Communicable Diseases

Communicable diseases are illnesses or infections that can be spread from person to person, animal to person, or person to animal. Some examples of communicable diseases that can make people sick include:  

  • Illnesses that may spread through contaminated food or water such, as Salmonellosis and Giardiasis 
  • Hepatitis 
  • Respiratory illnesses like the flu, COVID, and RSV 
  • Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) like chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV/AIDS  
  • Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Zoonotic diseases like rabies 
  • Diseases carried by ticks like Lyme disease, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis 

The overall goal of this program is to protect the community by limiting the spread of infections. We focus on the prevention of disease through surveillance, case management, screening, and education. Our staff follow up on communicable disease reports to ensure the patient and their contacts receive appropriate treatment to stop further spread. We also provide community members and organizations with tick removal kits, safer sex kits, and other prevention information and tools.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How can I prevent foodborne illnesses? 

You can follow four key steps to help prevent foodborne illnesses: 

  1. Clean: wash your hands and surfaces often before, during, and after cooking. 
  2. Separate: don’t cross-contaminate ready-to-eat foods with germs from raw meats, poultry, eggs, or seafood. 
  3. Cook: heat foods to the right temperature to kill germs that can make you sick. 
  4. Chill: refrigerate foods promptly. Perishable foods left at room temperature can quickly grow germs and make you sick. 

Learn more about food safety by visiting: https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/index.html

What are the types of Hepatitis and how do they spread? 

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, and the cause can vary:  

  • Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus which spreads through contaminated food or drink or through close person-to-person contact. There is a vaccine to prevent this infection. 
  • Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus which spreads through contact with infected blood or body fluids. Chronic hepatitis B can cause serious health issues like liver cancer, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), and even death. There is a vaccine to prevent this infection. 
  • Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus which spreads through contact with infected blood. Getting tested is the only way to know if you have hepatitis C. There are treatments available that can cure most people with hepatitis C in 8–12 weeks, but there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. 
  • Hepatitis D is caused by the hepatitis D virus which spreads through contact with infected blood or body fluids. The hepatitis D virus is a "satellite virus" that can only infect people who are infected with hepatitis B. Hepatitis D can cause serious illness and even death. The best way to prevent hepatitis D is to get the hepatitis B vaccine series.
  • Hepatitis E is caused by the hepatitis E virus which most commonly spreads through contaminated drinking water. Hepatitis E does not often occur in the United States. People with a hepatitis E infection typically fully recover from the illness. 

Learn more about the different types of hepatitis by visiting: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/index.html

What should I do if I see blood or bodily fluids that are not mine? 

You should treat any bodily fluids or blood as if it could be infected. The American Red Cross provides education on how to protect yourself and what to do if you're exposed: https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PDFs/Take_a_Class/Bloodborne-Pathogens-Fact-and-Skill-Sheets.pdf

What steps can I take to protect myself and my community from respiratory illnesses like the flu, COVID, and RSV? 

You can take steps to lower your chances of getting a respiratory illness: 

If you are sick with a respiratory virus, the best thing you can do to keep other people healthy is to stay home until you are feeling better and have not had a fever in at least 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medication. Learn more by visiting: https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html 

What is Tuberculosis? 

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease that usually affects the lungs. It can, however, occur in other locations in the body. TB is spread through the air from one person to another when someone with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks, laughs, or sings. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria gets sick. Without treatment, people with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) can end up developing TB. If not treated, TB disease can be fatal. Learn more about tuberculosis by visiting: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/tuberculosis/

Which communicable diseases do healthcare providers and laboratories have to report to the local health department? 

New York State's communicable disease reporting requirements can be found by clicking here. 

Looking for resources or to learn more about the program? 

Call our office at 607-535-8140. 

You can also check out the following resources: