Prevention and control of communicable disease is a shared responsibility between administrators, health care providers, residents, local and state health departments, and other community partners. Congregate settings include group homes, correctional and detention facilities, shelters, transitional housing, as well as any other setting where a group of unrelated individuals reside, meet, or gather in close proximity, typically sharing common spaces. Congregate settings are conducive to the acquisition and transmission of communicable diseases but are also where good preventive practices can lessen the impact of these diseases. 

Outbreaks and suspected outbreaks of any illness/condition are immediately reportable to the local health department where the congregate setting is located.  

• Respiratory Illness Resource Guide for Residential Congregate Settings
• Outbreak Prevention and Control Recommendations for Gastrointestinal Infections
• Outbreak Prevention and Control Recommendations for Scabies

• Outbreak Report for Institutional Settings - CDS-30
• Facility Line-List for Respiratory Outbreaks [Excel] [Google] UPDATED 2/2026
• Gastrointestinal Infections Line List [Excel] [Google] UPDATED 2/2026
• Scabies Case Line Listing (Residents) CDS-34 Coming soon
• Scabies Case Line Listing (Staff) CDS-35 Coming soon