease reports to determine if the cases are isolated events or present a threat to public health. Physicians are required to report the following diseases immediately:

• Botulism (Clostridium botulism)
• Diphtheria (Carynebacterium diphtheria)
• Haemophilus Influenza (PDF), invasive
• Hepatitis A, institutional settings
• Measles
• Meningococcal Disease (Neisseria meningitis)
• Pertussis (Whooping cough, Bordetella pertussis)
• Plague (yersinia pestis)
• Poliomyelitis
• Rabies (human illness)
• Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
• Foodborne Intoxications
• Rubella
• Any Foodborne, Waterborne or Nosocomial Outbreak

Report Within 24 Hours

The following disease are reportable within 24 hours:

• Any Enteric Disease of a child who attends daycare or in a Food Handler
• Hemorrhagic Colitis
• HIV/AIDS cases are also reported to the State (green CDC 50-42A form) in a confidential envelope to NJDHSS, Division of AIDS, P.O. Box 363, Trenton, NJ 08625. For forms call 609-984-5980.
• Kawasaki Disease
• Lyme Disease
• Measles
• Pertussis
• Rabies, animal bite treated for rabies
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) (Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia only) are reported directly to the State (form STD-11) at 609-588-7526.
• Syphilis, primary
• Tuberculosis