Infectious diseases

The department provides guidelines and advice to health professionals about infectious diseases, including:

Guidelines for management and control of infectious diseases.
Requirements and procedures for notifying infectious diseases and other conditions.
Surveillance reports and data for Victoria and various local areas (updated daily).

Infectious diseases in the world community

and other conditions of concern still occur frequently throughout the world. Constant vigilance is required to prevent the reappearance of diseases and conditions thought to have been conquered.

Changes in lifestyle have also led to the emergence of new threats to public health from infection. Health authorities depend on both medical practitioners and laboratories for information on the incidence of these conditions.

In Victoria, the department conducts daily surveillance on infectious diseases to pinpoint outbreaks and to prevent the spread of infection.

Public health priorities in Victoria

A number of priority projects are currently underway including:

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Learn how we can all respond to this immense public health challenge by visiting the Coronavirus page

Antimicrobial resistance

Victoria is responding to this global public health priority, visit the Anti-microbial resistance page.

Congenital syphilis

This preventable disease is putting unborn babies at risk.

Beating Buruli

How does Buruli ulcer spread and how can it be prevented? Find out more by visiting Beating Buruli in Victoria

Disease information and management

Victorian-specific information about the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

A-Z of disease information and advice

Disease notification

Doctors and laboratories are required to notify the department of certain infectious disease and conditions.

For information on notification procedures visit Notification procedures for infectious diseases.

Notify a condition now

Guidelines

Prevention and control guidelines have been developed for a range of infectious diseases and related issues.

View all guidelines.

Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008

The Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 guide the protection of public health and wellbeing.

Notification procedures for infectious diseases

In Victoria, doctors and laboratories are required to notify certain infectious diseases and other conditions. Specific notification procedures must be followed.

Notifiable infectious diseases, conditions and micro-organisms

Prescribed conditions and micro-organisms that should be notified to the Department of Health.

Protecting patient privacy in Victoria

Doctors must notify the department of certain infectious diseases. They must also inform the patient that their information is being shared.

Disease information and advice

A-Z list of blue book diseases with descriptions, notification requirements, school exclusions and management guidelines.

Infection control guidelines

Prevention and control guidelines for health care facilities, business and local government including , gastro and respiratory outbreaks, and infection control.