Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases
Section 4 - Communicable Disease Reporting
Good communication among healthcare providers, child care providers, school health staff, parents/guardians, and the health department can play a major role in preventing the spread of communicable diseases. It is important that parents/guardians let child care providers and/or school health staff know whenever their children are diagnosed with a communicable disease. Child care providers and school health staff should check with the local or state health department to find out if any special control measures are needed when informed of a child or staff member who has a communicable disease.
Missouri Reporting Rule
Many diseases must be reported to the health department: Missouri rule (19 CSR 20-20.020). Disease fact sheets included in Section 6 indicate which diseases are reportable, and reportable diseases are marked with an asterisk (*) in the table of contents.
Child care providers and school health staff are required by the rule to report diseases to the health department. You do not need to worry about privacy issues or confidentiality when you make a report. Healthcare providers, laboratories, and others are also required to report. Some communicable diseases can be very serious, so it is important that you call right away, even if you think that someone else may have already made a report. Check the MDHSS website for any changes in the disease reporting rule, linked here.
Reportable Diseases in Missouri
For the current list of Reportable Diseases and Conditions in Missouri, please visit this page.
Reports from Parents/Guardians
Parents/guardians can also help to stop the spread of communicable diseases by telling the child care provider or school health staff whenever their children are diagnosed with a communicable disease. The child care provider or school health staff can then watch other children for symptoms, notify all the parents/guardians, and check with the health department to see if anything else needs to be done. The sooner everyone is notified, the faster control measures can be started, and the spread of disease can be reduced or stopped.
Reports From Staff
Child care or school staff who are diagnosed with a reportable disease are responsible for letting the person in charge of the child care facility or school health office know about the diagnosis.
Reports to Local/State Health Department
Cases of reportable communicable diseases should be reported to your local health department or to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. When you call to report a disease, please have the following information ready:
- Name of disease
- Person's name, birth date, address, parent or guardian’s name and phone number(s)
- Date of onset of symptoms
- Symptoms the child is experiencing (e.g., cough, diarrhea, vomiting, rash, etc.)
- Healthcare provider’s name and phone number
- Immunization dates (depending on the illness)
The health department staff person taking the report will advise you if you need to take any specific control measures.
Local and State Health Department Disease Prevention and Control Resources in Missouri
If you have a communicable disease question, please try to contact your local public health department first. If your local public health department is not listed or not available within a reasonable amount of time, call the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) Bureau of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention at 573-751- 6113 or 800-392-0272 (24/7), or call your local health department.
Local Health Department telephone numbers can be located on the DHSS website.
For the Department of Health and Senior Services District Offices nearest you, view this map.