Communicable Disease
Douglas Public Health Network performs epidemiologic studies, data collection and analysis, and reviews lab reports to prevent the spread of infectious disease in our community.
DPHN's Communicable Disease program aims to prevent the emergence and spread of communicable diseases in our community. We collaborate with healthcare providers, local and state health department personnel, and community members. Our responsibilities include providing education on prevention, collecting and analyzing disease reports, studying risk factors, protecting exposed individuals and families, developing guidelines, investigating cases, and responding to outbreaks.
Oregon Communicable Disease Reporting Requirements:
Oregon state law requires the tracking of communicable diseases in order to prevent and control disease outbreaks. The Oregon Health Authority has posters listing all reportable diseases, infections, microorganisms and conditions, as well as the time frames within they must be reported by health care providers.
Today, most laboratories automatically send reportable disease positive results to public health via electronic lab reports. Health care providers should call DPHN to report communicable diseases when laboratory testing is not possible or pending, when symptoms are suggestive of a communicable disease diagnosis, or when an increased number of cases suggest an outbreak may be occurring. We welcome calls and questions from our health care partners.
Oregon Communicable Disease Reporting Requirements:
Oregon state law requires the tracking of communicable diseases in order to prevent and control disease outbreaks. The Oregon Health Authority has posters listing all reportable diseases, infections, microorganisms and conditions, as well as the time frames within they must be reported by health care providers.
Today, most laboratories automatically send reportable disease positive results to public health via electronic lab reports. Health care providers should call DPHN to report communicable diseases when laboratory testing is not possible or pending, when symptoms are suggestive of a communicable disease diagnosis, or when an increased number of cases suggest an outbreak may be occurring. We welcome calls and questions from our health care partners.
To reach our communicable disease team during working hours (Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm), please call and leave a voicemail at: 541-677-5814 or fax: 541-464-3914. For urgent situations after-hours, please call Douglas County's Non-Emergency Dispatch: 541-440-4471, who will route you to a public health professional. Urgent situations might include reporting a suspected case of botulism, anthrax, measles, plague or other uncommon infections. For routine questions and reports, please leave a voicemail and we will return your call the next business day. To report animal bites, please call Douglas County Environmental Health at 541-440-3574.