10A NCAC 41A .0103      DUTIES OF LOCAL HEALTH DIRECTOR: REPORT COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

(a)  Upon receipt of a report of a communicable disease or condition pursuant to 10A NCAC 41A .0101, the local health director shall:

(1)           immediately investigate the circumstances surrounding the occurrence of the disease or condition to determine the authenticity of the report and the identity of all persons for whom control measures are required. This investigation shall include the collection and submission for laboratory examination of specimens necessary to assist in the diagnosis and indicate the duration of control measures;

(2)           determine what control measures have been given and ensure that proper control measures as provided in 10A NCAC 41A .0201 have been given and are being complied with;

(3)           forward the report as follows:

(A)          The local health director shall forward all authenticated reports made pursuant to G.S. 130A‑135 to 137 of syphilis, chancroid, granuloma inguinale, and lymphogranuloma venereum within seven days to the regional office of the Division of Public Health. In addition, the local health director shall telephone reports of all cases of primary, secondary, and early latent (under one year's duration) syphilis to the regional office of the HIV/STD Prevention and Care Branch within 24 hours of diagnosis at the health department or report by a physician.

(B)          The local health director shall telephone all laboratory reports of reactive syphilis serologies to the regional office of the Division of Public Health within 24 hours of receipt if the person tested is pregnant. This shall also be done for all other persons tested unless the dilution is less than 1:8 and the person is known to be over 25 years of age or has been previously treated. In addition, the written reports shall be sent to the regional office of the Division of Public Health within seven days.

(C)          Except as provided in (a)(3)(A) and (B) of this Rule, a local health director who receives a report pursuant to 10A NCAC 41A .0102 regarding a person residing in that jurisdiction shall forward the authenticated report to the Division of Public Health within seven days.

(D)          Except as provided in (a)(3)(A) and (B) of this Rule, a local health director who receives a report pursuant to 10A NCAC 41A .0102 regarding a person who resides in another jurisdiction in North Carolina shall forward the report to the local health director of that jurisdiction within 24 hours. A duplicate report card marked "copy" shall be forwarded to the Division of Epidemiology within seven days.

(E)           A local health director who receives a report pursuant to 10A NCAC 41A .0102 regarding a person who resided outside of North Carolina at the time of onset of the illness shall forward the report to the Division of Public Health within 24 hours.

(b)  If an outbreak exists, the local health director shall submit to the Division of Public Health within 30 days a written report of the investigation, its findings, and the actions taken to control the outbreak and prevent a recurrence.

(c)  Whenever an outbreak of a disease or condition occurs which is not required to be reported by 10A NCAC 41A .0101 but which represents a significant threat to the public health, the local health director shall give appropriate control measures consistent with 10A NCAC 41A .0200, and inform the Division of Public Health of the circumstances of the outbreak within seven days.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 130A‑141; 130A‑144;

Temporary Rule Eff. February 1, 1988, for a period of 180 days to expire on July 29, 1988;

Eff. March 1, 1988;

Amended Eff. April 1, 2003; December 1, 1991; September 1, 1990;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 9, 2018.