Healthcare professionals, administrators, and clinical laboratories are legally required to report suspected and/or confirmed communicable diseases, outbreaks, and other public health emergencies to public health authorities in accordance with N.J.A.C. 8:57. Veterinarians, veterinary diagnostic laboratories, and other animal health professionals are required to report zoonotic diseases in domestic companion animals and suspected exposures to rabid animals.
Reporting to the Local Health Department
Reports must be made to the Local Health Department (LHD) where the patient resides, or if unknown, to the LHD where your facility is located.
Find your LHD: Use the Find Your Local Health Department locator to locate your LHD.
24/7 Availability: All New Jersey LHDs are required to maintain a mechanism to receive and respond to immediately reportable conditions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays.
Emergency Backup:Only if an LHD cannot be reached for an immediately reportable situation or public health emergency, contact NJDOHat 609-826-5964 or on the emergency after-hours number609-392-2020.
For more information on who needs to report, how reports should be sent, and timeframes for reporting, click the appropriate button below:
Timely reporting allows public health authorities to contain the spread of disease, control outbreaks, and protect the community. Reporting also informs the development of evidence-based recommendations, educational materials, and prevention strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is reporting permitted under HIPAA? Yes. HIPAA allows disclosure of protected health information to public health authorities for disease control and prevention.Reporting is legally required by N.J.A.C. 8:57.
Find Your Local Health Department
Use this PDF to find your local health department, that department's ranking health official, its contact information, and a link to its website. You may also use the locator map which can be found here.
