Communicable Disease Control

Wisconsin State Law requires the reporting of communicable diseases to the local Health Department. Report notifiable conditions to 414-423-2110.  Communicable disease can be reported by individuals, laboratories, or health care professionals. The law requires that public health nurses provide surveillance and investigation to prevent and control the spread of disease. Requirements for the timing of reporting, once the disease or condition is recognized or suspected, vary by disease. General reporting requirements are described in Wisconsin Statute Chapter 252Communicable Diseases. The specific reporting requirements are described in Chapter DHS 145Control of Communicable Diseases. A list of reportable conditions is provided in Chapter DHS 145 - Appendix A.

Some reportable diseases include: hepatitis, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), Lyme disease, tuberculosis, food and waterborne outbreaks, and sexually transmitted infections.  A Public Health Nurse will contact the individual, family and contacts to provide them with information and counseling about the disease. Public Health Nurses are available to answer questions that residents may have regarding a communicable disease. Fact sheets and pamphlets with information on specific diseases are also available on request.

The prevalence of communicable disease depends upon many environmental factors. For information on a specific communicable disease, please visit one of the following reputable websites: 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (www.cdc.gov) 

Wisconsin Department of Health Services (www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable)

Wisconsin-Based Outbreaks
Travelers' Health                          
CDC Travelers’ Health site 
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Travel notices are designed to inform travelers and clinicians about current health issues related to specific international destinations. These issues may arise from disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, and natural disasters that may affect travelers’ health. 

For country-specific information about Safety and Security, visit the US Department of State Travel Advisories page.

For country-specific information about weather conditions, visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) International Weather Selector webpage.