NOTIFIABLE DISEASES

Health practitioners are required by Section 74 of the Health Act 1956 to report to the medical officer of health (MOH) any patient they have 'reasonable suspicion' is suffering from a notifiable disease. Notification allows for appropriate public health control measures to be taken to reduce the risk of further spread, for disease surveillance, and for monitoring of the effectiveness of control measures. 

Medical practitioners are also required to report to the local medical officer of health any patient suffering from poisoning or injury from hazardous substances (Section 143 Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996) or from chemical contamination of the environment (Health Act 1956), such as pesticide poisoning. For information about Hazardous Substances Surveillance, visit the Environmental Health Indicators New Zealand website.

General diseases information Health Pathways Clinical pathways

Notifying Auckland Regional Public Health Service

• The MoH website lists the diseases notifiable by health practitioners and laboratories to the Medical Officer of Health.
• Notify the below on clinical suspicion, before laboratory confirmation:
• Measles
• Meningococcal disease (Neisseria meningitidis invasive disease)
• Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Rheumatic fever
• Infectious pulmonary tuberculosis
• Acute gastroenteritis or food poisoning if:
• there are two or more cases linked to a common source, or
• the patient is at high risk of infecting others (e.g. they are a food handler, or healthcare or childcare worker),
• there is a single case of chemical, bacterial, or toxin food poisoning such as toxic shellfish poisoning or scombroid poisoning
• Outbreaks (two or more cases of any condition linked to a common source)
• Any emerging public health problem if you are concerned about it.
• Check the exclusion criteria and the clearance criteria for recommended periods of exclusion from work, school or preschool.