Infectious Diseases

Notifiable infectious diseases

The Infectious Disease (Notification) Act 1889 was introduced to identify and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Many of the diseases notifiable under that Act are now rare or have been eliminated in England and Wales.

Responsibility for notification
A doctor who makes the diagnosis (confirmed or suspected) of a notifiable infectious disease is required by statute to notify the Proper Officer of their local authority.

Who is the 'Proper Officer'?
'Proper Officer' is a term widely used in local government and defined as "an officer appointed for that purpose by that body". In most cases the Proper Officer for some or all of the functions of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 is the Consultant in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC), but the most senior Environmental Health Officer may also be appointed as Proper Officer for certain sections of the Act.

Why notify?
Notifications are necessary to identify and prevent the spread of infectious disease. In some cases notifications are used to monitor the development of community outbreaks or the success of immunisation programmes. In many cases they prompt the identification of vehicles of infection, such as contaminated foodstuffs or the identification and protection of contacts, as in the case of meningitis or tuberculosis.

Which diseases are notifiable?

The list which now covers 29 infections that are notifiable under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 can be found on the Health Protection Agency website or the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988.

Other Infections & Diseases

The Council only becomes involved in investigations of food poisoning and notifiable infectious diseases in order to identify and prevent the spread of infectious disease throughout the community.

For information on other specific micro-organisms (bacteria, viruses and parasites), please consult the Health Protection Agency website Topics A-Z

For a comprehensive range of information on other topics in healthcare and social care visit the Department of Health website.