Reporting Infectious Diseases to Pinal County Public Health

To contact the division, please call 520-866-7281 or email [email protected] with any question about reporting. Please do not email personal information or reports.
We will provided a secure link to send reports.

You can also fax a report to 520-866-2929.

Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Surveillance

The Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Surveillance Division is responsible for epidemiological surveillance of communicable disease in Pinal County and follows guidelines and statutory requirements set forth by the Arizona Department of Health Services. The division maintains surveillance of communicable diseases in the community, supports community partners and stakeholders on prevention, control, and mitigation efforts, and responds to infectious disease outbreaks.

The four programs in the division include:

    General Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Program
    Sexually Transmitted Infectious Prevention and Control Program
    Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Program
    Data Analysis

Under the Arizona Administrative Code (AAC) R9-6-202, 203, 204, and 205, the following entities or their authorized representative shall submit a communicable disease report to the local health authority:

    Healthcare providers and correctional facilities
    Clinical labs (including any facility preforming lab testing)
    Schools, child care establishments, and shelters
    Pharmacies
    Veterinary professionals

Violation of reporting rules is a Class III misdemeanor and is subject to referral to the facility’s licensing agency or provider’s state licensing board, as defined in ARS §36-140.

The authority for the state and local health departments to collect and receive this information is defined in the HIPAA “privacy rule” 45 CFR §164.501. Pursuant to 45 CFR §164.512(b) of the privacy rule, covered entities may disclose protected health information to public health authorities “for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, include, but not limited to the reporting of disease, injury, vital events such as births or deaths, and the conduct of public health surveillance, public health investigation and public health interventions.”

Contact Information:

Phone: 520-866-7281
Fax: 520-866-2929
Email: [email protected]
All-Hazards Information Hotline: 520-626-4160
Arizona Emergency Information Network: https://ein.az.gov/

Location and Hours: Monday through Friday, 8AM to 5PM

Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Surveillance

Infectious Diseases, also called Communicable Diseases, are illness caused by germs. There are four main kinds of germs: Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi and Parasites.

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health states and events in specified population. Epidemiology is a scientific discipline that collects, analysis and interpret data to describe the frequency and pattern of heath events. Understanding the event will help with its prevention and control.

The Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Surveillance Division is responsible for epidemiology surveillance of communicable diseases in Pinal County health jurisdiction according to guidelines by the Arizona Department of health Services. The division main role is to maintain surveillance of infectious diseases in the community, to support community partners and stakeholders on prevention, control and mitigation efforts, and to respond to communicable diseases outbreaks.


This division is organized in four programs:

• General Infectious disease prevention and control program
• Sexually Transmitted Infections Prevention and control program
• Tuberculosis prevention and control program
• Data analysis

 

Every member of the team is cross trained and capable to support any infectious disease epidemiology investigation. Working an outbreak usually requires more personnel than the people assigned per program.

Infectious Diseases Reporting and Surveillance

Reporting cases of infectious diseases and related conditions is a vital step in controlling and preventing the spread of communicable diseases. The rules that guide communicable diseases on when, what and how to report are defined in the Arizona Administrative Code Title 9, chapter 6.

The authority for the state and local health departments to collect and receive this information is defined in the HIPAA “privacy rule” 45 CFR§164.501. Pursuant to 45CFR§164.512(b) of the privacy rule, covered entities may disclose protected health information to public health authorities “for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, including, but not limited to, the reporting of diseases, injury, vital events such as births or deaths, and the conduct of public health surveillance, public health investigations and public health interventions”

Under Arizona Administrative Code (AAC) R9-6-202, 203, 204, and 205, the following entities or their authorized representatives shall submit a communicable disease report to the local health agency.

• Healthcare providers and correctional facilities
• Clinical labs(including any facility performing lab testing)
• Schools, child care establishments, and shelters
• Pharmacies
• Veterinary professionals
• Veterinary professionals
• Local Health agencies

 

Violation of reporting rules is a class III misdemeanor and is subject to referral to the facility's licensing agency or provider's state licensing board, as defined in ARS§36-140.

For more information on communicable disease reporting, please visit: https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/index.php#reporting-home

Healthcare provider reportable disease list

can be found at: https://www.azdhs.gov/documents/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/communicable-disease-reporting/reportable-diseases-list.pdf

Resources:

ADHS Communicable Disease Reporting

Communicable Disease Reporting for Healthcare Providers and Correctional Facilities:

List of Reportable Diseases

Communicable Disease Report Form

Outbreak Report Form

Communicable Disease Reporting for Schools and Childcare Facilities:

List of Reportable Diseases

Communicable Disease Outbreak Report Form

Communicable Disease Reporting for Pharmacies:

ADHS Communicable Disease Reporting

Communicable Disease Reporting for Clinical Labs:

List of Reportable Diseases

Laboratory Guidelines for Submission of Isolates or Specimens

Laboratory Reporting Form (for laboratories that do not have an electronic laboratory reporting system)

 

The Arizona Infectious Disease Resource (IDAZ) Phone App