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Notifying cases of infectious diseases within Victoria - What to notify
Page content: Overview | Disease groupings | Notification method | Laboratory notification
Overview
Notifiable conditions are included in Schedule 4 of the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009 and are divided into four groups on the basis of the method of notification and the information required. With the exception of HIV and AIDS, these groups are all included on the standard Notifiable Conditions form.
Condition groupings
Group A - Conditions require immediate notification to the Department of Health by telephone upon initial diagnosis (presumptive or confirmed) with written notification to follow within five days.
Group B - Conditions require written notification only within five days of diagnosis (presumptive or confirmed).
Group C - Conditions include the sexually transmissible diseases and should be notified using the same form. To preclude identification of the patient, only the first two letters of the given and family name of the patient are required.
Group D - Conditions include HIV infection (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) and written notification is required within five days of confirmation of diagnosis. A separate form is used for this purpose due to the need to have national uniformity in collection of data.
The table below lists notifiable conditions into their relevant group.
Notification method
The standard notification form is applicable for all group A, B and C conditions and contains the minimum mandatory information required. Using the standard method, you can notify securely online or download a form to complete and post/fax later. Important - If notifying online, please read the security and privacy notice on the first page of the online notification form.
or
The enhanced notification forms are available for specified diseases where indicated. These enhanced forms collect the same mandatory information as the standard form (above), plus additional optional epidemiological data about the case.
Steps and further information are also provided for how to notify within Victoria.
Laboratory notification
Around Australia and overseas, it has been recognised that laboratory notification of infectious diseases should be an integral part of any disease surveillance system.
Laboratories are required to notify tests indicating:
- the probable presence of a human pathogenic organism associated with an infectious disease listed above.
- Blood lead greater than 10μg/dL, whether or not the test was requested as part of routine biological monitoring as prescribed by the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007.
The notification should state the laboratory finding, the family name and given name of the patient (except for Group C conditions); the age, sex and postcode of the patient; and the name, address and telephone number of the doctor requesting the test.
In addition to the above, the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations require notification from laboratories of the following micro-organisms isolated or detected in food or water supplies:
- Campylobacter spp
- Cryptosporidium spp
- Salmonella spp
- Verotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC)
- Vibrio spp
- Giardia cysts
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Cyclospora spp
- Hepatitis A
- Novovirus
Immediate notification must be made by telephone followed by notice in writing within 5 days specifying the micro-organism isolated or detected, date of isolation or detection, source (food or water) and any batch identification (if appropriate).
