A communicable disease is one that is spread from one person to another through a variety of ways that include: contact with blood and bodily fluids; breathing in an airborne virus; or by being bitten by an animal or insect.
Examples of communicable diseases include:
What is the Health Department’s Role in
Communicable Disease?
ECHD maintains a program designed to reduce the occurrence of communicable disease. We do this by reporting diseases, disease surveillance (using tools to observe diseases), disease investigation (asking questions to find the cause) and minimizing the spread of disease.
As a local health department, we investigate/report many communicable diseases, the most common are below. For a full list of reporting requirements, click here.
- Tuberculosis
- Sexually transmitted infections; HIV/AIDS
- Transmitters of diseases communicable to humans; animal cases of rabies; and post-exposure rabies prophylaxis for humans
- COVID-19 (report)
- Influenza (report)
- Foodborne pathogens (causes of food illnesses)
- Tick-borne and mosquito pathogens.
How an investigation is conducted:
- Begin a case investigation within 24 hours of receipt of the report.
- Investigate any report of an unusual disease or of an outbreak of any disease
- We must notify NYSDOH of the unusual disease or outbreak
- If there is an outbreak of a communicable disease or signs that one may occur, we can coordinate with medical providers for – a diagnosis, laboratory screening, treatment, and medical management. We will work to verify the situation and take appropriate action to manage the outbreak.
- Coordinate with medical providers and laboratories to submit specimens related to actual or suspected communicable disease cases. i.e. an animal that is suspected to have rabies.
- Provide health education as needed to the general public and medical community to increase awareness of communicable disease issues and the control measures required to prevent the spread of disease.
Physicians have primary responsibility for reporting, school nurses, laboratory directors, infection control practitioners, daycare center directors, health care facilities, Summer camps, state institutions and any other individuals/locations providing health care services are also required to report communicable diseases.
Reports should be made to the local health department in the county in which the patient resides and need to be submitted within 24 hours of diagnosis. However, some diseases warrant prompt action and should be reported immediately to local health departments by phone.
For more information on communicable disease reporting, call us 518-873-3500.
Disease surveillance is about collecting, analyzing, and interpreting large amounts of information from various sources. This information is then used to evaluate how effective control and preventative health measures are.
Surveillance systems use different components to collect and analyze health information. These components include diagnostic testing, information technology, and reporting by clinicians, public health specialists, and laboratory workers.
Prevention includes:
Provide health education as needed to the general public and medical community to increase awareness of communicable disease issues and the control measures required to prevent the spread of disease.
RABIES
RABIES – About, Prevention, Wild Animal Interactions & more
RABIES (CDC) – Transmission, what is an “exposure”& when to seek care
TICKS & TICK-BORNE DISEASES
TICKS – Lyme Disease & Other Diseases Ticks Carry; Tick removal & more (NYSDOH)
TICKS – Proofing Your Yard, Preventing bites, Diseases Ticks Carry (CDC)
MPOX
Mpox College Guidance (NYSDOH)
Mpox and Sexual Health (NYSDOH)
Mpox in New York State – June 2022 (NYSDOH)
Mpox – Frequently Asked Questions (CDC)
BACKYARD FLOCKS AND FAMILIES
Keeping Backyard Poultry (CDC)
Learn About Salmonella Infection
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE
ZIKA VIRUS
KNOW ZIKA VIRUS (NYS Department of Health)
Mosquito Bite Prevention for Travelers
Pregnancy Travel Advisory (NYSDOH)
Zika Virus – Locations, Questions, Pregnancy Risks & more (CDC)
HEPATITIS C HELP
NYSDOH has a comprehensive Hepatitis C website with sections dedicated to community members & providers. Find testing, patient navigator resources, and support groups.
Help‑4‑Hep is a non-profit, peer-to-peer helpline where counselors work with patients to meet the challenges of hepatitis C head-on. Callers talk one-on-one with a real person, typically someone who has been personally affected by hepatitis C. The phone call, support, information, and linkage to care are all provided free of charge.
Help-4-Hep can help with client communications, support, referrals, and linkage to care. Call toll-free 877-435-7443 or visit the website.
Behavior of animals with rabies
Animals with rabies may show unusual behavior for their species –
- Friendliness
- Irritability
- Aggressiveness
- Staggering
- Convulsing
- Choking
Once an animal starts showing unusual behavior due to rabies it will typically die within 10 days or less.
Visit our Immunization Page
Visit our Clinic Page
Decades of research show that vaccines prevent disease. An overwhelming number of studies also show that they are safe and effective. But in recent years, some people have become concerned that vaccines are more dangerous than the diseases they prevent. An aggressive anti-vaccine movement is fueling their fears. Unfortunately, this has led some to delay or avoid vaccination.
It’s also one reason we are seeing the return of so many preventable diseases – like measles, mumps and whooping cough.
As a local health department we must:
- ensure compliance with all immunization statutes and regulations;
- assist with and follow-up on school immunization surveys;
- provide education regarding the risks and benefits of immunizations for consumers;
- conduct quality assurance activities with community health care providers including immunization practices, proper vaccine storage and handling, and compliance with immunization reporting requirements;
- ensure proper stewardship of immunization resources and serve as a safety-net immunization provider; and
- apply cost-based charges and make reasonable attempts to bill and collect fees for immunization services.
Flu Vaccine Information Statement
Statement on Legislation Removing Non-Medical Exemption from School Vaccination Requirements
School Vaccination Requirements – NYSDOH Site Including Frequently Asked Questions
NYS Immunization Requirements for School Attendance Printable
Call for appointments 518-873-3500.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Please visit our COVID-19 Vax page for the most up-to- date information
We can bill Medicaid, Medicare Part B, Child Health Plus, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield or Fidelis Managed Care. Present your card at your appointment to receive services at no charge. If you are not covered by these health insurances we will provide you a receipt for service that you may submit to your insurance company to seek reimbursement.
We can now accept payment with GovPayNet – so you can swipe your debit or credit card here at our office or pay online.
Before you pay with GovPayNet we advise you to read the GovPayNet Fee Schedule and GovPayNet Terms of Service.
Please call our office at 518-873-3500 if you have questions about immunizations, fees or payment.
Top Immunization searches
Current immunization recommendations
Top 20 Questions and Answers About Immunizations
We also field calls about vaccines and cancer prevention – such as the HPV vaccine.
Traveler’s Clinics
Mountain Medical Urgent Care Services call 518-523-7575 or 518-897-1000
Plattsburgh Industrial Med. Testing call 518-562-2009
St. Lawrence County Department of Health Department call 315-386-2325
Warren County Public Health call 518-761-6580
In Vermont, UVM Travel Clinic call 802-847-1045
We continually:
✅ Conduct outreach and education about communicable diseases and incidence of diseases in Essex County,
✅ Promote prevention strategies including immunizations for vaccine preventable diseases, and
✅ Provide updates regarding ECHD programs and services to community partners and the community at large.
See these tabs for more information about our Communicable Disease Program including:
- Rabies prevention and control;
- Arthropod (tick and mosquito-borne) diseases;
- Immunizations (for vaccine-preventable diseases);
- Sexually Transmitted disease Testing (including HIV and Hep C); and
- Tuberculosis.