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Reporting of Communicable Diseases

Why report?  We depend on you to let us know what is happening on the front lines in the health community.  We appreciate and depend on your expertise in diagnosis and treatment.  Your reports help us to:

• Identify outbreaks and epidemics
• Provide for preventive treatment and/or education
• Identify care needs, target prevention programs, and allocate scarce resources
• Evaluate the success of long-term control efforts
• Contribute to research to uncover preventable causes of disease
• Assist with national and international surveillance and preparedness activities
• Comply with Michigan’s Public Health Code

The following documents will provide you with more information.

Michigan HIV Law

To report a communicable disease, notify your local county office of District Health Department #10.  You will be provided with a confidential fax number if needed.  By law your report must include:

• Patient’s full name, date of birth, age, & gender
• Patient’s residential address & telephone number
• Name of the disease, infection, or condition
• Estimated date of onset
• Mane & address of the reporting person and/or laboratory
• Pertinent lab tests, date performed, & results
• Any other information deemed to be related to protecting the health of the public

Laboratory Testing

The Michigan Department of Community Health Bureau of Laboratories accepts clinical specimens sent from health care providers for testing of many communicable diseases that affect public health.  Specimen collection kits and requisitions can be ordered from MDCH. For information on ordering supplies, pathogen specific testing, specimen requirements, shipping instructions, and the most up-to-date requisitions, visit the MDCH Lab web site.

Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS)

Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS) is a web-based communicable disease reporting system developed for the state of Michigan to provide for the secure transfer and analysis of infectious disease information.  It enables public health epidemiologists to quickly identify and track emerging infections, and it facilitates investigation of local outbreaks.

Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) is an electronic statewide immunization registry that is accessible to both private and public providers.  Through the careful tracking of immunizations provided by health care providers, MCIR strives to reduce the occurrence of vaccine-preventable illnesses. Busy practices have found that MCIR can assist them in the challenges of assessing ever-changing and complex immunization requirements and schedules involving different vaccine manufacturers and combination vaccines.  MCIR can also help you manage your vaccine supply, and assist with reporting requirements.  For more information, please contact your regional office at 1-888-217-3904.