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Infectious Disease Reporting

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Mandated reporters, such as health care providers, hospitals and laboratories, by law must report suspected or confirmed cases of certain infectious diseases electronically through Illinois’ National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (I-NEDSS). If they do not have access to I-NEDSS, they can report by mail, telephone or fax to the local health department (see Resources in the right-hand column) or, if no local health department is available, to the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Infectious Diseases at (217) 785-7165, TTY (hearing impaired use only) (800) 547-0466. Information on reportable diseases, including the time frame for reporting, method of reporting and laboratory reporting, is available in the Control of Communicable Disease rule (see LAWS & RULES in the right-hand column).

Illinois' National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (I-NEDSS)

Illinois' National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (I-NEDSS) is a secure, Web-based application available to health care providers and other reporters for input of demographic, medical and exposure information on patients diagnosed with reportable conditions. Once a report is entered, it is immediately routed to the appropriate local health department for additional follow-up. To register for the application, go to the IDPH Web Portal (see RESOURCES in the right-hand column) and click on Register for a Portal Account.

Persons Required to Report Disease

  • Physicians
  • Physician assistants
  • Nurses
  • Nursing assistants
  • Dentists
  • Health care practitioners
  • Emergency medical services personnel
  • Any institution, school, college/university, child care facility or camp personnel
  • Pharmacists
  • Poison control center personnel
  • Blood bank and organ transplant personnel
  • Coroners, funeral directors, morticians and embalmers
  • Medical examiners
  • Veterinarians
  • Correctional facility personnel
  • Food service management personnel
  • Any other person having knowledge or a known or suspected care or carrier or a reportable communicable disease or communicable disease death
  • The master, pilot or any other person in charge of any bus, train, ship or boat, and the commander, pilot or any other person in charge of any aircraft within the jurisdiction of the state
  • Researchers

Report Immediately by Telephone

Certain infectious diseases with important public health significance are reportable immediately to the appropriate local health department (see Resources in the right-hand column. If the local health department cannot be reached during normal business hours, contact the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Infectious Disease at (217) 785-7165. If the local health department cannot be reached afterhours, weekends or holidays, contact the Illinois Emergency Management Agency at (217) 782-7860 and the duty officer will get in touch with the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Infectious Diseases Reportable Immediately by Telephone

  • Any suspected bioterrorist threat
  • Any unusual case or cluster of cases that may indicate a public health hazard
  • Anthrax
  • Botulism, foodborne
  • Brucellosis, if bioterrorism suspected
  • Diphtheria 
  • Influenza A, variant
  • Plague
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Q fever, if bioterrorism suspected
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
  • Smallpox
  • Tularemia, if bioterrorism suspected

Resources

Laws & Rules

Publications