Public Health Madison & Dane County

Disease Reporting and Infection Control for Providers

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As a healthcare provider, child care provider, or school, you help prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

Diseases and conditions that are reportable are considered to have significant public health impact and any confirmed or suspect cases must be reported promptly. We provide guidance, education, follow up, and surveillance for state reportable diseases and conditions as outlined in Wisconsin state statute or by the state health department:

What Needs to be Reported

Any Health Care Provider or School is required to report state-reportable diseases and conditions. See this printable list of Category I and Category II diseases and conditions.

Per licensing requirements, licensed child care facilities are also required to report these same communicable diseases and conditions.

Category I Diseases

Must be reported immediately to us:

  • By phone AND within 24 hours through the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS) (preferred) or by fax at 608-266-4858.
    • Reporting by phone:
      • During business hours (M - F, 8:00am - 4:30pm), call 608-266-4821. Ask to be transferred to the communicable disease team to leave a voicemail. Voicemails are checked frequently throughout the day.
      • If calling outside business hours,
        • The following Category I Diseases are less urgent. Please call 608-266-4821 and leave a message about the Category I Disease and include a callback number. We will get your message during the next business day.
          • Haemophilus influenzae invasive disease
          • Mpox
          • Pertussis
        • Other Category I Diseases may require immediate action. Call our 24/7 number for health care professionals.
          • Please call 608-267-3913 and tell the operator that you need to talk with after-hours public health staff.
        • For animal rabies incidents, contact Animal Services. 

Category II Diseases

Must be reported within 72 hours to us:

  • through Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS), OR
  • by phone 608-266-4821, OR
  • by fax 608-266-4858 using one of the disease reporting forms below.

Disease Reporting Forms
  • Communicable Disease Report Form. Complete for all diseases not listed below.
  • Animal Bite Report Form
  • Lyme Disease Report Form
  • Measles Suspect Data Form
  • Pertussis Suspect Report Form
  • Sexually Transmitted Infection Report Form
  • Tuberculosis Reporting Requirements & Isolation Information
  • HIV should be reported directly to the Wisconsin HIV Program
  • COVID-19 Reporting. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services requires reporting of COVID-19 hospitalizations, pediatric deaths, and outbreaks.
  • COVID-19 Hospitalizations: Acute Care Hospitals in Dane County should report COVID-19-associated hospitalizations, defined as a patient who is hospitalized (>24 hours) as a result of a COVID-19 compatible illness and with laboratory evidence for COVID-19, by submitting a WEDSS report within 72 hours of being detected.
  • COVID-19 Pediatric Deaths: Acute Care Hospitals, Coroners, and Medical Examiners in Dane County should report COVID-19-associated pediatric mortality by submitting a WEDSS report within 72 hours of being detected. A COVID-19-associated pediatric death is defined as either of the following:
    • A death in a person <18 years old as a result of a COVID-19 compatible illness with laboratory evidence for COVID-19 OR
    • A death in a person <18 years old meeting vital records criteria with no confirmatory or presumptive laboratory evidence for COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 Outbreaks: Dane County facilities must report an outbreak with our survey with 24 hours of being detected. The definition of a COVID-19 outbreak within specific settings can be found on the following web pages:
    • Long Term Care
    • Schools & Child Care
    • For all other settings, a COVID-19 outbreak is defined as two or more laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases who were present at the facility with episode dates within 14 days of each other and no known contact outside of the facility.

Long Term Care & Other Health Care Facilities Outbreak Forms

In Wisconsin, confirmed or suspected outbreaks of any disease in health care facilities, including long term care facilities (LTCFs), are a Category I Disease, meaning they must be reported immediately. For facilities in Dane County, this reporting requirement may be fulfilled by faxing the appropriate form below:

Acute Respiratory Illness Outbreaks

Norovirus and Other Gastrointestinal Illness Outbreaks

Infection Prevention & Control

We work with healthcare providers and infection prevention staff to reduce the risk of communicable disease transmission.

Infection prevention and control involves practices and measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases in all healthcare settings and the community. This includes hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, isolation precautions, environmental cleaning and disinfection, respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette, waste management and other practices to help reduce the transmission of infectious diseases.

Have questions or need help? Contact us!

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