Reportable Diseases

To help promote and protect the health of our community, the Gloucester County Department of Health investigates individual cases and outbreaks of reported communicable diseases. Communicable diseases are those conditions that can be spread to others through:

Air
Contact with contaminated body fluids
Touch

Common Communicable Diseases

Some of the most common communicable diseases include:

Campylobacter
Chicken Pox
Chlamydia
Giardia
Hepatitis A, B, and C
Pertussis
Salmonella

It's not only important to be treated for infection, it is necessary for the health department to track communicable diseases in order to prevent disease outbreaks.

Reportable

Diseases that the health department keeps track of are called "reportable." All physicians, healthcare providers, and laboratory personnel are required by law to submit reportable disease information to their local health department. There are currently over 60 communicable diseases that are reportable in New Jersey.

Investigations

When cases of communicable disease are found, The Gloucester County Department Health Communicable Disease staff conducts confidential investigations to determine the source of the infection. Some diseases are spread via talking, coughing, and sneezing, while others are spread through contaminated water, food, blood, and/or sexual contact. All communicable diseases must be investigated thoroughly to prevent the spread of disease.

Additional Responsibilities

In addition to tracking and monitoring communicable diseases, the Communicable Disease staff:

Monitor disease trends
Provide current statistics and other information to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), local doctors, hospitals, the public, and the media
Works to control and contain the spread of diseases through case investigation and contact tracing

We also provide education and preventive treatment. For more information call 856-218-4102.