Other links concerning Notifiable Conditions

• Local Health Jurisdictions

• How to Report a Notifiable Condition

• Reporting Forms

• Guidelines

• Disease Surveillance Data

• Glossary

• Legal Requirements

• EpiTrends

• Notifiable Conditions & the Health Care Provider (PDF, 645KB)

• Notifiable Conditions & the Hospital  (PDF, 529KB)

• Notifiable Conditions & the Laboratory  (PDF, 314KB)

• Notifiable Conditions & the Local Health Jurisdiction  (PDF, 117KB)

• Notifiable Conditions & the Veterinarian (PDF, 129KB)

• Communicable Disease Epidemiology

• WEDSS (Washington Electronic Disease Surveillance System)

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Vibriosis in Washington State
The number of vibriosis cases varies from year to year depending on environmental conditions. In 2006, a large outbreak of vibriosis occurred in Washington State involving at least 110 residents.  Vibrio parahaemolyticus is endemic to the estuaries of Washington State as are several other Vibrio species.  V. vulnificus infections usually result from exposures outside of Washington.  Most vibriosis cases in the United States occur between April and October.  During the warmer months of the year, the DOH Shellfish Programs routinely monitor shellfish from the Washington coast for Vibrio organisms and will close beds to harvesting if Vibrio levels become dangerously high or if growing areas are epidemiologically linked to human illness.

Purpose of Reporting and Surveillance

• To identify sources of transmission (e.g., commercially distributed food product or shellfishing area) and to prevent further transmission from such sources.

• When the source is a risk to only a few individuals (e.g., privately collected shellfish), to inform those individuals how to reduce their risk of exposure. 

Legal Reporting Requirements

• Health care providers: notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 3 work days.

• Hospitals: notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 3 work days.

• Laboratories: no requirements for reporting.

• Local health jurisdictions: notifiable to Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Communicable Disease Epidemiology Section (CDES) within 7 days of case investigation completion or summary information required within 21 days.

Last update
September 2007