Conditions Reportable to Public Health in Alaska: What Must Be Reported

To report Public Health Emergencies call (907) 269-8000
or after hours (800) 478-0084

Public Health Emergencies

The following are public health emergencies. If you suspect or diagnose a disease which is a public health emergency, immediately call 1-907-269-8000 during business hours or 1-800-478-0084 after hours.

An unusual number or clustering of diseases or other conditions of public health importance

Infectious Diseases

Outbreaks of an unusual number of any infectious disease

* Diseases shown in bold are public health emergencies and should be reported immediately.

Reports must be made within 5 working days after being suspected or diagnosed. Routine reports should be made using the RTR System. Reports may also be made by FAX or by telephone.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases including HIV infection and AIDS

When a case of a reportable sexually transmitted disease (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV infection, or AIDS) is being reported by RTR or by completing the report form on page 7, please include the treatment prescribed, the date of treatment, the pregnancy status of the patient, and whether PID was diagnosed.

What is a suspected case of STD?

• A person named by an infected person as (1) having signs suggestive of disease, (2) being a sex/needle sharing partner of another person whom the provider knows to be infected, or (3) needing an exam; or


• A person empirically treated for a reportable STD (chlamydia, gonorrhea or infectious syphilis); or


• A person the provider suspects to be infected with an STD based on signs and symptoms evident on clinical examination, combined with a sexual history indicating risky sexual behavior

Partner identification, notification, diagnosis, and treatment are critical disease intervention activities. All patients with HIV or STDs should be interviewed for sexual partners, and these partners notified of their exposure and offered testing and treatment. Confidential assistance in conducting these activities is available from public health personnel through the HIV/STD Program (1-907-269-8000).

Laboratory Reporting

All medical laboratories are required to notify the Division of Public Health if evidence of human infection caused by certain infectious disease pathogens is found. The list of infectious diseases reportable by health care providers is similar to the list of pathogens reportable by laboratories. Paralytic shellfish poisoning and rheumatic fever are reported by health care providers, but not by laboratories. Influenza virus infection is reported by laboratories, but not by health care providers. Except for these differences, reporting is required by both health care providers and laboratories for the other reportable diseases. Laboratories are not relieved of their obligation to report by virtue of the condition also being reportable by health care providers.

* Pathogens shown in bold are public health emergencies; suspected or confirmed human infection caused by a pathogen which is a public health emergency should be reported immediately.

In addition to infectious disease reporting, laboratories are required to report any blood lead level greater or equal to ten micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL). A legible copy of the laboratory report may be faxed, RTR System, or telephone.

Elevated Blood Lead

Health care providers and laboratories are required to report any blood lead test result ³10 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL). Reports must be made within 4 weeks of receiving the result. Reports may be made may be made by mail, FAX, or by calling the RTR System.

Firearm Injuries

Hospitals and health care providers are required to report all injuries caused by a firearm to the Division of Public Health. A Firearm Injury Report must be made within 5 working days of the date of diagnosis. Firearm injuries may be reported by FAX, or by calling the RTR System.

Cancer

Hospitals, physicians, surgeons, and other health care facilities and practicioners are required to report cases of cancer (except for basal or squamous cell skin cancer and cervical cancer in-situ) to the Division of Public Health. Cancer must be reported within 6 months of the date of diagnosis.

Cancer cases should be reported to the Alaska Cancer Registry, a functional component of the Section of Epidemiology. Hospitals and other health care facilities should report using the information and instructions in the booklet "Procedural Manual for Reporting Sources" available from the Section of Epidemiology. Copies may be obtained by calling 1-907-269-8000.

Physicians and other health care practicioners should report cases that will not be seen at an Alaska hospital or who obtain evaluation or treatment in another state. The information on the report form should be sent to the Alaska Cancer Registry by FAX or mail. The RTR Sytem is not used to report cancer.

Birth Defects

Physicians, hospitals, and other health care facilities and providers must report children from birth up to 6 years of age who have been diagnosed with or treated for any of the birth defects listed below (7 AAC 27.012). Reports should be submitted within three months of diagnosis or treatment. The RTR system is not used to report birth defects. Information should be entered on a Birth Defects Reporting Form and submitted to the Alaska Birth Defects Registry (ABDR). Please fill one form out for each child being reported. Use the most specific ICD-9 codes available and write out a diagnosis description, along with the diagnosis date.

The ICD-9 code and written diagnosis should be specific. For example, if appropriate you would report a child as having "sickle cell anemia" with an ICD-9 code of 282.60. For this child, do not write "hereditary anemia" with ICD-9 code 282, as such a report is not a specific diagnosis.

If you have never reported before, the ABDR staff can answer any questions you may have. If you have a large number of reports, contact the ABDR to discuss an alternate method of reporting. Completed reports should be mailed or faxed to:

Alaska Birth Defects Registry
3601 C Street, Suite 424
P O Box 240249
Anchorage, Alaska 99524-0249
Fax: (907) 269-3493
Phone: (907) 269-8097

Please include the suite number when mailing.

Other Reportable Conditions

Health care providers are required to report three other conditions to the Division of Public Health:

• Diseases which are known or suspected to be related to environmental exposure to a toxic substance; and
• Diseases which are known or suspected to be due to a person's occupation.

Reports should be made to the Section of Epidemiology by telephone during regular business hours. After hours, if a health care provider considers the situation to represent a public health emergency, the report should be made by calling 1-800-478-0084.

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