To report diseases immediately, use the 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736
Iowa Administrative Code 641 Chapter 1 identifies diseases, poisonings and conditions and incidents that are to be reported to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
This page provides information and resources for the Reportable Poisonings and Conditions listed in Appendix B of IAC 641 Chapter 1.
Immediately report to the department outbreaks of any kind, diseases that occur in unusual numbers or circumstances, unusual syndromes, or uncommon diseases.
Outbreaks may be infectious, environmental or occupational in origin and include food-borne outbreaks or illness secondary to chemical exposure (e.g., pesticides, anhydrous ammonia).
Bioterrorism Reporting
Immediately report diseases, syndromes, poisonings, and conditions of any kind suspected or caused by a biological, chemical, or radiological agent or toxin when there is reasonable suspicion that the disease, syndrome, poisoning or condition may be the result of a deliberate act such as terrorism. Examples include (but are not limited to) anthrax, mustard gas, sarin gas, ricin, tularemia and smallpox.
Reporting elevated blood lead test results ≥20 mcg/dL
Call 1-800-972-2026 (Environmental Health hotline) to report during regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Report all blood lead test results ≥ 20 mcg/dL within 1 day. Fax a hard copy of the result to the EH secure fax: (515) 281-4529.
Consultation & questions on clinical management
Call Iowa Poison Control Center: 1-800-222-1222 for 24/7 consultation. The Iowa Poison Control Center will serve as a primary contact with Health Care Providers for consultation or questions on clinical management of any of the EH Reportable Conditions.
Gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory symptoms, dermal symptoms, or an elevated serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase; and exposure within the past 7 days to water experiencing an algal bloom.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources conducts routine water quality monitoring at all state park beaches and many locally managed beaches in Iowa between Memorial Day & Labor Day. For current beach advisory status, call the DNR beach monitoring hotline: 515-725-3434.
Any acute or subacute systemic, ophthalmologic, or dermatologic illness or injury resulting from or suspected of resulting from inhalation or ingestion of, dermal exposure to, or ocular contact with a pesticide.
The Pesticide Bureau within the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responsible for responding to complaints about pesticide spray drift and helping protect citizens from misuse of the products. To report incidents, call 515‐281‐8591 or email pesticides@IowaAgriculture.gov.
7 days
Phone, fax or mail
Table 3: Conditions reportable when clusters or unusual exposures are suspected should be reported via consultation with the Iowa Poison Control Center
Conditions reportable when clusters or unusual exposures are suspected should be reported via consultation with the Iowa Poison Control Center
A disease in which the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs become inflamed when certain dusts are inhaled to which the person is sensitized or allergic; including but not limited to Farmer’s Lung, Silo Filler’s Disease and Toxic Organic Dust Syndrome
Any illness indicating prolonged exposure or overexposure to asbestos, silica, silicates, aluminum, graphite, bauxite, beryllium, cotton dust or other textile material or coal dust; including but not limited to Asbestosis, Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis and Silicosis
Any acute or subacute necrosis of the liver or other unspecified chemical hepatitis caused by exposure to nonmedicinal toxic agents other than ethyl alcohol; including but not limited to carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, tetrachloroethane, phosphorus, trichloroethylene, ethylene dibromide, trinitrotoluene (TNT), chloronapthalenes, methylenedianilines, and organic solvents.
Mail: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Environmental and Local Public Health Lucas State Office Building 321 E. 12th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
Data about carbon monoxide deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits can be found on the Iowa Public Health Tracking Portal.
List items for Sources of Carbon Monoxide
Unvented kerosene and gas space heaters; leaking chimneys and furnaces; back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces; gas stoves; generators and other gasoline powered equipment; automobile exhaust from attached garages; and tobacco smoke. Incomplete oxidation during combustion in gas ranges and unvented gas or kerosene heaters may cause high concentrations of CO in indoor air. Worn or poorly adjusted and maintained combustion devices (e.g., boilers, furnaces) can be significant sources, or if the flue is improperly sized, blocked, disconnected, or is leaking. Auto, truck, or bus exhaust from attached garages, nearby roads, or parking areas can also be a source.
At low concentrations, fatigue in healthy people and chest pain in people with heart disease. At higher concentrations, impaired vision and coordination; headaches; dizziness; confusion; nausea. Can cause flu-like symptoms that clear up after leaving home. Fatal at very high concentrations. Acute effects are due to the formation of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood, which inhibits oxygen intake. At moderate concentrations, angina, impaired vision, and reduced brain function may result. At higher concentrations, CO exposure can be fatal.
It is most important to be sure combustion equipment is maintained and properly adjusted. Vehicular use should be carefully managed adjacent to buildings and in vocational programs. Additional ventilation can be used as a temporary measure when high levels of CO are expected for short periods of time.
Keep gas appliances properly adjusted.
Consider purchasing a vented space heater when replacing an unvented one.
Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.
Install and use an exhaust fan vented to outdoors over gas stoves.
Open flues when fireplaces are in use.
Choose properly sized wood stoves that are certified to meet EPA emission standards. Make certain that doors on all wood stoves fit tightly.
Have a trained professional inspect, clean, and tune-up central heating system (furnaces, flues, and chimneys) annually. Repair any leaks promptly.
Do not idle the car inside garage.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that every home should have a CO alarm. CPSC also urges consumers to have a professional inspection of all fuel- burning appliances -- including furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, clothes dryers, water heaters, and space heaters -- to detect deadly carbon monoxide leaks. CPSC recommends that every home should have at least one CO alarm that meets the requirements of the most recent Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 2034 standard or International Approval Services 6-96 standard.
The Harmful Algal Blooms program monitors the health effects of people who come in contact with blue green algae in recreational water. The Iowa Department of Public Health works collaboratively with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and CDC to expand a system that tracks and reports human illnesses related to harmful algal blooms.
List items for Harmful Algal Blooms
Several known species of harmful algal blooms occur throughout the world. The kind most frequently found in Iowa are called blue green algae, or cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria occur when algae that are normally present in water grow exuberantly. Within a few days, a bloom can cause clear water to become cloudy or covered in a scum layer. The cloudy or scummy water often smells bad. Algal blooms usually float to the surface and can be many inches thick, especially near the shoreline. Blue green algae often form in warm, slow moving waters that are rich in nutrients, such as fertilizer runoff or septic system overflows. Blooms can occur at any time, but most often occur in late summer or early fall. Algal blooms can appear quickly and can last a few hours, days or weeks.
Blue green algae can produce toxins that can cause people to get sick. Not all algal blooms produce toxins, however. The IDNR's Beach Monitoring program tests the water of many of Iowa's beaches and currently also tests for the presence of some toxins caused by harmful algal blooms.
Blue green algae, or cyanobacteria, can produce toxins that can cause illnesses in people and animals. Microcystin is one of the cyabobacterial toxins that can be released from bacteria in the water during the life cycle of a blue-green algae bloom. People who accidentally swallow water or breathe in water droplets containing microcystin can develop gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Other symptoms can include cough, runny eyes and nose, sore throat, and asthma-like symptoms. Skin rashes can also develop. In severe cases, liver failure can occur.
Suspected and confirmed cases of exposure to blue green algae (microcystin poisoning) is required to be reported to Iowa HHS by health care providers.
Iowa HHS is specifically asking health care providers to report cases that meet the following criteria:
