Infectious Diseases

Which diseases are notifiable?

The list of notifiable diseases can be found on the Health Protection Agency website or in Schedule 1 of the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010.

This list does not include other infections and contamination that are notifiable because of the risk they present, or could present, to human health.

Responsibility for notification

It is a requirement of all Registered Medical Practitioners to provide information about confirmed and suspected cases of notifiable disease, as part of their professional duties, which may be undertaken in a patient's home or a surgery or a hospital.

Why notify?

The purpose of notification is to enable prompt investigation and response to minimise the spread of infectious disease and contamination in the community.

Notifications also provide data for use in surveillance of infection and contamination. This data can help, for example, in monitoring the effect of existing interventions (e.g. immunisation, food hygiene inspections), identifying the need for new interventions and informing the planning of health care and other public services.

What are the council’s responsibilities?

The council must appoint a 'Proper Officer' who receives the notifications relating to the area.

The Proper Officer instructs suitably competent persons, typically Environmental Health Officers, to investigate the notifications received promptly and in strict medical confidence. Once contact has been made with the case and where necessary other relevant persons a risk assessment will be undertaken. This process may establish necessary health protection measures.

The council has the power to request health protection measures for example co-operation and the disinfection/decontamination of persons, things and premises.

Depending on the circumstances the council can also require measures, which would be detailed in a legal Order that has been imposed by a Justice of the Peace at a Magistrates Court. An Order may be considered necessary to deal with a threat to human health from infection or contamination that presents, or could present, significant harm. An Order may require for example that a child is kept away from school or a food handler is kept away from work.

The health protection measures are outlined within the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 (as amended) together with the Health Protection (Local Authority Powers) Regulations 2011 and the Health Protection (Part 2A Orders) Regulations 2010.