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Reportable Illnesses

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REPORTABLE ILLNESSES AND OUTBREAKS

POLICY: Reportable communicable diseases and outbreaks will be reported to the SF Department of Public Health Communicable Disease Control Unit within 24 hours of center’s knowledge. 

PURPOSE: To protect the children, staff, and families from communicable disease.

To comply with the law, Title 17 CA Code of Regulations, childcare licensing, and center’s policies and procedures.

To access health information per center’s policies and may include enforcement of  Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HIPAA (CDC,2022).

PROCEDURE:

  1. Some diseases must be reported to the Public Health Department even if there just 1 case per title 17 laws. Other diseases only have to be reported to Public Health if there is an OUTBREAK of 2 or more cases at the childcare center from different households. 
  2. The Health Advocate or designee will review and acquire an updated list of reportable diseases at least annually by visiting SF Disease Prevention and Control . Click on the Confidential Morbidity Report (CRM) Form for the most up to date list of diseases. 
  3. The updated list will be placed in the policy and procedure manual. A copy of the list will be shared with each parent upon enrollment of their child.
  4. As soon as center becomes aware of a communicable disease exposure and reportable disease case OR an outbreak in the center:
    1. Call the SF Department of Public Health Communicable Disease Control Unit at 415-554-2830.
    2. Provide the Public Health Department with:
  • Name of the reportable disease
  • Child's name
  • Age
  • Address and home telephone
  • Parent's name
  • Doctor's name (if known)
  • Date of onset of symptoms (if known)
  • Caller's name and title
  • Center's name, address and telephone.
  • Last day child was at the center
  • Respond to the investigator’s inquiry
    1. Review and follow instructions from the Health Department and from the licensing office, and per center policy.

5. Any outbreak of 2 or more communicable illnesses (from different households) in the center will be reported in the same manner. The Health Department will provide further instructions on actions to take. 

  • Reportable disease
  • Children's names
  • Classroom
  • Onset date of symptoms
  • Date of diagnosis
  • Date/s of attendance in the center (Exposure dates)
  • Treatment received
  • Date excluded from the center
  • Date returned to class
    1. Follow up on each case per center’s policy or as instructed by the Public Health Department. Document your investigation. 
    2. After notifying the Health Department, be sure to notify Community Care Licensing, center leadership, and your CCHP Nurse Consultant.

The childcare site may create a log to track current outbreak. This log might be requested by the SFDPH Communicable Disease unit. See sample below: