- Infectious disease regulations
Includes School exclusion table
Notifying cases of infectious diseases within Victoria - What to notify
Page content: Overview | Disease groupings | Notification method | Laboratory notification
Overview
Notifiable infectious diseases are included in Schedule 3 of the Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2001 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 Notification of Infectious Disease form.
Disease groupings
Group A - Diseases require immediate notification to the Department of Human Services by telephone or fax upon initial diagnosis (presumptive or confirmed) with written notification to follow within five days.
Group B - Diseases require written notification only within five days of diagnosis (presumptive or confirmed).
Group C - Diseases 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 - Diseases 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. Copies of this form are available upon request from Communicable Disease Control, telephone 1300 651 160.
The table below lists notifiable diseases into their relevant group.
Notification method
The standard notification form is applicable for all group A, B and C diseases 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 cases of infectious diseases 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. The notification should state the laboratory finding, the family name and given name of the patient (except for Group C diseases); 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 Health (Infectious Diseases) 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
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).